Editing Alabama (section)

=== Religion ===
[[File:Highlands UMC Birmingham Dec 2012 2.jpg|thumb|Highlands United Methodist Church in Birmingham, part of the Five Points South Historic District]]
[[File:Temple B'Nai Sholom Dec2009 01.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Temple B'nai Sholom (Huntsville, Alabama)|Temple B'Nai Sholom]] in Huntsville, established in 1876. It is the oldest synagogue building in continuous use in the state.]]
[[File:Islamic Center of Tuscaloosa.jpg|thumb|upright|The Islamic Center of Tuscaloosa]]
{{Further|topic=Christianity in Alabama|History of Baptists in Alabama|List of Baptist churches in Alabama|Episcopal Diocese of Alabama|Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast|Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile|Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Alabama}}

Pre-colonial and present-day Alabamans have adhered to multiple religions including [[Native American religions|Native American]] and [[African diaspora religions]], and predominantly [[Christianity in the United States|Christianity]] with the establishment of [[Spanish missions in Florida]]. Other faiths including [[Judaism]], [[Islam in the United States|Islam]], and [[Indian religions]] were introduced since European colonization and American settlement. According to a 2023 [[Public Religion Research Institute]] survey, an estimated 80% of the adult population were Christian.<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Values Atlas |url=https://ava.prri.org/#religious/2023/States/religion1/m/US-AL |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=Public Religion Research Institute |archive-date=April 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404161714/https://ava.prri.org/#religious/2023/States/religion1/m/US-AL |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 2008 [[American Religious Identification Survey]], 86% of Alabama respondents reported their religion as Christian, including 6% Catholic, with 11% as having no religion.<ref name="ARIS2008">{{cite web |url=http://b27.cc.trincoll.edu/weblogs/AmericanReligionSurvey-ARIS/reports/ARIS_Report_2008.pdf |title=American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) 2008 |author1=Barry A. Kosmin |author2=Ariela Keysar |year=2009 |publisher=Trinity College |location=Hartford, Connecticut, US |page=20 |access-date=May 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090407053149/http://b27.cc.trincoll.edu/weblogs/AmericanReligionSurvey-ARIS/reports/ARIS_Report_2008.pdf |archive-date=April 7, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The composition of other traditions is 0.5% Mormon, 0.5% Jewish, 0.5% Muslim, 0.5% Buddhist, and 0.5% Hindu.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://religions.pewforum.org/maps |title=Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics—Pew Research Center |date=May 11, 2015 |website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project |access-date=July 21, 2015 |archive-date=July 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707085300/http://religions.pewforum.org/maps |url-status=live}}</ref>

