What is the Religious Climate in your Hometown?

[uu_sage]

Rancho Cucamonga has a significant population of evangelicals and fundamentalists including non-denominational community churches, conservative Baptist churches including Southern Baptists,the Churches of Christ, Missouri Synod Lutherans, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutherans (WELS), and Pentecostals and Charismatics. Rancho Cucamonga is also home to the notorious Jack Chick. The only religious bodies that are liberal or moderate is the Episcopalians, the Presbyterians, the Temple Adat Reim (liberal independent synagoguge) or the Mosque.

I worship in the United Church of Christ (UCC) in Claremont.

 

[Erebus]

I'm curious. If someone asked me "how many folk around you are religious", I'd say something like (not bothering to check stats anywhere)

"oh, I'd say proably more than half the people who live near me believe in god. I don't really see any fundamentalism though, unless I specifically look for it. Most religious people in my area are Christian, followed by muslims. They seem to be moderate about thier beliefs. Lot's of people have a little cross hanging from their rear view mirror or a jesus fish on their bumper."

Other people have different experiences? I'm curious about countries that I much different. Places like Isreal, Indonesia, what would the description be for places like that?

Almost entirely Atheist (at least in my generation) with some liberal Christians and Muslims (though some of the older Muslims aren't as liberal). Obviously this is Manchester, so there are representatives of pretty much every religion, but these seem to be the main three.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

What is the Religious Climate in your Hometown?

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs.

 

[Morse]

What is the Religious Climate in your Hometown

Entirely christian. There is nothing but different sects of christian churches. Of course there are smaller denominations of religions, but they must have been repressed ages ago because I think in my entire life I've met 2 Jewish people and about twice as many atheists. There are people in my school who sit in class before school and read their bibles.

In fact, we used to have a Wal-Mart. But it moved to a large building and became a Wal-Mart Supercenter. One of our churches moved into the massive Wal-Mart building and is now this absolutely massive church Tycoon. Imagine your neighborhood Wal-Mart, now imagine it being a church. Scary as hell.

Im one of very few people who is not christian in my town who is also willing to discuss it. I could be a cultural movement figure if I wanted to. Granted I'd have about 2 Jewish people, 5 atheists, and a muslim on my side.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

In fact, we used to have a Wal-Mart. But it moved to a large building and became a Wal-Mart Supercenter. One of our churches moved into the massive Wal-Mart building and is now this absolutely massive church Tycoon. Imagine your neighborhood Wal-Mart, now imagine it being a church. Scary as hell.

Kitchener, Ontario used to have a bar that was a converted K-Mart. I think I like that idea better.

But speaking of church conversions, I've noticed a weird phenomenon that may hint at the religious character around here: twice so far, strip clubs in towns/cities where I live have been converted into churches.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

But speaking of church conversions, I've noticed a weird phenomenon that may hint at the religious character around here: twice so far, strip clubs in towns/cities where I live have been converted into churches.

Put to the two together.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I'm curious. If someone asked me "how many folk around you are religious", I'd say something like (not bothering to check stats anywhere)

"oh, I'd say proably more than half the people who live near me believe in god. I don't really see any fundamentalism though, unless I specifically look for it. Most religious people in my area are Christian, followed by Muslims. They seem to be moderate about thier beliefs. Lot's of people have a little cross hanging from their rear view mirror or a jesus fish on their bumper."

Other people have different experiences? I'm curious about countries that I much different. Places like Isreal, Indonesia, what would the description be for places like that?

Most in my observable demographic (personal observation without statistical data) are Christian with a noticeable presence of Muslims followed by Hindu and Jewish groups and although there are not as many, there are some Asian practices established to where a person can go. There are a few Wicca groups as well. The rest I take are atheist/humanist at least in appearance and demeanor. Of course I'm in New York State, so I cant relate what its like in other countries, states, and provinces.

 

[bp789]

I live in Irving, Texas, but I live really close to Coppell (like two minutes away). Most of the people here are Christian, but there are a lot of Hindus here, some Muslims, a few Jews, and some non religious people. It's more liberal compared to everywhere else, but I still have the occasional Christian missionary knocking on my door.

 

[Dena]

We have churches everywhere. Where I grew up there were a lot of Baptist churches. I live about an hour away now in a predominately Catholic area of the city. Everyone here is Catholic. But I do have a Church of Christ and Baptist church within walking distance. I do know of a Mosque, a Hindu Temple and Buddhist Temple in the vicinity. There are also quite a few Synagogues about 30 minutes from my house.

 

[Smoke]

Put to the two together.

You mean strip churches? I'll bet you could attract a congregation.

 

[Morse]

You mean strip churches? I'll bet you could attract a congregation.

Thats loaded though, because you can attach "strip" to anything and it'll attract a congregation.

In Portland, we have a vegan strip club. The owner is weird, because he seems sort of mean, but he's a vegan. He also once said "We keep our meat on the poles, not on the plates".

Vegan + Strip = Congregation
Vegan + ____ = Not-Congregation.

See what I mean?

 

[Vile Atheist]

Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Mostly Christian. About 20% atheist, 80% Christian, split between Catholics and Lutherans.

