The region known for steel is quietly making its mark as a religious stronghold with influence stretching nationwide.
A strong work ethic and conservative religious bent, the legacy of early settlers from Scotland and Ireland, has created a Bible Belt here as strong as that in the South and Midwest, theologians say, but with a personality of its own because Pittsburgh, with its many faiths and nationalities, has a deep religious commitment that spans church spectrums.
“God has done something very special here,” said Anglican Bishop Robert Duncan.
The melange of religious cultures is truly remarkable.
Michael Sider-Rose did an excellent job of mapping the postwar evangelical subculture in [i]Taking the Gospel to the Point[/i] and it is now possible to peruse the changing fortunes of the [url=http://catholicandreformed.blogspot.com/2009/02/pittsburghs-diocesan-history-now.html]Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh[/url] over a period of 250 years.
Hopefully, someone will do something similar for the Presbyterians of western Pennsylvania in the not too distant future.
When we were at Trinity School for Ministry (I believe in 2002) a local TV station did an informal, on-the-street poll on Christmas Eve to ask how many people intended to go to church. 70% answered in the affirmative. A special place.
In reading recently about family predecessors from Pittsburgh associated with the founding of the Pennsylvania Railroad, I learned it was the most sophisticated corporation of its day. It was fascinating to learn how those in Pittsburgh were the founders of our nationwide rail, manufacturing and financial infrastructure; how they developed the current concept of holding companies in order to address the assembling of multiple local railroads around the country into a nationwide rail system; the pictured faces of these early Pittsburgh people are those of a very solid-looking breed. I came to the conclusion that Pittsburgh should be given much credit as perhaps the most important city historically in the industrial/economic development of this country.