First Baptist Church in Shady Grove, MS. The sign welcomes visitors with promises of free "supper" and gospel singing.
Even a dental clinic in Batesville, MS shows signs of religion. The cross reads "Remember Me" and is topped with a crown of thorns.
Old cross on the side of Highway 7 in Abbeville, MS.
Southern Culture and Religion
By Erin Parsons
When discussing the ways of the South, it’s hard to avoid the influence of religion on Southern culture. Religion has shaped the South in many ways – from culturally to demographically.
This photo essay intends to convey the unique relationship that the South has with religion. The essay illustrates the way that religion is present in many aspects of Southern life, such as art, politics, natural environment and public discourse.
One thing that can be noted in respect to small Southern towns is that each community has at least one church. Even if the town has no gas station, it can be expected that they will have some sort of church building. While driving along Highway 6 towards Batesville, Mississippi, I ventured down numerous side roads with signs that advertised different churches. The large number of churches that I found on these winding rural roads was astounding. Even in Sledge, Mississippi (which had a population of 529 in the year 2000) there were many old church buildings lining the highway.
These churches provide each community with a place not only for worship, but for socializing, eating and recreation. Churches provide an identity for these Southern towns, allowing them to survive. The photo of First Baptist Church in Shady Grove, Mississippi demonstrates the Southern small-town spirit, as the sign reads “y’all come.”
In larger Southern towns, the existence of religion is still apparent. Daycare centers, dentist offices, billboards and even hospitals exhibit religious affiliations. In Batesville, many businesses have religious messages on signs and in windows. Religious Southerners are very passionate and open about their faith, and this is demonstrated in the photos above.
In many areas in the South, large “mega-churches” are starting to develop. Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee is an example of one of these churches. Their current membership is somewhere around 30,000. This is just another example of the great influence that religion has had on Southern life.
An interesting factor about Southern religion is the way it developed in regards to race. Before Reconstruction, many church congregations were biracial. But after the Civil War, a separate black church emerged. Segregation, in this instance, was accepted and led to even more shaping of the South.
Religion shaped the music of the South as well. Gospel music has allowed Southern culture and religion to permeate the rest of the world. Artists including Elvis Presley have showcased gospel music in their works.
In addition to influencing the South for the good, some believe that religion has also influenced the South negatively. The region of the South known as the “Bible Belt” has been under scrutiny by various journalists because of its influence on politics, science and education.
Whether religion has influenced the South positively or negatively, there is no doubt that it is a large part of Southern culture that is interwoven into the traditions and customs of Southern people. In one way or another, religion is apparent in each Southern town and gives the South distinct and unique characteristics.
