I keep hearing references to the Bible Belt, especially with this anti gambling thing in the news. But what exactly is it?
2006-10-02 10:04:24 · 14 answers · asked by Ahwell 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A Bible Belt is an area in which socially conservative Christian Evangelical Protestantism is a pervasive or dominant part of the culture. The term "Bible Belt" was coined by the American journalist and social commentator, H.L. Mencken, in the early 1920s.
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. Bible belts can also be found in other countries, including Canada and some parts of Europe. The name is derived from the heavy emphasis on literal intepretations of the Bible in Evangelical denominations.
The American region is usually contrasted with the socially liberal Christian denominations of the northeast and the relatively secular western United States, where the percentage of non-religious people are the highest in the nation, reaching its maximum in the northwestern state of Washington at 27%, compared to the Bible belt state of Alabama, at only 7%.
2006-10-02 10:08:16 · answer #1 · answered by HSK's mama 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's a derogatory or exalting phrase depending on who is using it. The Bible belt refers to the southern states in the United States that are traditionally and remain firmly founded in Christian values and influences.
2006-10-02 10:08:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The "Bible Belt" is the middle of the country (aka "the red states") that tends to be highly religious and conservative/Republican and attempts to impose their moral values on the entire country as a whole.
2006-10-02 10:13:00 · answer #3 · answered by Kenny ♣ 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The high concentration of religious junkies in the south eastern and mid US. Just imagine a weather map with "belts" of color to show temp or precip and substitute religious concentration and fervor.
2006-10-02 10:12:41 · answer #4 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What most other said... it's a region across the south that is a bit more strongly conservative religious then other areas.
See link for further into and map:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_belt
2006-10-02 10:20:27 · answer #5 · answered by Indigo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a very tight belt that some Americans wear to squeeze the sense out of their brains.
2006-10-02 10:12:56 · answer #6 · answered by n0n0stalgia 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
generally speaking it deals mostly with the southern states especially those states with a lot of Southern Baptist believers. try wikapedia they show a picture of several states in red.
2006-10-02 10:10:12 · answer #7 · answered by I-o-d-tiger 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, I live in it. I think it stretches from Florida through Texas. All of these states are primarily conservative republicans. Lots of fundamentalists down here. I am a die hard liberal commie democrat and terribly outnumbered.
2006-10-02 10:11:29 · answer #8 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's an area that is predominantly Christian and conservative; it's often attributed to the Midwest, but falls more in the southeastern states.
2006-10-02 10:07:01 · answer #9 · answered by angk 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Generally considered to be the south east, but religious wackos live everywhere in the US.
2006-10-02 10:08:13 · answer #10 · answered by stevewbcanada 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