All ten states are part of the so-called "Bible Belt," or the area in the United States with a heavy socially conservative evangelical Protestant population. They are, starting with the most religious:
Top ten most religous states:
1. Mississippi
2. Alabama
3. South Carolina
4. Tennessee
5. Louisiana
6. Arkansas
7. Georgia
8. North Carolina
9. Oklahoma
10. Kentucky and Texas, which are tied.
The Gallup report ranked each state's religiousness by asking respondents if religion is an important part of their daily life.
Overall, analysis shows that a solid majority of Americans said religion is important in their daily lives. A full 65 percent of Americans across the entire U.S. population gave this response.
On the other hand, about one in three American adults said religion is not important in their lives, while one percent either responded they don't know or refused to answer.
Breaking down the data by states, 60 to 70 percent of the population in 23 states said religion is important.
Religion seems to be less important to those living in the New England area and the far West.
The top ten least religious states, starting from the least religious are:
10. Vermont
9. New Hampshire
8. Maine
7. Massachusetts
6. Alaska
5. Washington
4. Oregon
3. Rhode Island
2. Nevada
1. Connecticut
The results are based on telephone interviews with 355,334 national adults, aged 18 and older,conducted in 2008 as part of the Gallup Poll Daily tracking. The report is the second of a four-part series on the "State of the States.
Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts are the "least religious states".
Homosexuality Debate in the USA
What does the Bible really say about the Homosexual life style?
If you are a true Christian and a follower of Christ, the Bible is absolute truth.
In the beginning the Word already existed.The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1 (NLT)
Picking and choosing what the bible says is idolatry, God in your own mind, which is sin and goes against the commandments of God.
Ref. (Exodus 20:4, 2 Kings 17:15)
The current debate by secular groups, liberal groups and even some religions, say that Jesus never said anything about the Homosexual lifestyle or gay marriage. I even heard people say, that there is nothing in the Bible saying Homosexuality is wrong.
The purpose of this writing is to show that the Bible does say Homosexuality is a sin and completely wrong and to give you the verses in the Bible old & new testaments, to clarify this once and for all. This is not my opinion; this is what the Bible says.
“Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin.Leviticus 18:22 (NLT)
“If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital offense. Leviticus 20:13 (NLT)
Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.1 Corinthians 6:9-10(NLT)
Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (NLT) Remember Jesus said; If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15 (KJV)
Which he refers to the Ten Commandments, which has already been written.
24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.
Romans 1:24-32 (NLT)
“A woman must not put on men’s clothing, and a man must not wear women’s clothing. Anyone who does this is detestable in the sight of the Lord your God.
Deuteronomy 22:5 (NLT)
The verses given pretty much explain themselves, the Bible was not written to pick and choose what you want, either you believe the Bible as absolute truth, or you don’t. Please study for yourself and pray and get closer to God, and read the truth. There is no such thing as a Homosexual Christian. Love the person, but hate the sin.
But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 (NLT)
Abortion
Over 45 millions babies killed through abortion;
The Fetus is fully human, every 3rd baby is aborted, 43% of women, average 1 child aborted in a woman’s child bearing years.
Harvesting of baby body parts; this is against Federal Law, but third party groups has found loop holds to get around this law, and harvesting is still being done.
Body part prices: Kidney - $125.00, Liver $150.00, Arms or Legs $150.00
Implanting parts into monkeys, animal & human hybrid & cloning. Death industry is big business.
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are the temple.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NIV)
Partial birth abortion; was supposed to be used only to save the life of the mother, but 80% or more are purely elective.
Rick Santorum (R) Pennsylvania – pushed to stop partial birth abortion, along with the ACLJ and other groups, the law was signed by President G.W. Bush Nov. 2003 to ban partial birth abortion and the law was passed in April 18th, 2007.
Planned Parenthood.org – is command central for abortion, the organization has done more than any other organization. Started 70 years ago, with two or three volunteers with know experience. Now there is; 20,000 staff members & volunteers, 1000 clinics, 200 affiliates, makes around 25 million a year for the past decade. 1 trillion dollar budget.
Before Planned Parenthood there was around 15% abortions nation wide, after Planned Parenthood began, 51% abortion rate, now.
What would solve this problem “God” parental supervision and church attendance?
1 out of 6 – say she is a Christian (250,000) annually are aborted by Christians. I guess Planned Parenthood (abortion) is more important than the bible.
Minority women; Black women account of 14 % of women of child bearing years, but 31% of overall abortions. Hispanic women; account of 10.6% of women of child bearing years, but account for 20% of overall abortions, which both race groups account for a total 50% of all abortions in the USA, 49% of other. Twice the rate of white women.
If abortion was legal in past History
1. Preacher and his wife had 14 kids and in great poverty, and pregnant with number 15.
The 15 child was John Wesley (June 17, 1703 – March 2, 1791) was an 18th-century Anglican clergyman and Christian theologian who was an early leader in the Methodist movement.
2. Father with bronchitis and the mother has T.B., had 4 kids; had one child blind, one child died at birth, one child deaf and one child with T.B. and pregnant with a fifth child.