Alabama is located in the middle of the [[Bible Belt]], a region of numerous [[Protestantism|Protestant]] Christians. Alabama has been identified as one of the most religious states in the United States, with about 58% of the population attending church regularly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060502/news_lz1n2thelist.html |title=Church or synagogue attendance by state |website=The San Diego Union-Tribune |access-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513103435/http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060502/news_lz1n2thelist.html |archive-date=May 13, 2012}}</ref> A majority of people in the state identify as Evangelical Protestant. {{as of|2010}}, the three largest denominational groups in Alabama are the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], [[The United Methodist Church]], and [[Nondenominational Christianity|non-denominational]] Evangelical Protestant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/s/01/rcms2010_01_state_name_2010.asp |publisher=The Association of Religion Data Archives |title=State membership Report |access-date=November 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012074403/http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/s/01/rcms2010_01_state_name_2010.asp |archive-date=October 12, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In Alabama, the Southern Baptist Convention has the highest number of adherents with 1,380,121; this is followed by the United Methodist Church with 327,734 adherents, non-denominational Evangelical Protestant with 220,938 adherents, and the Catholic Church with 150,647 adherents. Many Baptist and Methodist congregations became established in the [[Great Awakening]] of the early 19th century, when preachers proselytized across the South. The [[Assemblies of God]] had almost 60,000 members, the [[Churches of Christ]] had nearly 120,000 members. The [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian churches]], strongly associated with Scots-Irish immigrants of the 18th century and their descendants, had a combined membership around 75,000 ([[Presbyterian Church in America|PCA]]—28,009 members in 108 congregations, [[Presbyterian Church (USA)|PC(USA)]]—26,247 members in 147 congregations,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/s/01/rcms2010_01_state_name_2010.asp |publisher=The Association of Religion Data Archives |title=Maps & Reports |access-date=July 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012074403/http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/s/01/rcms2010_01_state_name_2010.asp |archive-date=October 12, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the [[Cumberland Presbyterian Church]]—6,000 members in 59 congregations, the [[Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America]]—5,000 members and fifty congregations plus the [[Edgewater Presbyterian Church|EPC]] and Associate Reformed Presbyterians with 230 members and nine congregations).<ref name="thearda">{{cite web |url=http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/state/01_2000.asp |title=State Membership Reports |year=2000 |access-date=June 15, 2010 |publisher=thearda.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829192301/http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/state/01_2000.asp |archive-date=August 29, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In a 2007 survey, nearly 70% of respondents could name all four of the Christian [[Gospel]]s. Of those who indicated a religious preference, 59% said they possessed a "full understanding" of their faith and needed no further learning.<ref>{{cite news |first=Kirsten |last=Campbell |work=Mobile Register |title=Alabama rates well in biblical literacy |date=March 25, 2007 |page=A1 |publisher=Advance Publications, Inc}}</ref> In a 2007 poll, 92% of Alabamians reported having at least some confidence in churches in the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myaea.org/PDFfile/Confidence+in+State+Institutions07.pdf |title=Confidence in State and Local Institutions Survey |publisher=Capital Survey Research Center |access-date=June 2, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614184507/http://www.myaea.org/PDFfile/Confidence%20in%20State%20Institutions07.pdf |archive-date=June 14, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=David |last=White |title=Poll says we feel good about state Trust in government, unlike some institutions, hasn't fallen |date=April 1, 2007 |work=Birmingham News |page=13A}}</ref>

Although in much smaller numbers, many other religious faiths are represented in the state as well, including Judaism, [[Islam]], [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Sikhism]], the [[Baháʼí Faith]], and [[Unitarian Universalism]].<ref name="thearda"/>

Jews have been present in what is now Alabama since 1763, during the colonial era of Mobile, when [[Sephardi Jews|Sephardic Jews]] immigrated from London.<ref name="shomayim">{{cite book |title=The Gates of Heaven : Congregation Sha'arai Shomayim, the first 150 years, Mobile, Alabama, 1844–1994 |last=Zietz |first=Robert |year=1994 |publisher=Congregation Sha'arai Shomayim|location=Mobile, Alabama |pages=1–7}}</ref> The oldest Jewish congregation in the state is [[Congregation Sha'arai Shomayim (Mobile, Alabama)|Congregation Sha'arai Shomayim]] in Mobile. It was formally recognized by the state legislature on January 25, 1844.<ref name="shomayim"/> Later immigrants in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries tended to be [[Ashkenazi Jews]] from eastern Europe. Jewish denominations in the state include two [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]], four [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative]], ten [[Reform Judaism|Reform]], and one [[Humanistic Judaism|Humanistic]] synagogue.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kosherdelight.com/USA/Alabama/AlabamaSynagogues.shtml |title=Synagogues in Alabama |publisher=Kosher Delight |access-date=September 8, 2012 |archive-date=January 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117053313/http://www.kosherdelight.com/USA/Alabama/AlabamaSynagogues.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref>

