Is it just a coincidence that the bible belt is one of the lowest educated demographics in America?

Question

Just throwing that out there.

Also, why are so many of you religious so convinced you're right when you've never even given other religions any thought?
You don't think that maybe you don't have it exactly right?

As Homer Simpson once said: "What if we picked the wrong religion? Every Sunday we're just making God madder and madder."

This is a legit question, or at least I meant for it to be. Its funny how many insults I get- good way to support my claim.

Yes, it is a generalization, so what. Oh, and there's nothing wrong with admiring Homer- he reflects our culture well.

Answer 1

its also one of the most beautiful and hospitable places in the US ... and thats another generalization ..

Answer 2

I do not even know this to be true and you provided no source for your claim.

There is still a lot of misconception about the south and its citizens. We have major universities, and teaching hospitals who are on the cutting edges of technology and medicine. The University of Central Arkansas at Conway has been deemed "the Harvard of the South", Agnes Scott is a well respected women's school in the Atlanta area. Little Rock has two teaching hospitals one which specializes in children. Memphis TN also has a three world class hospitals which specialize in treating children. Texas has post graduate universities. We won't even go into the various companies that were founded in the south or our famous writers or presidents......

You,( who quotes an animated cartoon character and then assumes that I have " never even given other religions any thought" dares to ridicule someone's lack of education) have told me far more about yourself than you intended.

Answer 3

No, it is not a coincidence. The area encompassing the modern "Bible Belt" roughly corresponds to those areas wherein economic development was tied closely to the slave trade. When augmented by the harshness of the northern treatment of southern regions after the Civil War, the severe economic retardation incurred by the removal of that source of productivity adversely affected education in the area.

As for your second question, I can't answer for people who have never given other religions thought. I certainly had my insecure stage when I explored all sorts of religions, including atheism. But I was convinced by the solid arguments put forward by the Catholic Faith. When coupled with witnessing several undeniable miracles, and the undeniable transformation that the sacraments--especially that of penance--caused in my life, I really didn't have the willpower to deny the truth of it anymore.

Answer 4

Did you know that many "non-southern" states pick and choose who they let take their standardized tests? And they don't count all of the lower test scores so that overall, their students appear to have a higher intellect.
Here in SC, everyone gets to take the tests...SAT's, etc, and so therefore all of the scores get counted. This is what I was told when I questioned why we had the lowest scores in the country.
It isn't because we are dumber, but because other areas of the country control who's test gets counted and whose doesn't. So on paper, it looks as if the controlled areas are smarter.

And by the way, I have lived in SC my whole life, and I am agnostic, and have a 127 IQ.

Answer 5

It's a correlation that is based on several things. First, there aren't as many major cities in the south. Most of the businesses aren't in the south. Most of the jobs aren't these high paying jobs. When many states have 10 or more public universities in a state, a southern state may only have 2 or 3. It is more due to money than it is to religion. Let me make this connection for you.

There are many people that claim that blacks are not as smart as whites. This is false. It is true that blacks, in this country, are a minority. It is true that there are more minorities living below poverty level than there are otherr groups. It is true that people living in poverty are living on the poorer sides of towns. That also ties into poorer schools. Many people that are of a minority are going to poorer schools giving them less quality education and less opportunities. The south happens to be the Bible belt. It simply happened this way. There are more poorer neighborhoods here. There are higher percentages of minority communities and less high quality schools. There are less private schools that are affordable as well. There are more rural areas making schools forced to care for a large area of students making it hard to satisfy everyone. It boils down to money really.

As far as looking at othe religions, yes, I have. For I time, I left my faith. I have since then returned and found true peace in Christ. When I left, it was one of the darkest times in my life.

Answer 6

I grew up in upstate New York, where I was an honor roll student all through high school.
Then I did what most girls did in that time. I got married.
In the sixties, I did investigate other religions. I'm still a Christian.

I'm not sure whether it's a "coincidence" that people who live in the South, (I'm assuming that you are referring to the South when you say "Bible Belt") where they are only just beginning to catch up with the rest of the country economically, have held on tightly to their faith or not. I am concerned about teachers telling kids in school that mankind has evolved beyond any need for out-dated superstitions, calling God a "sky pixie" or worse...and yes, that IS happening. I don't consider it "educating" a child to turn him against all things religious before he's had a chance to investigate and decide on his own...but, evidently, lots of parents seem to think it is.
And that is why I choose to live here, in the South, where my grandchildren are still "normal" for believing in God, where they don't have to hide their Bible when they are in public for fear of some crazy gunman shooting at them for their faith, where the words "In God We Trust" can still be found proudly up on the wall at the courthouse, where our kids can still pray in school, where the nativity goes up every year in the public park, as well as at the court house...I could go on.
The schools are up to standard here, but the people are stubbornly holding on to their faith. I don't know how much longer this will last, but I, for one, am enjoying my freedom to worship as I please, as guaranteed to me in the Constitution, at least until some idiot complains and the ACLU figures out that our kids are actually being taught the faith of their fathers, and decides to "protect" them from (horrors) the love of God which is in Christ.
You are free to believe as you please, and if you please to get your information about God from Homer Simpson, that is your prerogative.
Please don't blame Christians when you figure out that Homer, cute as he might be, is, after all, a cartoon.
Marvin the Martian might be a better source of info...
Thank you.

Answer 7

It is really? You mean less educated than say... NYC or Los Angeles? Nice of you to cite a source... oh yeah, you can't find one. That is a ridiculous assertion for many reasons, I'll point out just a couple: 1) What is the defined area of the "Bible Belt"? Which states does your version of this "Bible belt" encompass. Seems to me that the area isn't really defined which crumbles the foundation of your point. 2) Some of the nation's most academically sound Universities come out of the South (I can only assume you are referring to south eastern states) not to mention the center of culture. Try this, try making a point that doesn't involve dated stereo types, it makes you seem obtuse and quite ignorant.

Answer 8

Is it a coincidence that all the Ivy league colleges were started by Calvinist Christians?

I have explored other beliefs, that is why I am convinced, without a shadow of doubt that Jesus is God and the savior. If He was a liar or a lunatic, then I guess I will go down with Him. I have seen too much evidence in my life and the lives of others to think Jesus was anything other than what He claimed.

Answer 9

Those of you who are trying to defend the South did not properly read the question. He did not say that every person in the South is uneducated. I’m sure he knows that many brilliant people live in the South. However, look up high school test scores and you will see that every southern state is near the bottom when compared to the rest of the U.S.

Answer 10

Education could be the way some people spell
their god.Spelled with a small "g".Everyone
worships,but whatever they worship,money,power,material things,the devil.
These become your god,but not the God(Jesus) He is truth and Spirit. I already know the truth.
That's why I'm free from sin.I have power over
sin by the grace of God(Jesus).

Answer 11

I live in the Bible Belt, and many of my neighbors hold postgraduate degrees. Most of them are not Fundamentalists, and many of them aren't Christian at all. I understand why this region is stereotyped, but the stereotypes aren't always true. There are Wiccan, Jewish, and Muslim communities here, as well as quite a few atheists.

As for your other question, I'm religious, but have attended the services of many other groups, both Christian and non-Christian, and have read a great deal of religious literature outside my own tradition. I have spent a lot of time in discussion with atheists, as well. Furthermore, I've never claimed to have all the answers.