But among the Christians, most seem to be apathetic to religion and just call themselves Christian. There are a few that are pushy, but by and large you rarely encounter these people. We do have a Jehovah Kingdom Hall. Across the street from my university, actually. A few Mormons seeded here and there. Not many.

Church attendance is dropping like the roof of a Chinese coal mine. Very few people proselytize. Mostly just the few Jehovahs and Mormons.

 

[whereismynotecard]

Lots of people around here are Christians from what I can see. There's also some Mormons and Jews. And some atheists.(I'm sure there's a couple of pretty much every religion, but I haven't spoken to many people around here who aren't in the four groups I've already listed) I don't ask everyone, but I'm pretty sure the most prominent one, likely over half of the population around here, are Christians. Everyone's always surprised if I tell them I'm not a Christian, and everyone talks about the bible all the time.

In my literature classes, and other classes, sometimes something is compared to the bible, and everyone seems to know exactly what the professor is talking about when he/she mentions some chapter or passage of the bible... so either they believe in it, or they have, for some reason, read and memorized enough of it to know what the professor is talking about... I don't like that they assume everyone knows the reference though... It's not bible class... I don't need to know what the bible says.

Back to the point: Yeah, I think it's mostly Christians around here.

 

[whereismynotecard]

Here's what some weirdo website says about Illinois. I notice "Other Religions" don't even get their own categories... And I'm not sure if Non-Religious means atheist or just people who don't actually practice religions stuff like church... This is kind of more of a break down of "What kind of Christians live in Illinois" But that's a big portion of who lives here, so whatever...

*this is from 2004 too...

• Christian –; 80%
• Protestant –; 49%
• Baptist –; 12%
• Lutheran –; 7%
• Methodist –; 7%
• Presbyterian –; 3%
• Other Protestant or general Protestant –; 20%
• Roman Catholic –; 30%
• Other Christian –; 1%
• Other Religions –; 4%
• Non-Religious –; 16%

 

[Dena]

I found another Mosque today. I also saw a woman in Niquab today at the thrift store. You NEVER saw that around here a few years ago but I have seen several lately.

 

[lockyfan]

I have an issue with the Baptist who needs to touch me everytime he wants to pray for/with me but the woman across the street who is taking a Bible study I have no concern with.
I also have a problem with the army religion. I live about 10 miles from West Point, that place is a cult!!

yeah I know, you dont need to touch people to pray with them or for them

first you need to ask though.

also do ou have a concern for the woman or the people she is having a study with?

I have a massive problem with the guy next doors religion too. lol mine used to be football it not anymore though.

Like I said most people say "i have my own religion" whichever that religion is.

some even like to use "we are baptised in holy spirit and speak in tongues" just to get us away from tHe door.

then there is the very few who tell you to rack off or slowly back away locking the door or lock their house up even though we know your home because the TV is ON. HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

:rainbow1:

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I found another Mosque today. I also saw a woman in Niquab today at the thrift store. You NEVER saw that around here a few years ago but I have seen several lately.

I suppose this means that there's enough niqab-wearing women in your town that she thought there was a chance she could find one second-hand at the thrift store.

Like I said most people say "i have my own religion" whichever that religion is.

some even like to use "we are baptised in holy spirit and speak in tongues" just to get us away from tHe door.

then there is the very few who tell you to rack off or slowly back away locking the door or lock their house up even though we know your home because the TV is ON. HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

You actually proselytize door-to-door?

Edit - fun story: my uncle's a bit of a car nut. He's got a thing for restoring old British sports cars, especially Triumphs. One Sunday, my uncle was out in his driveway working on his Spitfire-du-jour when the Jehova's Witnesses came calling. They were apparently offended by the fact that he was working on his car on the "Lord's Day", so they told him "Don't you know that Sunday is supposed to be the day of rest? Haven't you read the Bible?"

My uncle responded, "No, but I've seen the movie."

The Jehova's Witnesses left in a huff.

 

[Storm]

To the OP

My hometown is very strongly conservative Christian. Anytime you meet someone new, safest assumption is that they're a Bible-thumping hypocrite. (And no, I'm not attributing that to all conservative Christians, just speaking to my own experience.)

Then I moved to my beloved Stumptown, and things are... rather different. Liberals, atheists, Muslims, and tolerance abound; I've been to several interfaith services; hypocrites are rare. Most surreal of all, *I* have become a churchgoer.

What a long strange trip it's been.....

 

[Morse]

To the OP

My hometown is very strongly conservative Christian. Anytime you meet someone new, safest assumption is that they're a Bible-thumping hypocrite. (And no, I'm not attributing that to all conservative Christians, just speaking to my own experience.)

Then I moved to my beloved Stumptown, and things are... rather different. Liberals, atheists, Muslims, and tolerance abound; I've been to several interfaith services; hypocrites are rare. Most surreal of all, *I* have become a churchgoer.

What a long strange trip it's been.....

Yeheah! Portland rocks.

 

[Sunstone]

Colorado Springs...Evangelical Conservative Christian.
Home of Focus on the Family, New Life Church (Ted Haggard), Andrew Wommack Ministries, Association of Christian Schools International, Christian and Missionary Alliance, and the International Bible Society.
:help:

And about 300 other religious non-profits, according to the newspaper.