Newcomers are likely to be asked, "Where do you go to church?"

The answer is likely to be different than in the past, however. The old-line Baptists and Methodists who dominated the landscape for years have been joined by a diverse range of religious groups.

Jews and Catholics have long played a role in the city's business and culture.

Both groups are growing rapidly, fueled by immigration from other parts of the country and the world.

Catholics are overtaking United Methodists as the second-largest group, behind Southern Baptists.

Islam thrives here in many forms. Hindus and Buddhists are present in a broad range of styles of practice.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a temple here. Baha'i's have multiple study groups.

From historic world religions -- such as Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism -- to New Age to neo-paganism, the area offers a virtual spiritual buffet.

Atlanta has its share of mega-churches, such as New Birth Missionary Baptist, with more than 20,000 members, but tucked in a grove of trees here or there amid suburban sprawl, you may still spot a little white clapboard church.

Chances are almost everybody can fit into some group here -- including atheists, who have their own gatherings.

ORGANIZATIONS

This list includes many of the major religious groups in the area. They can refer you to worship service locations and times.

African Methodist Episcopal Church: 404-524-8279

Assemblies of God: The Tabernacle, 404-284-5683

Atlanta Jewish Federation: 404-873-1661

Buddhist instruction and practice: Drepung Loseling Institute, 404-982-0051

BSS Hindu Temple, Clarkston: 404-297-0501

Byzantine Catholic, Epiphany church: 770-993-0973

Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta: 404-888-7801

Christian Church/Disciples of Christ: 1-800-755-0485

Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 6th District Headquarters: 404-752-7800

Christian Science Committee on Publication: 404-577-5624

Church of God, state offices: 770-448-9300

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon): 770-998-1301

Coptic Orthodox: St. Mary Church, 770-642-9727

Eastern Orthodox: St. Elias Antiochian, 404-378-8191

Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta: 404-601-5320

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: 404-589-1977

Georgia Baptist Convention: 770-455-0404

Greek Orthodox Diocese of Atlanta: 404-634-9345

Hindu: BAPS Hindu Temple, 404-297-0501

Islamic: Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam, 404-378-1600

Jain Society: 404-325-0627

Marcus Jewish Community Center: 770-396-3250

Moravian: First Moravian, 770-491-7250

Presbytery of Greater Atlanta/Presbyterian Church USA: 404-898-0711

Quaker: 404-377-2474

Russian Orthodox: 404-288-1556

Seventh-day Adventists, Southern Union Conference: 404-299-1832

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta: 404-634-5134

United Church of Christ, Southeast Conference: 404-607-1993

United Methodist Center: 1-800-277-4322 or 770-441-1111