Texas has been ranked as the third most religious state in the U.S., according to a study conducted by SmileHub.
The study considered factors such as the share of adults who consider religion very important in their lives, the number of places of worship per capita, the presence of religious education and religious careers, and the number of religion-affiliated organizations per capita.
Texas ranked second in the key dimension of religion-affiliated organizations and second in the religious interest indexes. However, the state ranked in the 42th place in the religious education and careers ranking.
Religious figures told the Fort Worth Report that the study mirrors the reality of the state, and particularly Tarrant County’s reality. Religious leaders told the report that while there are many students in theological schools in Texas, there are plenty of them who are studying online, a reason that could have impacted the state’s ranking on the religious careers aspect.
“Today, more and more students are accessing theological studies online, compared to those who are on campus as residential students,” David Bowman, executive director of the Tarrant Baptist Association told the Worth Report.
Texas also has plenty of religious-affiliated organizations, particularly those helping people in need like the poor, homeless, orphaned or even migrants. While the state’s leadership has said it is proudly Christian, Attorney General Ken Paxton has tried to shut down catholic charities aiding migrants.
A judge ruled that Paxton’s attempts violated religious freedom, and an attorney for the defendants said “there is no legal basis for closing a nonprofit that provides social services to refugees. Period.”
