What is the Least Christian City in America?

San Francisco is the 8th least Christian city, according to Barna.
San Francisco is the 8th least Christian city, according to Barna.
A new poll measures Christianity in America.

The Barna Group, a research think tank focusing on faith and culture, has rated the top 50 American cities with the least amount of Christian influence. They used 16 metrics including self-identification as atheist and not attending church regularly.

What is the Least Christian City in America?[/tweetthis]

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The least Christian city is Portland, Maine. Boston, New York City, and San Francisco are also in the top ten.

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Barna uses the term “post-Christian” to describe the factors used in determining the Christianity level in each state. Their 16-point criteria go beyond just ticking off “Christian” to describe a person’s religion by actually qualifying their behavior, thoughts, and core identity. In their list of criteria, a “post-Christian” person is defined has meeting nine or more factors. A “Highly post-Christian” person meets 13 of the factors — which is nearly all of them.

Barna’s 16 “Post-Christian Metrics”
  • Do not believe in God
  • Identify as atheist or agnostic
  • Disagree that faith is important in their lives
  • Have not prayed to God (in the last week)
  • Have never made a commitment to Jesus
  • Disagree the Bible is accurate
  • Have not donated money to a church (in the last year)
  • Have not attended a Christian church (in the last 6 months)
  • Agree that Jesus committed sins
  • Do not feel a responsibility to “share their faith”
  • Have not read the Bible (in the last week)
  • Have not volunteered at church (in the last week)
  • Have not attended Sunday school (in the last week)
  • Have not attended religious small group (in the last week)
  • Bible engagement scale: low (have not read the Bible in the past week and disagree strongly or somewhat that the Bible is accurate)
  • Not Born Again

8 of the 10 least Christian cities are in the Northeast.[/tweetit] Many of the more Christian cities are located in the south, such as Shreveport, Louisiana, Jackson, Mississippi, and Memphis, Tennessee. Many densely populated areas such as New York City (#7), San Francisco (#8), Los Angeles (#18), and Chicago (#19) rank higher on the list as post-Christian.

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