Poll: Most and Least Religious States in the U.S.

By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country

Gallup is out with a fascinating new ranking of the most and least religious states in the nation. The pollster asked 350,000 Americans a simple question: "Is religion an important part of your daily life?"

Here are the ten states where the greatest proportions of people answered "yes" to that question:

85% Mississippi
82% Alabama
80% South Carolina
79% Tennessee
78% Louisiana
78% Arkansas
76% Georgia
76% North Carolina
75% Oklahoma
74% Kentucky
74% Texas

These are the ten states where the smallest proportions of people answered "yes" to that question:

42% Vermont
46% New Hampshire
48% Maine
48% Massachusetts
51% Alaska
52% Washington
53% Oregon
53% Rhode Island
54% Nevada
55% Connecticut

In six of the ten least religious states, majorities still say that religion is an important part of their daily lives. Of ten most religious states, only one went for Barack Obama last November: North Carolina. Of the ten least religious states, just one went for John McCain: Alaska. This is why the Republicans' recent sheepishness on faith and faith-based issues is somewhat perplexing.

• Read more by Dan Gilgoff.
• Read more about religion.

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