[somewherediff]

Hi, I am considering a move to Omaha, to attend a professional school at Creighton Univ. I am agnostic and liberal politically. I am moving from the south in part to fit in better and have my kids fit in better. It upsets me when their well-meaning friends try to convert them or tell them they are going to hell. What is Omaha like religiously? Will we fit in?

[mattpoulsen]

Omaha is certainly out of the evangelical atmosphere you experience more in the south. There are certainly people who are religious, but its a diverse set of beliefs. Further, its much more in the background. As a whole, I would say its much more a secular feel than the south.

Most would classify me as an agnostic and I have never had any problem at all.

[smithy77]

I've lived in a couple of Southern cities, so I have some comparison experience when it comes to the whole religious issue. In general, I find Midwesterners to be religious, but not chauvinistic about it. Omaha has a large Catholic population (I'm the lapsed variety), and having grown up in that environment, I think I can safely say that you and your family won't be badgered by people trying to 'save' you. As far as the whole liberal thing, the 2nd Congressional district (of which Omaha is a part) voted for Obama last year---you'll find more political diversity in Omaha than you will in most parts of the South. Omaha has much more of a 'live and let live' attitude about life. Welcome to Omaha. Creighton rocks.

[thatguy1]

I agree with the above...religion is more of a private matter here in Omaha, thankfully.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by somewherediff

Hi, I am considering a move to Omaha, to attend a professional school at Creighton Univ. I am agnostic and liberal politically. I am moving from the south in part to fit in better and have my kids fit in better. It upsets me when their well-meaning friends try to convert them or tell them they are going to hell. What is Omaha like religiously? Will we fit in?

As much as this is hard for you it is a way of live. Our son in law is/was Jewish with a Jewish name (I know Jewish is a religion but names do play a part) one of our ganrddaughters had problems with friends trying to tell her, Steve would not go to heaven or trying to convert her. She learned to deal with this and your kids will as well. I am sure there are many in Omaha that are liberal, but certainly the majority are not. I think you have 2 choices, seek out a liberal area in Or, NO Ca or Washington state or expose your kids to the real world. I am sure you have explained to them, everyone has different ideas and that doesn't make any of us totally right or wrong. I do not think you will find Omaha as conservative or biblebelt as the south.
good luck

Nita

[GMinSWO]

Since the majority of Christians in Omaha considered themselves Catholic, practicing or lapsed, I would not worry too much about proseltysing (people trying to convert you). I think most people have a live and let live attitude and your religion or belief is your own private personal choice better left up to you.

[Bosco55David]

Doubt you'll have any issues in Omaha being a liberal. As someone already mentioned, the district Omaha is in voted for Obama.

As far as your religious views go, as long as you don't flaunt them then I'm sure you'll be fine.

[kdbrich]

Originally Posted by somewherediff

Hi, I am considering a move to Omaha, to attend a professional school at Creighton Univ. I am agnostic and liberal politically. I am moving from the south in part to fit in better and have my kids fit in better. It upsets me when their well-meaning friends try to convert them or tell them they are going to hell. What is Omaha like religiously? Will we fit in?

As Penn Gillette said...if you truly believed your friends were going to go to hell....why wouldn't you want to try to stop them? How could that upset you?

I've got friends of different religions...it doesn't bother me when they try to prosletyze me.

[thatguy1]

Originally Posted by Bosco55David

Doubt you'll have any issues in Omaha being a liberal. As someone already mentioned, the district Omaha is in voted for Obama.

As far as your religious views go, as long as you don't flaunt them then I'm sure you'll be fine.

I'm not sure there are as many die hard liberals in Omaha as people think. Many voted for Obama out of default. I mean, look what we had to choose from (Mr. AARP and..well..Sarah Palin)

[smithy77]

Originally Posted by burgerflipper

I'm not sure there are as many die hard liberals in Omaha as people think. Many voted for Obama out of default. I mean, look what we had to choose from (Mr. AARP and..well..Sarah Palin)

My following observation is completely anecdotal, and you may be right about the "diehard" part, but I find the "Left" in Omaha to be somewhat quiet/obsequious (with a few exceptions like Ernie Chambers) and the "Right" to be more press savvy/vocal. I grew up on the south side of Omaha when it was heavily Democratic and there weren't many Republicans to be found. The same could be said for the Northeast side of town. Most of my large, extended (and white) Catholic family are "diehard" liberals. I guess it depends on where you're hanging out.