General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The South Shown in Graphics. [View all]HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)The map for mainline protestantism is the one below northern Midwestern states 30-40% mainline protestant, while southern states are 6-10% mainline protestant.

It's not clear to me that religion has much leverage on diabetes. Probably not as much as diet and genetics. And even while evangelical religion is at work on issues of evolution and sex education, I am not sure that evangelical religion has much leverage on completion of high school diploma requirements.
The south has a discernibly strong region affiliations with culture..although those affiliations are spreading. Still, I am not threatened by Duck Dynasty, Swamp People, Catfish Noodlers, NASCAR, fried chicken or Paula Deen.
I do feel threatened by the push for American neo-feudalism. But that seems to have only spurious associations with the ante-bellum culture of southern planters.
That movement's affiliations seem to be much more pronounced among denizens of lower Manhattan, and New York residents who were born in Kansas.