The 5th child was Ludwig van Beethoven. (December 17, 1770 – March 26, 1827) was a German composer. He is generally regarded as one of the great composers in the history of music, and was a crucial figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western classical music.
3. White man raped a 13 year old black girl and got pregnant from that rape.
Her name was Ethel Waters (October 31, 1896 – September 1, 1977) was an Oscar-nominated American blues vocalist and actress. She was the second African American to ever be nominated for an Academy Award.
4. A teenage girl engaged and soon to be married and pregnant by someone else and the future husband was very upset. His name was Jesus Christ. The son of God
Picking the right Church
Hello,
I believe the Bible is absolute truth , Ref. John1 :1-2. The Bible must be preached as it's written, nothing taken out. I am saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost, with evidence of speaking in tongues. (Gifts of the spirit) Ref. 1 Corinthians 12:6-11. The church should preach on the end times as often as they can, to give warning. Ref. Matthew 24. But, most of all get people saved, then go from there. Ref. Romans 10:9-10. To many churches focus on keeping their members happy, but not God. To many churches are becoming more and more liberal and pulling away from the Bible's true teachings. If a church focuses to much on religious customs and not God, ex. praying to mother Mary, saints, idols etc., that is not the place to go. Idolatry is God in your own mind, picking and choosing whatever you want to believe, Oprah new age. A church should preach the trinity, God, the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, (Godhead). Ref. John 14, the only way to heaven is excepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If a church is not preaching or teaching the trinity of the Bible, then they are considered a cult.
There is to much division in churches today, to many denominations which causes confusion, Ref. 1 Corinthians 1:10. Remember your true reference is the Bible, Ref. Hosea 4:6. Pray for God to give you direction and test the spirit of the church and the preacher, if they preach the Bible and nothing is contradicted and matches the word of God, that could be the church for you. If they preach on things that is not in the Bible or pushes it away as not relevant for today and it does not match the scripture of the Bible, then you know not to go there. Ref. Matthew 7:15-23. There are to many immature (baby) Christians, they do not study the Word of God and do not have a true relationship with Jesus Christ. You can be a good church member, but not a good Christian. Bible prophecy is coming true right before our eyes, we are living in the last days.
The rapture can happen at any time, Ref. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18., which is the first stage of His coming. Most of us may never see the inside of a coffin, It is that close
John the Baptist Generation
Ref. Malachi 4 - John the Baptist prophecy
Every 400 years there is a spiritual transition
The United States is in a spiritual transition right now.
Ref. Matthew 11:1-19, Luke 7:24
John the Baptist (cousin of Jesus) was preparing the way for Jesus Christ, preaching the word of God, making the crooked path straight. John the Baptist was the son of Priest (Zachariah). Fathers of the past had traditions, to much religion told to the children, you need to do it this way or that way. Kids become offended and do not go to church.
Ref. Mark 9
The routine of church got boring and didn't want to go, the same thing every week, church became tiring. You say you need a vacation, no, you need the Holy Ghost.
Breaking the Routine is what brings the Holy Ghost into the church.
John the Baptist
5-things that made him different
1. Dress - camel skins etc.
2. Diet - ate locust and wild honey
3. Doctrine - kept it practical
4. Delivery - different styles
5. Destination - make it to heaven
The anointing generation
Dress will be different, (no suits) 80% of men don't own a suit, men and boys think they need one just to come to church. Majority of women where slacks (not dresses), we lost a whole generation just because of dress.
Church people born and raised know the customs of church, but unbelievers do not know the customs of church. And they feel they can't meet church standards.
This generation knows the way to be saved, they have heard that over and over again. If music and sermons don't bless you, it want for everyone else. We need ministers for today's generation, that understands this generation. (That’s you)
We have internet, drugs, porn, homosexual lifestyles, cutting, suicides etc.
Some Denominations are split over one doctrine.
The power of the tongue
Preachers use to preach against prosperity back in the 80's, business owners wouldn't be going back to that church. We have people in church are poor, depressed and the power of the tongue is dangerous. Now day’s extreme prosperity is preached, a little too much on T.V. especially. It does take money to make things happen. Ref. Det. 8:18 – God wants us to be successful; there is nothing wrong with having money, the love of money is the problem for some.
Jumping up and down generation,
Holy Ghost moving and Jumping for joy.
Every generation has there own music, dance and message. There is spiritual transition right now. Dealing with political correctness, making sure Jesus is the only answer, no other way. So many false prophets around causing confusion not knowing what the truth is, to many religions and doctrines. If you watch TBN for 24 hours straight, you will be confused and not know what the truth really is.
This generation wants a Holy Ghost revival.
John the Baptist was in the wilderness with sinners, they came to him instead of a customary church. There are a lot of Church events with Christians only, so Christians hanging with Christians, but do not know any sinners, today's generation knows sinners.
Some Dress meanings:
Ankle bracelet: in some countries, represents prostitution.
Sagging pants: comes from the Prisons, represents you are a male prostitute.
Q & A:
Why do you think people dress a certain way. Ex. piercing,tattoos,dress styles of all types etc. Everything has a meaning through certain tribes and cults.
