[wired1000]

My family is considering a move to Midland. I've visited a couple of times and it seems like a very nice place for families. Our only concern is that we are more liberal than conservative, and we do not actively practice any religion. My wife was raised Catholic and I was raised Jewish, but we do not regularly attend church or synagogue. I'm wondering if this will in any way present a challenge for us living in Midland. We appreciate any thoughts or advice you can share.

[SunsetSky]

I lived in Midland from birth through age 21 and, of course, I couldn't wait to get out of there and away from my parents after college. I never thought I'd say this, but I would move back. I visit at least every other month to see friends and family. Midland is a nice town with a good assortment of amenities (Center for the Arts, Dow Gardens, farmers market, nice downtown, mall/retail area, Great Lakes Loons baseball, etc.).

I think you'd do fine in Midland. Being a liberal in Midland can't be any worse than being a conservative in Ann Arbor, and I've survived it for 13 years .

[tjay]

i always wonder about the 'rest' of michigan. i know there are liberals in the detroit area, (lots of conservatives too), but it seems the smaller towns just north of me (flint area) are all church going republicans?

[chiroptera]

ALL church going republicans?? Really? Don't you think that is a tiny bit of an overstatement?
BTW, the counties to the north of Genesee voted primarily Democrat.
I am guessing you are not a Michigan native.

Originally Posted by tjay

i always wonder about the 'rest' of michigan. i know there are liberals in the detroit area, (lots of conservatives too), but it seems the smaller towns just north of me (flint area) are all church going republicans?

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by wired1000

My family is considering a move to Midland. I've visited a couple of times and it seems like a very nice place for families. Our only concern is that we are more liberal than conservative, and we do not actively practice any religion. My wife was raised Catholic and I was raised Jewish, but we do not regularly attend church or synagogue. I'm wondering if this will in any way present a challenge for us living in Midland. We appreciate any thoughts or advice you can share.

I lived about 35 miles north of Midland, in the sticks. LOL

Midland is a nice place, enjoy!!!

[chiroptera]

I meant to add...there is a difference between progressive and liberal (in the political sense.) Just my own take: I don't consider this whole area (like tjay I live in Genesee county) very progressive, but politically it's more democrat than conservative.

I don't go to church/synagogue either, but have met many people and have friends who do. Never once have I felt ostracized or looked down on. I can't imagine that Midland is that much different.

[tjay]

Originally Posted by chiroptera

ALL church going republicans?? Really? Don't you think that is a tiny bit of an overstatement?
BTW, the counties to the north of Genesee voted primarily Democrat.
I am guessing you are not a Michigan native.

did you see the ? after what i wrote? that means it seems that way, SEEMS that way, the ? means i DO NOT KNOW. do people have to take crap so literally? jesus :}

i know flint was very democrat, when you drove through at the last election and saw blue signs everywhere. so weird to see when you drive through oakland county and see mostly red. what a difference a half hour can make...

what i should have said is that many of the people i come across seem very 'churchy'. they also seem conservative, but who knows, they could be democrats? no i have not spoken with every citizen in genessee county. just an observation. i work in flushing, live in ortonville, have friends in frankenmuth/vassar. i have lived here all of my life with a brief stint in chicago and columbia, mo.

[chiroptera]

Sorry for coming across snarky. I do tend to take things literally - I write for a living and pay attention to words and syntax, it's a cross I bear.

I've spent a fair bit of time in the Frankenmuth/Saginaw area and haven't noticed any particular "churchiness" one way or another.

The OP hasn't responded...it may well depend on where they are now. Moving from, say, somewhere in the deep south might give them a different perspective on religious tolerance and diversity than if they were moving here from Los Angeles.

Originally Posted by tjay

did you see the ? after what i wrote? that means it seems that way, SEEMS that way, the ? means i DO NOT KNOW. do people have to take crap so literally? jesus :}

i know flint was very democrat, when you drove through at the last election and saw blue signs everywhere. so weird to see when you drive through oakland county and see mostly red. what a difference a half hour can make...

what i should have said is that many of the people i come across seem very 'churchy'. they also seem conservative, but who knows, they could be democrats? no i have not spoken with every citizen in genessee county. just an observation. i work in flushing, live in ortonville, have friends in frankenmuth/vassar. i have lived here all of my life with a brief stint in chicago and columbia, mo.

[VM1138]

Michiganders don't strike me as overly religious. Some towns, yeah, but for the most part from the middle of the state south is "angry poor Democrat" territory, with a few exceptions.

Despite voting Democrat in almost every recent election, Michigan is really fairly balanced, in most of the counties.

Even Midland, a Republican county, has almost as many Democrats.

[tjay]

Originally Posted by chiroptera

Sorry for coming across snarky. I do tend to take things literally - I write for a living and pay attention to words and syntax, it's a cross I bear.

I've spent a fair bit of time in the Frankenmuth/Saginaw area and haven't noticed any particular "churchiness" one way or another.

The OP hasn't responded...it may well depend on where they are now. Moving from, say, somewhere in the deep south might give them a different perspective on religious tolerance and diversity than if they were moving here from Los Angeles.

oh, a writer.......and a self admitted 'snarky' one.....at that:}

it just seems like the past month or so i've been preached to by clients that come into our office. maybe 3 times in the past month, and that is too much for me. i need to remember it could be much worse.....i could be living in the 'south'. most of my coworkers are churchies. sometimes i feel a little bit 'surrounded'. maybe these incidents have nothing to do with the majority of people there, or i have 'save me' written on my forehead?