What HISTORICAL EVENTS created the bible belt in the southern United States?

Question

I am interested in historical / cultural / social / anthropology or scientific answers only. I do not want answers that are based on religion, or that are religion in disguise. I previously placed this question in a non religious category, just for this reason.

On another note: The bible belt seems to comprise all the states that were part of the Confederacy, during the Civil War. It seems like it was either a product of the Civil War, or existed priviously.

And if it did exist previously? Then maybe it was one of the things that CAUSED the Civil War in the first place. The bible after all, was widely quoted during this period to justify slavery.

If it was a product of the Civil War instead, then perhaps religious fundamentalism flourishes anywhere where there is poverty and ignorance. That would have fit the period of reconstruction perfectly.

Answer 1

First I would like to say I am glad you are interested in the historical /cultural aspects of American history. I would also caution you on any answer you have and will receive. This is a public forum and therefore will have biased and uninformed answers. My best suggestion is if possible to go your public library and ask this question they will be able to point to some great books on this very subject. The study that I have done shows that the term "Bible Belt" was coined in the early 1900's and has it's roots tied to the Third Great Awakening. This awakening took place mostly in the south with the baptist church being the predominate leader. This Great Awaking was interrupted in the north by the civil war. Now of course there is a great deal of information on the starting of the civil war and while it would be stupid to say slavery was not an issue it conversely can not be said that slavery was the main reason for the civil war. Slavery plan and simple was a horrendously cruel act and a terrible part of American history, something that troubled our founding fathers during the revolutionary war. Furthermore I would like to comment that poverty and as you say ignorance but a better term would be uneducated south during reconstruction was because of the Union's poor efforts to reconstruct the south. Many including Lincoln wanted to treat the south more as the prodigal son to welcome them back into the union. Unfortunately there were others who only wished to punish the south for the war and the later was what eventually occurred

Answer 2

I have honestly forgotten the exact sequence of events that caused this to occur ,perhaps another poster can provide the exact details. I can give you the gist of it however.
American democracy began in it's churches. When colonists settled here they of course brought their religion and their religious institutions.
The churches of time (as many are now) were the antithesis of democratic institutions. The coalition between Cross and Crown controlled all aspects of colonial life. The Crown had the power to punish those who violated the rules of the Cross.
There were of course very strict rules regarding Where God could be worshiped, When God could be worshiped exactly how God would be worshiped and of course Who would lead the services. Like many society's that preceded us , the accepted norm of the day was that understanding and interpreting God's will and ways were skill best left to the professionals,and the professionals agreed wholeheartedly.
Somewhere in that colonial mix an American stood up and said " No" He claimed that he had a right to talk to his god in any way , time or place that he chose and that neither civil nor church authorities had the right to tell him otherwise.He wasn't exactly greeted with open arms for voicing that opinion. Actually he was told that if that was his belief he should either keep it to himself or suffer the very real consequences.
The man was true believer in his right to talk to and about God in any way he saw fit. He knew that he had no place in the formal religious instititutions of the towns, so he headed west to the frontier and the small settlements along the Appalachians.
Eventually the idea of common people having the right to preach to other common people about their God took root and grew. The religion based on the fundamentals of the bible grew ,it grew west and it grew south.
What also grew was the idea of self determination: If a ruling religious class was no longer needed, maybe kings and princes and the like weren't either.
The great irony of this is that the religious group whose very existence is the result of the dissolution of the formal Cross and Crown relationship , now wants to bring it back and foist it on the American people.

Answer 3

The term "Bible Belt" was coined by the American journalist and social commentator, H.L. Mencken, in the early 1920s. (During the Snopes trial over teaching evolution.)

In particular, in the United States, it is the region where the Southern Baptist Convention denomination is strongest. It includes the entire South and nearby areas.

It has nothing to do with poverty or ignorance. I am a southerner and I am far from ignorant. My household income is far from the poverty line also. Being Southern doesn't make us ignorant or any less than those that happen to be Northerners.

Answer 4

It was mainly due to the fact that the north, as continues to be, is more advanced than the south. The north had the industrialized society while the south was agricultural. The bible played a key role during those times for groups like the kkk and was used to excuse slavery. You also have to realize that parts of those states were owned by the Spaniards who were in large part religious.

Answer 5

i'm from Tennessee. i'm white and My fiance is from Vietnam. NO it is not actual. we're not from now on racist than everywhere else... do no longer enable television fool you. FYI - Southerners have Southern Hospitality. that's no longer something you will discover in Michigan.. there are an incredible type of cultures right here that like it and not in any respect have a subject. My Asian fiance thinks anybody is so advantageous and delightful right here. He transferred employment from MI.

Answer 6

There is proven correlation between intelligence and belief. So broadly speaking, the more intelligent the less need for a religion. And the more poverty the less chance for intellectual development.

You pretty much hit the nail on the head when you suggested the cause may be poverty and ignorance. I believe it is.

Answer 7

Tent revivals. In the 1830's there was a great movement of revivalism through out the country.

Answer 8

So, why are you asking the same question here? This is a religious forum. I'm a Fundamentalist so, I guess I can't give you an answer. I was trained in Theology not American history.

Answer 9

i dont know, but ive lived in the south and there is nothing religious about those ppl. aside from no liquor on sunday thats about it. everyone is racist, stuck up, and just BSing about being a christian.

Answer 10

The were inbred so much, most were retarded, so the bible made sense to them.