Others come into this area and are baffled and confused by the South. Life here sometimes takes place differently from their part of the country. They don't understand the South's people and their different ways of life, and often yearn for the region where they are native.

If you come into the South, for sure, you must understand its churches. For often the churches have dictated the mores, and the overall life, of the South.

Today we'll give you a simple test to determine whether you understand the South. It comes in the form of a story, from a former minister in Gwinnett.

Seems this Southerner, a Baptist, is exiled on a desert island for 20 years. There is no other person around all during this time. Then one day, people appear and rescue him.

They find that he has adapted quite well to his island environment, and has raised three structures. "This is my house," he told them, proud of the way he had used native materials to construct shelter and living quarters.

"What's this next building," a rescuer asked.

"Oh, that's my church," the marooned guy said.

"And what is that third building?"

He answers: "Oh, that's the church I used to attend."

* * * * *

Did you laugh? If you did, you now you understand the South, and at least one essential ingredient, its churches.

To understand most of the South, you must understand the Baptist church, the predominant church throughout this area. These Baptist congregations are fiercely independent, with each church answering to no central authority and having its own creed.

The recent census showed that Baptists not only dominate Gwinnett, but are gaining the most members, too. Recently released figures show the top five denominations in Gwinnett and their membership:

By the way, we wondered about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, that is, the Mormons, who are growing rapidly here. Their figures show that they count for 6,500 members in Gwinnett, probably ranking sixth on this list.

Meanwhile, the United Methodist, Church of God, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian (to a degree), and certainly the Catholic Church, and many other denominations, all have central governing powers and dogma. Supervision is administered by a bishop, or some other clerics.

Not the Baptists. They may gather together from time to time in associational or national convention, but this body doesn't speak for any particular church. Today Gwinnett has more than 100 Southern Baptist churches, plus other independent Baptist churches not belonging to an area association. No other denomination is close to the Baptists in number of churches in Gwinnett.

Back in 1850 in Gwinnett, the census showed that there were 14 Baptist churches, 16 Methodist and three Presbyterian churches. No other religion is listed. The majority of the region in the early days was Protestant. Baptist churches were often predominant. That's part of understanding the South.

The upshot for many was that if they didn't like the way their church was going, well, they picked up and moved to another, maybe across the street, or across town. This religious freedom, coupled with the American characteristic of independence, has given rise to a proliferation of churches in our nation, and most especially here in the South.

It's almost instinctive that a Baptist on an isolated island would find dissatisfaction with something in his first church, and feel compelled to build another. That's why Southerners, and especially Baptists, chuckle at this story, realizing the essential distinctive truth of the story.
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FEEDBACK:
10/4: Check out the math before panicking over SAT scores

Editor, the Forum:

Before you panic and start packing your bags to leave Georgia over our 50th rank in SAT scores, let's do the math. First, let me say that I'm just a dad with two sons in the Gwinnett Public School System.

An objective observation of Georgia's SAT results looks dramatically different than all the hysterical media would indicate. That literal interpretation ignores what's really taking place.

Georgia has a 65 percent participation rate in SAT testing. That's huge! The larger the statistical sampling, the better the results. That ranks us 14th in the country in participation and I think results from parents motivating their college-bound kids to cash in on Georgia's outstanding HOPE Scholarship program. The SAT minimum standard for admission at Georgia colleges has been on a steady rise since the HOPE Scholarship was introduced nearly 10 years ago.

By no coincidence, Georgia also ranks 14th in the country when you take the weighted average of SAT scores factored by participation rates. North Dakota can attempt to boast about being first in SAT scores, but they rank 50th in participation with only four percent of their kids taking the test. The 13 states ahead of us in weighted average scores are all within six percent of Georgia results.

Another obvious sign of encouragement for Georgia is the steady stream of families from all over the world trying to get to Georgia to partake in our prosperity, climate and lifestyle.

So next time you hear someone bashing our Georgia schools, do the math and you'll realize we have good reason to be proud of Georgia!

-- Brian F. Luders, Duluth

10/4: Comments captured her feelings about Iraq

Editor, the Forum:

For weeks, I've been struggling with my feelings toward President Bush's
saber rattling and war talks. Your comments captured my feelings exactly.
Thank you for putting into words what so many of us are thinking. Perhaps,
someone in Washington will actually listen to "we the people."

-- Diane Bates, Monroe
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OPEN HOUSE
Perimeter College plans open house Oct. 22

Georgia Perimeter College at the Gwinnett University Center will hold an open house at the Lawrenceville Campus at the Gwinnett University Center, Tuesday, Oct. 22, in the student center, at 7 p.m. 1000 University Center Lane, Lawrenceville. Representatives from student life, admissions, financial aid and academic programs will be on hand to answer questions during the two-hour program. For more information, call 404-299-4561.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Staggering thought either way

"Never judge a book by its movie."

--- J. W. Eagan
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