Southern revival Revival meeting on a Southern plantation, illustration from Harper's Weekly, 1872. (more) What Is the Bible Belt? Written by Melissa Petruzzello Melissa Petruzzello (she/her) is Assistant Managing Editor and covers plants, algae, fungi, insects, spiders, renewable energy and environmental engineering. She also handles certain topics in Christianity,... Melissa PetruzzelloAll Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 30, 2026 •History The Bible Belt is an informal term for a region of the United States, generally associated with the South and parts of the lower Midwest, where conservative Protestant Christianity has historically played a prominent role in public and cultural life. Although originally pejorative, the term has since been widely adopted by scholars, writers, and the public. It is often used to describe the historical and cultural landscape of the American South and surrounding areas, where...

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