I grew up in one of those states and it's part of why I'm a certified America Hater today. I genuinely don't think people who haven't been exposed to it, even within the country, but especially outside of it, really have a grasp on how prominent and powerful religion is in the US. Hell, I didn't fully understand it myself until I lived outside of the country for a time and saw what normal is like. This country is a madhouse.