Why are there so many "highly religious" people in the South?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is so much to despise about the South. If it wanted to secede, I would be fine with that.

I'd settle for the South becoming less religiously and racially oppressive. And I think it's happening -- too slowly, though.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:A culture that encourages being outspoken about faith, attending church, believing in God. (Generally.)

Versus a culture that encourages skepticism, intellectual curiosity over faith, and being more attached to the notion that science is incompatible with faith. (Generally.)

I say none of those things in a positive or pejorative way.

So cultural differences. Do you think that culture is prevalent in the schools in the South too?

Absolutely.

I grew up in the South and was forced to pray in public school, in the 90s. By forced to pray, I mean the principal came on over the intercom, and said "bow your heads, let us pray, heavenly father...blah blah." I told my homeroom teacher this was illegal and she told me to shut up and stop being ridiculous. There was prayer at all school events such as athletic events and graduations. I remember our cheerleaders being very excited and crying when someone was saved.

Here the first question you are asked is "what do you do?" There it is "where do you go to church?" There's tremendous emphasis placed on church-going, especially in smaller towns.

What does this mean?

Cheerleaders were happy when they learned that a friend of theirs had asked Jesus to enter their heart and he did. This means that person will go to heaven when they die, so it is cause for great celebration

Thank you for explaining. At first I thought it might be football related but I guess not.

Were most kids "saved"? Was there pressure if you were not already? Teenage years can be tough - think this made it harder - or easier - at all?

NP Most of the kids at my school were saved. I grew up in an evangelical Christian area. You had to be saved (ask and accept Jesus into your heart) to become a Christian. You couldn't just go to church. Once you were old enough to understand right and wrong and take some responsibility for your actions, you had to be saved, make a public proclamation of your faith, and be baptized. It was expected of everyone, because not to do so meant you were basically rejecting your family's religion.

Some people didn't go to church, but most people did. Even if they didn't believe in it. It's easier to just go along with it than to take a stand against your community. In my 4th grade class, on Monday mornings, our teacher had us line up for recess with the kids who went to church/Sunday school at the head of the line, and the kids who skipped at the rear. We didn't have to pray every morning at school, but teachers would often recommend and allow time for a quick silent prayer before tests, and there was always a prayer at events (potlucks, sporting events, etc.) In high school, the most popular club was FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). We had revivals geared toward teens a few times a year where it was expected for the teens to pledge to remain virgins until marriage. Some of those revivals made you go up to the front of the auditorium or stand at your seat so someone could bring you a form/card to sign that was your "contract with god" that you could show the world, or you'd get a ring to wear to remind yourself you were married to god until you marry your husband/wife. It was all very public and no one was forced to participate, but if you didn't, you were slut shamed at school the next week.

Not conforming to those beliefs was incredibly hard for kids. Most of us just pretended until we got out of that small town, went to college and had some real life experiences, and then either stopped with religion or became more moderate. The ones who stayed, even if they drank and did drugs or had sex on Friday nights then showed up with their chastity rings on Sunday mornings at church, eventually settled down and put the same pressure to conform on their own kids.

I graduated high school in 1997. This was in the 1990s. From my high school friends' Facebook pages (at least the ones who stayed), it's still happening with the next generation.

Sorry this happened to you. Congrats on getting out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another factor others aren't mentioning is that the reduced immigration to the South is very tied up to slavery. There was already a population of supressed people doing the worst manual labor jobs in the South vs. needing to import immigrants willing to work for low wages in the North. Many also believe that the delayed industrialization of the South was due in large part to the surplus of cheap labor created by slavery. There was less drive for industrialization because the was human labor inexpensive enough to be comparable to machines, and by the time the technology caught up to the slave work force the civil war had been lost and there was no money to invest in new technology, leaving the South in the dust as the northern factories thrived.

I never heard it explained this way. It makes sense. thanks.

[Anonymous]

More black people in the South, is a big part of it.

[Anonymous]

All I know is Southern people are highly nicer than northern people and have better manners.

[Anonymous]

I'm from a small town in Mississippi. People aren't necessarily "highly religious", although some are. The reason it appears that way is because church is like a social club. Even in high school, my life was about youth group and band. And they overlapped. While there was some religion, youth groups were mostly about hanging out with friends and going on great trips. We went skiing, to the beach, camping, white water rafting, to amusement parks, etc. The religious part was almost secondary. The same was true as an adult. All of our friends were from church. Wednesday night suppers, Sunday school parties, supper clubs,... Church was part of it, but it was also where we made friends. Where business connections were made. And where you knew you could find support in times of crisis.

I'm not suggesting those are bad reasons to be involved in church. But they have little to do with religion and spirituality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All I know is Southern people are highly nicer than northern people and have better manners.

