I was checking out what Jack Vance was up to over at Atheist Revolution. It never fails to amaze me how the Internet consistently makes me want to move to Norway. Jack’s post, How Religious is Mississippi? kept up that fine tradition. The Pew Research Center collected data on how religious each state is. Unsurprisingly, Mississippi is #1.

It appears that 82% of Mississippians indicate that they believe in some sort of god “with absolute certainty.” I suppose the silver lining is that it is only 82% believe this. This number seems certain to decline in the future, although I suppose the state of public education in Mississippi might be an obstacle. -from How Religious is Mississippi?

Absolute certainty. That’s frightening. While skepticism puts the brakes on our crazy ape brains (maybe putting my dick and balls into the Dyson Air Blade isn’t a good idea?), absolute certainty pours fuel onto the raging tire fires of our base impulses.

You’ll be happy to know that there is a wonderful image to capture Mississippi’s position on faith-based mass psychosis.

I had to see how my state did. Massachusetts did me proud.

(Don’t worry, I don’t feel that good.)

Massachusetts and New Hampshire share last place.

You’d think I’d be happy with the results. I am, somewhat.

The idea that 40% of the Massachusetts population believe in God with absolute certainty is disturbing. While it doesn’t create a full-blown societal mental disorder like the 82% in Mississippi, the idea that 4 out of 10 of my fellow citizens have a tenuous grasp on reality is disturbing.

Perhaps if the two states were patients visiting the doctor, Massachusetts would be the one that has its diabetes under control. Mississippi, on the other hand, would be on the fast track to losing its eyesight.

You can see how your state fares here!

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