Douthat's Christian Penumbra

In his NYT Op-ed column:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/30/opinion/sunday/douthat-the-christian-penumbra.html

Ross Douthat speculates that one of the reasons red states don't seem to reap the promised harvest of religiosity, is that too many of the religious red-staters are insufficiently religious. If they were as devout as their most virtuous brethren, they'd be cool.

I think Douthat has his causality on backwards. If you have religious beliefs, it's much easier to put your religious life in order (at least outwardly) if your secular life is in order; that is, if you have financial security, good health for yourself and those close to you, good relationships, and a work schedule that allows you a bit of discretionary time, you probably will be much more able to live your faith.

But if you're chronically unhealthy, working two jobs, living hand-to-mouth, in an abusive relationship, or just generally stressed by living one misstep from homelessness and penury, chances are your church attendance might suffer some.