A new survey of religious beliefs across the nation’s biggest metropolitan areas finds that “religiously unaffiliated” residents match or exceed all other religious dominations in 10 major U.S. cities.
The survey results, released by the Public Religion Research Institute on Wednesday, reveal that Americans who do no identify with any organized religion tend to flock to urban areas, with some of the largest shares cropping up in Portland (42%), San Francisco (33%) and Seattle (33%).
Catholic communities dominate in 15 U.S. cities, while evangelical Protestants hold sway over another 6 cities. The results are derived from the institute’s American Values Atlas, which rolls up survey results from 50,000 Americans each year.
Inside the Most 'Bible-Minded' City in America
A giant cross by highway I-65 marks the site of Gardendale First Baptist Church in Gardendale, Ala. on March 21, 2015.
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Pietro “P.J.” Garrett, 17, and his family pray at breakfast before heading to services at 16th Street Baptist Church.
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Pete Garrett's hat and bible rest on the kitchen counter of his home in Trussvile, Ala.
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Pete Garrett prepares to leave for services at 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. on March 22, 2015.
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P.J. Garrett holds an umbrella for his mother, Dr. Cynthia Garrett, as they arrive at 16th Street Baptist Church.
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Left: The old sign from 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. Right: A deacon gives instructions to two young greeters at 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. on March 22, 2015.
The church, an icon of the Civil Rights movement, is struggling to keep up attendance. Pastor Arthur Price says he tries to relate the deadly 1963 bombing at the church by white supremacists and the current mission. “Because of the tragedy, triumph took place—the ‘64 passage of the Civil Rights Act and the ‘65 passage of the Voting Rights Act, which galvanized a generation and motivated a movement so change would be continuous throughout the ages," he says. "I believe the early pioneers of the Civil Rights movement continued to move forward because they didn’t want that innocent blood to be taken in vain.”
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Left: A stack of hymnals at 16th Street Baptist Church. Right: A woman wears cross earrings during a service
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Left: Flowers at the cornerstone of the 16th Street Baptist Church. Right: A cross marks a parking spot outside the church
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Services at Church of the Highlands, a mega-church, in Birmingham, Ala. on March 22, 2015.
In a region with plenty of large houses of worship, Church of the Highlands -- one of the fastest-growing churches in America -- may be the largest. Sunday worship service at Grants Mill—headquarters for a dozen campuses—averages over 3,500 people, mostly couples in their 30s with young kids. That number is up from 600 in 2001, and there are some 31,000 weekly worshippers across the 12 sites.
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Worshippers at Church of the Highlands.
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The view of services from the sound booth at Church of the Highlands.
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A family waits outside of the auditorium at Church of the Highlands.
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(L-R) Michael McClure Jr., Michael McClure Sr. and his granddaughter Brooklyn, and Darius McClure laugh during a family dinner at the home of Rev. Michael McClure Sr., in Birmingham, Ala. on March 22, 2015.
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Both of McClure's sons have followed in his footsteps and are pastors at churches of their own.
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Angelique McClure hangs out with her nieces and nephews in the living room during a family dinner at her father's home.
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The stained glass glows at night from inside the First Memorial Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. on March 21, 2015.
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