if i don't go to church can i live in rural MO (Springfield: house, employment)

[mamagator54]

We moved here because DaHubby found the property on e-bay, came down to look at it and bought it. There was no house just trees. The 25 acres had been logged about 3 years ago. We love the beauty of the area and the people are the friendliest. We first lived in a tent for about 2 months, them brought our camper down and lived in that for 3 months before we got our small 12x32" cabin down here. We live in the "sticks" about 15 miles from Ava and love the quiet peace.
I am sure if you choose the Ava area you will be very happy.

[aragx6]

Mamagator: I wasn't really offended, sorry if it seemed like it! I had a suspicion you didn't mean it to sound judgmental, but it did come across that way a bit - only because of the comment that it doesn't matter where you pray as long as you pray. I just wanted you to clarify.

No harm, no foul

[coffeehound]

Yes, but IME, some smaller communities' social life revolves around church activities and church friends, so opting out of it kind of cuts you out of the business of social life.

It's not intentional... just like being a teetolar would tend to cut you out of the social life in a lot of "nightlife" oriented cities.

I'm not much of a believer, but I'd attend church in a place like that just for the mingling opportunities it presents. But no, nobody will grill you or persecute you for not attending if you choose not to.

[Asthedeer]

Originally Posted by mamagator54

We moved here because DaHubby found the property on e-bay, came down to look at it and bought it. There was no house just trees. The 25 acres had been logged about 3 years ago. We love the beauty of the area and the people are the friendliest. We first lived in a tent for about 2 months, them brought our camper down and lived in that for 3 months before we got our small 12x32" cabin down here. We live in the "sticks" about 15 miles from Ava and love the quiet peace.
I am sure if you choose the Ava area you will be very happy.

Sounds wonderful! Wow on Ebay, my husband sounds just as adventurous as yours lol. We have looked on Ebay before, but we would surely have to check it out first. We are still trying to decide if we want to buy a house already on property or buy property and then build. Thanks for your response!

[ajf131]

Originally Posted by EarthMother1951

Sorry but there are plenty God-fearing ministers all over the state and every other state for that matter. And yes, there are places that the person would not fit in, but overall one would be ok not attending any church, especially if they live in a larger metro area.

I've yet to encounter any here.

[tambre]

Hey,

Just wanted to let you know of an experience I had while searching for property in the Springfield area. We had met a great realtor, but all of the property she showed us was not to our liking. We were staying at the Ava Super 8, and decided to take a drive through Ava, saw a realtor office that was open, and decided to go in a see what they had to offer.

The realtor was very funny, seemed like a down-to-earth kind of guy, but right away made it clear that he lived a Christian church-centered life. We are not religious, but each to his own, as far as I am concerned. We all have to find our own "truth", and it is not something that for me has been all that easy. I am still searching. For those of you who have found your way through whatever religion or spiritual practice you choose, I am very happy for you.

Anyway, I am getting off topic. Ummm, we went for a drive with this realtor, and he asked us if we would like to meet him at a cattle stockyard sale to see what it was like. We were really interested, and took him up on the offer.

We went to the stockyard sale, realized that everyone who worked there attended his church, and he handed me a CD that his church ministry manufactures....it was an anti-abortion CD. I took it and said thanks, but
it seemed that he was trying to read my reaction to see if I would pass some sort of "Christian Test". I was shocked. Even if he had showed me the Taj Mahal on sale for $1, I wouldn't have bought anything from him.

If my religious beliefs needed to be the same as his, (and I got the distinct feeling that the people who were selling their property and using him, wanted the buyers to be conservative Christians) then I decided to not be a part of anything to do with him.

Hey, this is just an experience that I wanted to share. Hope I haven't stepped on too many toes, it is not my intention to belittle anyone's beliefs, just to express my own, even though they may be in the minority.

[dfiddler]

I will have to build a place on my land in Missouri is a couple years ... I spotted on the internet a homebuilder close to my land ....I emailed him about his website that advertises homes and barns, sheds , etc . He answered me back but pretty much didn't talk about his construction company at all ...he kept grilling me about religion ...and I'm not even sure what his religion is , he wouldn't say ... he just kept asking about what church Im going to belong to once I move there ... I'm really not used to this sort of behavior when Im trying to conduct buisness ... I hope he is just a fluke as far as homebuilders go out that way....

[aragx6]

I wonder how much these two stories have to do with the influx of Californians and other outsiders who are making their way to Missouri. I think the locals might be seeing some changes they're not too fond of.

[wktully]

Originally Posted by tambre

Hey,


The realtor was very funny, seemed like a down-to-earth kind of guy, but right away made it clear that he lived a Christian church-centered life. We are not religious, but each to his own, as far as I am concerned. We all have to find our own "truth", and it is not something that for me has been all that easy. I am still searching. For those of you who have found your way through whatever religion or spiritual practice you choose, I am very happy for you.


Hey, this is just an experience that I wanted to share. Hope I haven't stepped on too many toes, it is not my intention to belittle anyone's beliefs, just to express my own, even though they may be in the minority.

The Midwest area we call the Bible Belt is called that for a reason - folks do tend to have a more church centered life there. Hey that's cool with me just don't ram it down my throat OK? I'm in the same boat as tambre here - still searching for my own spiritual path - I too am a little nervous about transplanting to MO next month but I figure if I'm moving to where Christianity abounds then love should be abounding too. This fear or worry about over-zealous religious people placing judgement is one of the reasons I'm "on the bus" and looking for my own path. God taught us to love...it wasn't love but only if you go to my church. <off soapbox>

Funny side note - when we were trying to schedule an appt to see a house in Warrensburg, the realtor says "well Saturday afternoon is OK and of course Sunday they'll be at church"......I cracked up at this. I love MO and I'm looking forward to making it my home next month

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by wktully

The Midwest area we call the Bible Belt is called that for a reason - folks do tend to have a more church centered life there. Hey that's cool with me just don't ram it down my throat OK? I'm in the same boat as tambre here - still searching for my own spiritual path - I too am a little nervous about transplanting to MO next month but I figure if I'm moving to where Christianity abounds then love should be abounding too. This fear or worry about over-zealous religious people placing judgement is one of the reasons I'm "on the bus" and looking for my own path. God taught us to love...it wasn't love but only if you go to my church. <off soapbox>

Funny side note - when we were trying to schedule an appt to see a house in Warrensburg, the realtor says "well Saturday afternoon is OK and of course Sunday they'll be at church"......I cracked up at this. I love MO and I'm looking forward to making it my home next month

A lot of people in my area have a "live and let live" attitude and will not ask you probing personal questions. Areas of central and northern Missouri are fairly Midwestern. Areas further south in the Ozarks are more heavily Baptist and have a lot more southern influences. The college towns and bigger cities tend to be more progressive than the rural areas.