J.D. Vance grew up with God but, for the most part, without church. His family rarely found themselves in a pew on Sunday morning, and they didn't turn to faith leaders for help in times of crisis.
Contrary to popular opinion, this approach to religious life is relatively widespread in so-called hillbilly country, or the region of the U.S. that stretches along the Appalachian Mountains, according to Vance, who grew up in southern Ohio. Families talk about God but don't trust religious institutions, missing out on the hope and stability that church involvement often brings.
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