Religion & Political Affiliation

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I'm Lutheran. ELCA, the most liberal denomination. ELCA members are mostly Democratic, although probably not in the Dakotas.

The Missouri Synod is more conservative and probably mostly Republican. The Wisconsin Synod are even more conservative, they're basically the Southern Baptists of the midwest. So they're probably solidly Republican.

Something rather interesting: Jehova's Witnesses actually lean Democratic, the few that vote that is (their religion prohibits them from voting)

And yes, prior to now Muslims were mostly Republican, due primarily to social issues.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Atheists very rarely vote Republican.

That makes sense when you consider the fact that the Bush regime hates atheists.

around 25% do, mostly opebo and RightWingNut types...

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Lutherans really aren't evangelical either though.

Probably more similar to Catholics and Episcopalians than baptists or the like.

heh..

<--LCMS and a Republican (albeit very liberal one)

is that Missouri Synod? But if they aren't the Wisconsin Synod probably is, if not they are still insane. If I'm not mistaken, while the Missouri Synod doesn't allow women to be ministers, they do allow them to vote on parish matters, however the Wisconsin Synod doesn't allow any voice for women at all. blech.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Catholics that actually care what the church says are Republicans.

Catholics that couldn't care less (like Kerry) are Democrats.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

But wait...aren't most (I actually have to exclude myself here)...Lutherans scandanavian/german and midwesterners?

(I realize that in the carolinas there is a large amount of republican lutherans, but don't the majority live in the upper midwest?)

correct. Lutherns outside of here however tend to belong to the more conservative denominations. Outside of here, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Dakotas, you won't find too many ELCA members.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

But wait...aren't most (I actually have to exclude myself here)...Lutherans scandanavian/german and midwesterners?

(I realize that in the carolinas there is a large amount of republican lutherans, but don't the majority live in the upper midwest?)

No.  

The Lutheran churches are an exception to the general decline among old line protestant churches in the United States.  There has been a quiet and general expansion of lutherans as many protestants flee the politically correct 'churches.'  

No, the majority of American Lutherans do NOT "live in the upper midwest."

Acutally as Scandanavian Americans slowly drop their historical membership in Lutheran churchs (which has been going on for more than two decades) the percentage of Luterans residing in the "upper midwest" has been slightly declining while it has been growing nationwide.

Ethnically, the largest component of lutheran churches in the United States is probably (surprise) people whose historical antecedants are German.

The lutheran churches in the rural parts of Minnesota are much more conservative than the lutheran churches in the metro area.

Lutheran churches in Minnesota tend to reflect the general population in the area they are located rather than being strongly one party or the other in general.

I live in "rural" Minnesota (it's actually a small but definately urban city who's Chamber of Commerce's motto is "A little Twin Cities. A lot Minnesota.", but it's 80 miles southwest of Minneapolis and definately not a metro area) and the ELCA churches here sure as hell aren't conservative.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

it's better to say SOUTHERN Baptists are staunch Republicans, other Baptist denominations are more liberal and not quite as much, like the American Baptists which Jimmy Carter belongs to.