The Changing Landscape of Religion in Alabama: Is It Still the Most Religious State?

Alabama has long been recognized as one of the most religious states in the United States, a status confirmed by a recent study from SmileHub. This non-profit organization ranked Alabama highest in the importance of religion among its residents, second in the percentage of adults who consider religion very important (trailing only Mississippi), and fourth in the number of religious congregations per capita. Additionally, Alabama placed 11th in the number of religious studies degrees awarded per capita.

This aligns with other studies that consistently place Alabama at the top of the list of most religious states. SmileHub's analysis utilized 11 metrics, drawing from data sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, Gallup, and the Public Religion Research Institute, among others.

National Perspective

Nationally, approximately 38% of adults regard religion as very important in their lives. In a 2016 Pew Research Center study, Alabama and Mississippi were tied for the title of most religious state, with 77% of respondents describing themselves as "highly religious." A Gallup survey the same year placed Alabama just behind Mississippi, with Utah—a state with a significant Mormon population—coming in third.

Historical Context

Alabama's religious roots run deep, with Baptists and Methodists playing a significant role since the early 19th century. The first Baptist and Methodist churches were established in 1808, and these denominations quickly became integral to the state's towns and communities. Since Alabama's founding in 1819, Baptists and Methodists have been the largest denominations, influencing the state's culture extensively.

Contemporary Challenges

However, the 2020s have presented significant challenges for these major denominations. The Southern Baptist Convention recently reported its lowest membership numbers since the 1970s, and the United Methodist Church in Alabama has seen more than half of its churches leave the denomination due to internal splits.

Expert Insights

Retired Auburn University historian J. Wayne Flynt notes that these struggles reflect broader trends in an increasingly secular society. "All Christian denominations are facing challenges," Flynt said. "Historically, rural societies where people lack power and control tend to be more religious as they seek to manage aspects of life beyond their control."

Southern Baptists reached their peak membership of over 16.3 million in 2006, including more than a million in Alabama. Today, membership has declined to under 13 million nationally, with Alabama home to 753,653 members across 3,164 Southern Baptist-affiliated churches.

The United Methodist Church has also faced a prolonged decline, losing millions of members since 1968. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this trend, and debates over LGBTQ rights led to a significant split in 2022-23. The United Methodist General Conference in May voted to fully embrace same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy, while a breakaway group, the Global Methodist Church, chose to maintain traditional prohibitions.

Closing Historical Churches

The decline in membership and internal conflicts have led to the closure of many historic United Methodist churches, including Uniontown United Methodist Church, highlighting the ongoing challenges facing these denominations.