Roanoke Makes List as One of America’s “Most Bible-Minded” Cities

American Bible Society Announces Which Cities Rank—and Which Cities Tank—In Bible Friendliness

BibleWhen it comes to U.S. cities that embrace the Bible, Roanoke is apparently at the top of the list. A newly released ranking from American Bible Society finds Roanoke citizens rank among the highest in combined levels of regular Bible reading and expressed belief in the Bible’s accuracy.

The news was not quite as optimistic for some American cities. Topping the list of America’s least Bible-minded cities is Providence, R.I./New Bedford, Mass.

American Bible Society’s study of America’s Most Bible-Minded Cities found that, while the Bible Belt continues to perform strongly, east coast cities continue to bring up the rear. While ranked number one in Bible mindedness, Chattanooga ranks 87th in population size. Just one of the top 10 Bible-minded cities ranks in the top 25 cities by population size. Charlotte, N.C., America’s sixth most Bible-minded city, is the 25th most populous city.

Most Bible-Minded Cities (= last year’s ranking)

Chattanooga, Tenn. (3)
Birmingham, Ala. (4)
Roanoke/Lynchburg, Va. (8)
Springfield, Mo. (6)
Shreveport, La. (2)
Charlotte, N.C. (7)
Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C./Asheville N.C. (11)
Little Rock, Ark. (12)
Jackson, Miss. (5)
Knoxville, Tenn. (1)

Least Bible-Minded Cities (= last year’s ranking)

Providence, R.I./ New Bedford, Mass. (1)
Albany, N.Y.(2)
Boston, Mass. (6)
San Francisco (7)
Cedar Rapids, Iowa (9)
Buffalo, N.Y (10)
Hartford/New Haven, Conn. (5)
Phoenix, Ariz. (8)
Burlington, Vt. (3)
Portland, Maine (4)

“An analysis of interaction with and views of the Bible continues to help us evaluate the Bible landscape in America,” said Geoffrey Morin, chief communications officer at American Bible Society. “To help people engage with the best-selling book of all time’s life-changing message, we need to understand where people are starting from. But ultimately, we want people to know whether you live in one of the most or least Bible-minded cities, the Bible can speak to your needs, challenges and concerns, and help you make sense of life.”

The data reported is based upon telephone and online interviews with nationwide random samples of 46,274 adults conducted over a seven-year period, ending in August 2013. The maximum margin of sampling error associated with the aggregate sample is ±0.5 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level. Respondents who report reading the bible within the past seven days and who agree strongly in the accuracy of the Bible are classified as “Bible Minded.”

Conducted by Barna Group, the study analyzes the Bible mindedness of the top 100 cities by population across the U.S. Bible mindedness is calculated based on combined levels of regular Bible reading and resident’s belief in the Bible’s accuracy. To view the full list of city rankings visit: http://www.americanbible.org/features/americas-most-bible-minded-cities

Headquartered in Manhattan, the 197-year-old American Bible Society exists to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford. For more information, visit AmericanBible.org.

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