Is Boston liberal and intolerant? (living in, military, suburbs)

[thenewNewEnglander]

Originally Posted by 1979

Well Silviodante2, rest assured! The beauty of this, is you don't have to worry about living in a part of the country that has extremely high cost of living, and bad weather. You can live in an area more to your liking, and enjoy better weather with more affordability.

If you've been listening to the media, you're probably aware that G.W. Bush is considered one of the worst presidents of all time, from both republicans and democrats from various parts of the country, not just New England.

My experience is not just limited to an academic environment where one lives, sleeps, and breaths on a college campus but as a life long resident. I think Bostonians are a diverse group and are very objective in their thinking.

As far as not being accepted as a member of the "born-again" Christian sect, you have to ask yourself, "why might people be on the defense when exclaiming your religious affiliation?" Could it be because of the self-righteous attitude many people have associated as synonomous with Christians? The holier than thow attitude? And, the "if you don't believe as I do, you're going to hell mind-set"? If you lived here, you probably became aware that many illectual, well-read people do not take the bible so literally, as is often the case with many God-fearing Christians. And a large percentage don't believe it should be used as a basis to justify oppressing or denying ones right to equality. With that in mind, there are numerous churches here available to suit whatever needs ones religious affiliation may desire.

Well said 1979

[BruinsFan77005]

Originally Posted by carolinajack

I have heard others ask on the forums if Dallas was preachy and a religious and conservative town, so i wanted to know if Boston was liberal and intolerant town, intolerant of others views and way of life besides the left?

Well, I currently live in Houston and have also lived in Dallas and Atlanta and I find Boston much more tolerant of others views than any of those cities. As a Republican, for example, most people that I have met at events coordinated by the party dismiss my views because I am not a "born again" Christian. Because society is so religiously centric down here, it has been difficult to make friends because one of the first questions asked in polite conversation is what church do you belong to? Hindus, Muslims and Jews move to the back of the line. Also, I have found that most Bostonians tend to place far less emphasis on physical looks and material things and more on intellect and character.

[Amybcb]

MA tends to be very liberal leaning in general. You can/will find individuals who feel differently or are more conservative (like me) but the majority are more liberal minded.

Silviodante pretty much hit the nail on the head. "On my campus, I usually kept my mouth shut. But- and others agree with me- if I had been a drug-addict transvestite I would have gotten more "acceptance" than if I had revealed to people that I was a Republican and a "born-again" Christian." I would agree with that completely. I grew up in MA and would readily agree that although people say that they are "tolerant" here; it is typically of anything OTHER than conservatives/christians. They will immediately state/think that you are an "intolerant, close minded moron who has no intellect therefore uses religion". Ridiculous of them to think that... I know but it is their opinion and you know what they say about opinions!

I'm the only conservative minded person in my family (we all live in MA), so you can say I am the minority here :-)

[carolinajack]

yes i have been to boston many times, just wondering why people from Mass come on Texas forum asking if Dallas and Houston are churchy and so i wanted to know if Boston or North Hampton were intolerant.

i went to school at Brown in Providence so i know Boston well enough

[carolinajack]

and yes i too find Mass as intolerant as i find Dallas preachy, somewhat but not over the top unless you have a deeper conversation with an individual and then they will ask about your faith(in dallas) or get hatefilled about President Bush( in boston).

so equal measure i suppose

[jad79]

"yes i have been to boston many times, just wondering why people from Mass come on Texas forum asking if Dallas and Houston are churchy and so i wanted to know if Boston or North Hampton were intolerant."

Actually, it looks like the post you are referring to was posed by somebody in Japan, not Massachusetts. I saw nothing in his / her post about being from Mass / New England. Correct me if I'm wrong on this.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/dalla...s-churchy.html
Is Dallas....'churchy'?
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: American in JAPAN
490 posts, read 210,467 times
Reputation: 95

I love some of the responses to the question on the Dallas forum, such as this one. These are the sorts of arguments we thankfully don't have to have frequently here in Boston.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/dalla...churchy-5.html

Why do you think the middle class is fleeing California? Because its irreligious population is making everyone more prosperous and secure? No, it's because its irreligious attitudes are making everyone, especially the middle class, more strapped, economically weaker, less able to purchase the quality of housing that people in DFW can obtain, less able to rationally control and grow an economy. And now that they are dealing with a 40 billion dollar budget deficit, their tax load will become even more crushing and repel that much more of its business infrastructure.

Actually, coastal states are not necessarily irreligious, it's just that their religions are of the crackpot variety... many varieties of occult practices, bizzare rituals such as Burning Man, and the reversion to the paganism of nature worship... Environmentalism. Those religious beliefs do not strengthen a society, they accompany it on a dwindling spiral of poverty and stupidity and degeneracy.

BTW...Is Mississippi poor? Maybe, maybe not. If it weren't for the quality of its religion and the adherence of its people, it would be poorer than it is.

[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by 1979

People who believe in a religion that promotes intolerance? This would be an example of something a lot of us here don't tolerate.

This probably tells you all you need to know about Boston.

[GregW]

I have observed that in New England it is considered very inappropriate to ask someone about their religion, inappropriate to ask about their political party and never to ask about where their money comes from. We very strongly respect and protect the rights of individuals to be themselves. If this is "Liberalism" then I am a great supporter and a Liberal. In my experience, Boston, where I work, and Londonderry, where I live, are, very tolerant of the differences in people's choice of religion and politics.

[Peter Creedon]

My cousins Geraldine and Robert creedon are in MA politics. My aunt is also involved with the Progressive party. I find G and R to be intolerant. My aunt will at least will listen to your opinions.

[fatchance2005]

Originally Posted by carolinajack

I have heard others ask on the forums if Dallas was preachy and a religious and conservative town, so i wanted to know if Boston was liberal and intolerant town, intolerant of others views and way of life besides the left?

Almost mutually exclusive qualities.