Religion in Wichita, Kansas (Topeka: house, buy, college)

[cricket_factor]

My boyfriend is about to graduate from college in California, and we hope in the next six months to a year to move to Wichita, where he is from. I'm wondering about how the people there are in regards to religion. I came from a family whose parents (lapsed Catholics) said, "When you're eighteen, you can pick your own religion." Well, I haven't, but I believe in God.

Both of us are in our late forties and looking to move there to get married, buy a house and live and work. We don't have tattoos, we're not surfers (we'd like to get jet skis and go to the lakes), not party animals, we're pretty much regular people. I just wonder if I'm going to be approached in the grocery store, the workplace, or the front porch. I'm not against any religion; I am not a religious person by any means. I am pretty much live and let live and mind my own business. (I've visited Kansas in the last three years and sampled a great Mennonite pie! I think Wichita is a pretty decent place to live.)

Any heads up you people can give me will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[edlweiss]

The Catholic Church is dynamic and thriving in Wichita. View the Diocese on line and view pictures of parishes. Lots of cultural events for a city its size and easy to live in small town atmosphere or urban. I lived in Calif. and think Wichita has more opportunity for the ave. icome family.

Good Luck.

[fishbowl]

Well, you can be approached in any state in the union by religous types, especially Jehovah's Witnesses. But I'll tell ya, I was approached in California FAR more than here in Kansas. In fact, they've only come to my door once in the past nearly 5 years. I've never been approached outside my house in the over 12 years that we've lived here.

We live in a small town (850 people) but get to Wichita and Topeka once or twice a month for the day, sometimes more.

The churches in Kansas seem to be a place that brings people together, helps a community be cohesive, especially in small towns.

And I'll tell you one more thing, the best place to eat in Kansas is a church potluck supper!

I can't imagine you'll have any problems moving here when it comes to relgion or comes to being from California. We didn't. I love it here. There are things about California that I miss, but for quality of life, I love living in small town Kansas.

Janet

[cricket_factor]

Thank you both so much for your replies and information - and yes, fishbowl, my boyfriend coincidentally said last night almost exactly what you stated in your reply - that in the last three years he has lived here in California he has been approached more times by members of several different religions than all the years he had lived in Kansas (since 1969).

Graduation is now one week away for my boyfriend. I am very much looking forward to living in a place where there are wide open spaces, peace and quiet to be found, and home ownership is still a possibility for the vanishing middle class.

[sanfranmike]

I moved to Wichita 11 yrs ago from Calif. There is actually a diversity of religions here, even though we are part of the bible belt.I am not religious at all, and yes I have been approached in public by "christians" in the mall trying to "reach out" I simply said "not interested" and walked away. That happend once in 11 years. Twice that I can remember I had mormans knock on my door to " share" I simply told them the same thing I said to the christians.I dont have any problems with the religious people in general here in wichita.I actually have friends that are christian, some catholic, methodist and even atheist.Basically religion isnt really a big problem.

[ljkbsb]

I moved from Wichita to South Carolina and Wichita is much more open-minded regarding your religious options. I thought I had lived in the Bible belt, but I was wrong. I rarely had anyone in Wichita approach me about religion unless I initiated the encounter, such as visiting a church. Sure, we had the occaisional Jehovah's Witness, but that happens all over. I have lived here a year annd not selected a church and often feel like people are judging me. I am particular about what type of church I attend and do not want to join the church on the corner.