Well, bless your heart!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from a small town in Mississippi. People aren't necessarily "highly religious", although some are. The reason it appears that way is because church is like a social club. Even in high school, my life was about youth group and band. And they overlapped. While there was some religion, youth groups were mostly about hanging out with friends and going on great trips. We went skiing, to the beach, camping, white water rafting, to amusement parks, etc. The religious part was almost secondary. The same was true as an adult. All of our friends were from church. Wednesday night suppers, Sunday school parties, supper clubs,... Church was part of it, but it was also where we made friends. Where business connections were made. And where you knew you could find support in times of crisis.

I'm not suggesting those are bad reasons to be involved in church. But they have little to do with religion and spirituality.

Right. But if you don't conform, you're sort of a social outcast. It sucks if you don't feel like playing along. It's easy to say the religious aspects were secondary when you don't have opposing beliefs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm from a small town in Mississippi. People aren't necessarily "highly religious", although some are. The reason it appears that way is because church is like a social club. Even in high school, my life was about youth group and band. And they overlapped. While there was some religion, youth groups were mostly about hanging out with friends and going on great trips. We went skiing, to the beach, camping, white water rafting, to amusement parks, etc. The religious part was almost secondary. The same was true as an adult. All of our friends were from church. Wednesday night suppers, Sunday school parties, supper clubs,... Church was part of it, but it was also where we made friends. Where business connections were made. And where you knew you could find support in times of crisis.

I'm not suggesting those are bad reasons to be involved in church. But they have little to do with religion and spirituality.

Right. But if you don't conform, you're sort of a social outcast. It sucks if you don't feel like playing along. It's easy to say the religious aspects were secondary when you don't have opposing beliefs.

I felt like this living in Utah. We lived in an extremely Mormon community. Our neighbors/coworkers were all nice, pleasant people...but it's just uncomfortable when everyone else partakes/believes and you don't. Especially with something as important (to many, at least) as religion.

[Anonymous]

After the Civil War, the South was economically devastated. The period from the Reconstruction through the Civil Rights era was one of hardship, poverty and constant social tension. All of these tend to increase religiosity and social conservatism. Increased wealth and opportunity tends to make people more socially liberal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is so much to despise about the South. If it wanted to secede, I would be fine with that.

I'd settle for the South becoming less religiously and racially oppressive. And I think it's happening -- too slowly, though.

The North is more racially segregated than the South:
https://www.salon.com/2014/12/14/the_north_isnt_better_than_the_south_the_real_history_of_modern_racism_and_segregation_above_the_mason_dixon_line/

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Thank you for sharing. It sounds like it could create a lot of stress for kids if they didn't share those beliefs. Was that in the South?

Np here. I don't think it would cause stress.
Just a fact of navigating it.

You're usually in the literal and figurative clubs. Or you're not. And everyone knows where you stand pretty much. And everyone knows if you are religious but being wayward anyway.

What about the slut shaming the PP described? That would stress me out if it happened to me or even if I thought it could happen to me.

Eh - I'd rather go for the slut shaming than participate in that stupid trash. Bring on the slutting!

Geez. I grew up in DC and my mother dragged me to church every darned Sunday but i just couldn't get anything out of it. I'm a pretty moral and good person but I didnt like the sexism and hippocracy of the church (the meanest most self centered people go to church the most), didn't get anything out of praying, and I dont 'fear anything' including god. I don't understand people who go for all of this stuff verbatim. Not even 15 years of Catholic school could make me a robot - I'd much rather be known as a slut.

Don't get it. And yes we have religious relations in the south and they say ignorant off the wall things - it's really like they are in a cult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All I know is Southern people are highly nicer than northern people and have better manners.

Yes, as long as you look and act like them.

[Anonymous]

Christian = being compliant. Helped keep the slaves compliant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for sharing. It sounds like it could create a lot of stress for kids if they didn't share those beliefs. Was that in the South?

Np here. I don't think it would cause stress.
Just a fact of navigating it.

You're usually in the literal and figurative clubs. Or you're not. And everyone knows where you stand pretty much. And everyone knows if you are religious but being wayward anyway.

What about the slut shaming the PP described? That would stress me out if it happened to me or even if I thought it could happen to me.

Eh - I'd rather go for the slut shaming than participate in that stupid trash. Bring on the slutting!

Geez. I grew up in DC and my mother dragged me to church every darned Sunday but i just couldn't get anything out of it. I'm a pretty moral and good person but I didnt like the sexism and hippocracy of the church (the meanest most self centered people go to church the most), didn't get anything out of praying, and I dont 'fear anything' including god. I don't understand people who go for all of this stuff verbatim. Not even 15 years of Catholic school could make me a robot - I'd much rather be known as a slut.

Don't get it. And yes we have religious relations in the south and they say ignorant off the wall things - it's really like they are in a cult.

Sounds like you were a born atheist. Just like some people are born susceptible to belief