Muslims have been increasing in Alabama, with 31 mosques built by 2011, many by African-American converts.<ref name="2011muslim">{{cite news |title=Survey: U.S. Muslims grow by 30 percent since 2000 |author=Kay Campbell |url=http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2012/02/survey_us_muslims_grow_by_30_p.html |newspaper=The Huntsville Times |date=February 29, 2012 |access-date=September 8, 2012 |archive-date=July 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719215839/http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2012/02/survey_us_muslims_grow_by_30_p.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Several Hindu temples and cultural centers in the state have been founded by Indian immigrants and their descendants, the best-known being the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Birmingham, the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Birmingham in [[Pelham, Alabama|Pelham]], the Hindu Cultural Center of North Alabama in [[Capshaw, Alabama|Capshaw]], and the Hindu Mandir and Cultural Center in Tuscaloosa.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.garamchai.com/templesSE.htm |title=Hindu Temples in the South East: catering to the needs of NRI and Indians in US |website=GaramChai |access-date=September 22, 2012 |archive-date=September 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922084948/http://www.garamchai.com/templesSE.htm |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://hindumandir.cc/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33&Itemid=42 |title=History of Hindu Mandir & Cultural Center |website=Hindu Mandir & Cultural Center |access-date=September 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117053326/http://hindumandir.cc/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33&Itemid=42 |archive-date=January 17, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

There are six [[Dharma centre|Dharma centers]] and organizations for [[Theravada]] Buddhists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manjushri.com/Centers/alabama.htm |title=Dharma Centers and Organizations in Alabama |website=Manjushri Buddhist Community |publisher=AcuMaestro |access-date=September 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117053327/http://www.manjushri.com/Centers/alabama.htm |archive-date=January 17, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Most monastic Buddhist temples are concentrated in southern Mobile County, near [[Bayou La Batre, Alabama|Bayou La Batre]]. This area has attracted an [[Indochina refugee crisis|influx of refugees from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam]] during the 1970s and thereafter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.journalofamericanhistory.org/projects/katrina/Gaillard.html |title=After the Storms: Tradition and Change in Bayou La Batre |author=Frye Gaillard |date=December 2007 |website=Journal of American History |publisher=Organization of American Historians |access-date=September 22, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201013011/http://www.journalofamericanhistory.org/projects/katrina/Gaillard.html |archive-date=December 1, 2012}}</ref> The four temples within a ten-mile radius of Bayou La Batre, include Chua Chanh Giac, Wat Buddharaksa, and Wat Lao Phoutthavihan.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blog.al.com/living-press-register/2011/10/for_vietnamese_buddhists_in_so.html |title=For Vietnamese Buddhists in South Alabama, A Goddess of Mercy Is A Powerful Figure |author=Roy Hoffman |newspaper=Press-Register |date=October 22, 2011 |access-date=September 22, 2012 |archive-date=November 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117144248/http://blog.al.com/living-press-register/2011/10/for_vietnamese_buddhists_in_so.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://blog.al.com/living-press-register/2009/08/a_welcome_gateway_to_the_far_e.html |title=A Welcome Gateway to the Far East |author=Debbie M. Lord |newspaper=Press-Register |date=August 29, 2009 |access-date=September 22, 2012 |archive-date=November 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119120248/http://blog.al.com/living-press-register/2009/08/a_welcome_gateway_to_the_far_e.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://blog.al.com/live/2012/05/buddhist_monk_killed_temple_le.html |title=Buddhist Monk Killed Temple Leader During Argument Over Food, Prosecutor Says |author=Katherine Sayre |newspaper=Press-Register |date=May 17, 2012 |access-date=September 22, 2012 |archive-date=November 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117013740/http://blog.al.com/live/2012/05/buddhist_monk_killed_temple_le.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

The first community of adherents of the Baháʼí Faith in Alabama was founded in 1896 by Paul K. Dealy, who moved from Chicago to Fairhope. Baháʼí centers in Alabama exist in Birmingham, Huntsville, and [[Florence, Alabama|Florence]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shoalsbahais.com/About-Us.html |title=Bahais of the Shoals |website=shoalsbahais.com |access-date=July 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511002203/http://www.shoalsbahais.com/About-Us.html |archive-date=May 11, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>