GO FORWARD 4

God Trends
Useless Information On Spiritual Matters

Angels are popular on the West Coast, but for demons you have to go "down under." At least, that's the "trend" according to the computers at Google, the world's busiest search engine. By logging search terms with the city from which it originates, Google has developed local trends for some mysterious, largely useless purpose. Perhaps, like much of the internet, it's just pointless fun. Regardless, it generates some interesting observations about such things as Satanism, Promise Keepers and Frank Peretti.

Take Christian media, for instance. "Christian music" is -- no surprise -- most popular in Nashville while "Christian radio" is more sought in Oklahoma City."Christian books" and the "Bible" are tops in Dallas. The United States dominates the top ten in all Christian media except for "Christian television," which is split between the US and Australia (programmers and producers, take note!) "TBN" must mean something entirely different in Japan, which would explain why the top five cities looking for it are Nagoya, Shibuya, Osaka, Chiyoda and Tokyo (although in a TBN Mock-A-Thon, first place did go to a man from Kyoto!) Those searching for the full "Trinity Broadcasting Network" are likely in Dallas, L.A., Atlanta, Miami or Houston. It seems that L.A. prefers "Jan Crouch" while "Paul Crouch" gets the nod in Oklahoma City.

"Jack Van Impe" pulls the best in Minneapolis, but they only rank 7th in "end times." Virginia's favorite minister is "Jerry Falwell" except in Norfolk, where they like "Pat Robertson." "Benny Hinn" seems to be doing well in India and the Pacific Rim.

"God" is most popular in St. Louis, the "Holy Spirit" in Harrisburg, PA, and "Jesus Christ" in Salt Lake City. (The top 7 searchers for "Jesus" are in countries speaking Spanish or Portuguese, so I'm not sure if they're looking for a savior or a second cousin.) "Satan" must have a stronghold in Turkey, where Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara hold the top 3 spots. The United Kingdom is looking for "heaven" and Australia is looking for "hell."

If you're looking for "churches," you're probably in Dallas, Atlanta or St. Louis. But if you prefer "Baptist churches" you're definitely in the South (Greenville, SC; Jackson, MS; Birmingham, AL; Memphis and Nashville, TN, respectively). "Catholic churches" are popular in San Antonio; "Lutheran churches" in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Toronto still wants to experience "Pentecostal churches" and the "Mormon church" starts, of course, in Utah, then spreads to its neighbors in Idaho, Nevada and Arizona. You may find a "gay church" in Boston or San Francisco (numbers 4 and 8), but the real lookers are in Minneapolis and Austin. Fortunately for us, "Satanism" isn't desired in America. For that, you have to go to Johannesburg, Athens, or several cities in Sweden and Australia.

Cincinnati is most interested in "Christian colleges," but down the highway in Louisville they're more concerned with "seminary." Up in Dayton, they like "Christian schools," but not quite as much as Grand Rapids. If you're looking for "Christian singles," you'll have lots of company in Sacramento and Minneapolis, but not as much as those eager seekers in Oklahoma City. If you want to meet a real "Jesus freak," try looking in Atlanta.

I don't know what all of this means, unless "Frank Peretti" sells alot of books in Seattle and "Promise Keepers" tend to live in Des Moines. But I do know one thing: If you're reading this, there's a good chance you're in Nashville, Atlanta, Dallas, St. Louis or Orlando. After all, you've been looking for a good "Christian website."

Google Trends surveyed on July 20, 2006, and will likely change over time since they are...well, trends!