Things you only see in Charlotte. (Graham, Montreat: bankrupt, living, legal)

[vindaloo]

Originally Posted by CouponJack

Vindaloo, no one is saying that and no need to get all defensive (and put down any particular religion) because I can assure you whatever you believe in is not w/o flaws

Wrong, Mike said it. I didn't put down a religion. I simply gave an example of why someone "might" find religion practiced differently. I am agnostic so I could care less about what religion one happens to be.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by mike7586

Charlotte has always been overly religious. It is the home of Billy Graham (and was the home for PTL). Maybe you didn't read my previous post where I said:

"Some people complain about the growth in Charlotte changing the culture or whatever, but one thing it hasn't changed is religion. If anything, it's made Charlotte even more religious."

So yes, I agree. The people moving here have something to do with it as well. Charlotte seems to attract those kinds of people because it's known not only as being a more conservative area, but also as "The City of Churches". Regardless of all the growth and people from other places, the mentality is still alive and well here. There are people like that everywhere, and a lot of them seem to be moving here, so nothing is really changing in that aspect. I also said in an earlier post that this is why Charlotte is referred to as having a "small-town mentality" for a city of its size or not being a "real city". In some ways, I agree with those statements. If I wanted to live in a small town, then I would live in one.

Hope you didn't think I was arguing with you, cause I wasn't. I don't know that church attendance per capita is higher here than for any other demographically similar population group located in some other region, so I don't feel I can speak to that issue.

But I felt it was important to mention in regard to what people may PERCEIVE about Charlotte - if they are PERCEIVING that Charlotte is "very religious" b/c it is an old Southern city filled with religious Southerners . . . I believe that would be an incorrect perception, since the growth in churches here has been in large part due to the influx of newcomers. Southern natives make up only 1/3 of Charlotte now.

As far as your mention of PTL and Billy Graham . . . Billy Graham's family was from Charlotte, but he spent his ministry living in Montreat, not Charlotte . . . and PTL was actually located in South Carolina, and was a television based ministry, drawing upon supporters from many regions, not just Ft. Mill. For anyone who lived here in 1985, it would be clearly understood that Ft Mill was not as robustly developed an area as it is now, and Ballantyne did not even exist as a commercial destination . . . and no one considered PTL to be a Charlotte-based entity. Ft. Mill 25 years ago was a very separate area from Charlotte's borders. The only reason PTL was ever tied with Charlotte is b/c the Charlotte Observer did an investigation on the organization.

[vindaloo]

Originally Posted by mike7586

Charlotte has always been overly religious. It is the home of Billy Graham (and was the home for PTL). Maybe you didn't read my previous post where I said:

"Some people complain about the growth in Charlotte changing the culture or whatever, but one thing it hasn't changed is religion. If anything, it's made Charlotte even more religious."

Incorrect. The largest religion in Charlotte is Catholic.

So yes, I agree. The people moving here have something to do with it as well. Charlotte seems to attract those kinds of people because it's known not only as being a more conservative area, but also as "The City of Churches". Regardless of all the growth and people from other places, the mentality is still alive and well here. Besides, if a person is so ignorant that having churches is a problem they should actually move to a small town where there is only one church.
There are people like that everywhere, and a lot of them seem to be moving here, so nothing is really changing in that aspect. I also said in an earlier post that this is why Charlotte is referred to as having a "small-town mentality" for a city of its size or not being a "real city".

Never heard this before. Do you think you assessment speaks for everyone? I have always heard that Charlotte is a very progressive growing city.


In some ways, I agree with those statements. If I wanted to live in a small town, then I would live in one.

For your information, the "Bible Belt" has shifted west and now includes the states of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Additionally, Los Angeles is the most religious city in the U.S. I have yet to meet the person that decided not to move to Charlotte due to the number of churches or "in your face" attitude as you mentioned. Religion is part of being a diverse society. The "in your face" thing is your experience, not ours.

[CouponJack]

Originally Posted by vindaloo

I didn't put down a religion. .

Yes you did. This is what you said:


I think it is a bias northern stereotype that religion is more important in our lives than up north where a huge percentage of the population are Catholic and they can simply go into the church, say a prayer, pay a fine for their sins, and start all over again without "In your face" which I think is "In your mind"


This is rediculous and its very sad that you had to say something like this (obv incorrect attempt of a put down for a certain faith).

I've always been taught to be respectful of other peoples beliefs or non-beliefs....

[vindaloo]

[quote=mike7586;11230663]

Charlotte has always been overly religious. It is the home of Billy Graham (and was the home for PTL).

So, Atlanta is the home of Martin Luthur King, does that make it overly black?

[vindaloo]

Originally Posted by CouponJack

Yes you did. This is what you said:


I think it is a bias northern stereotype that religion is more important in our lives than up north where a huge percentage of the population are Catholic and they can simply go into the church, say a prayer, pay a fine for their sins, and start all over again without "In your face" which I think is "In your mind"


This is rediculous and its very sad that you had to say something like this (obv incorrect attempt of a put down for a certain faith).

I've always been taught to be respectful of other peoples beliefs or non-beliefs....

Me to, and I do. What did I say that wasn't right on? Despite the 16th century beliefs of the Catholics, they are O.K. in my book

[vindaloo]

Originally Posted by CouponJack

All this "defensiveness" of displaying stickers/decals reminds me of how notherners are defensive of their good pizza....

Its all the same, just different topics....

Again, right on

[vindaloo]

Originally Posted by mike7586

Everything in moderation. In other semi-large cities, people have faith but it doesn't consume their lives. In Charlotte, religion is much more in your face.

Wow! I am impressed. Please present the data that supports your highly researched, indisputable data.

[SunnyKayak]

[CouponJack]

Originally Posted by vindaloo

Me to, and I do. What did I say that wasn't right on? Despite the 16th century beliefs of the Catholics, they are O.K. in my book

You do know that your credibility on here is shot every time you criticize one's religion don't you? I know you probably don't care, I'm just letting you know. I think you are a bad example as a southerner who is supposed to be welcoming/tolerant of someone's religion, but all you do is make derogatory comments......


Since you think its ok to criticize ones religion, why not go for the gusto and critcize different races say african americans or latinos, or gays? Lets here it! Get the popcorn guys! You are on a roll!