what about Waco? (Houston, San Antonio, Austin: tornado, jobs, house)

[rainbird]

Well I've cooled off a little on Abeliene probably due to the comments on the religious cult, considering Waco's not so recent history in that regard, I'm wondering what it is like now. It looks like a nice enough city from the pictures and what I see on the web. Pardon my ignorance but is that the home of Baylor U? I haven't really seen much posted about it. Thanks in advance

[Cathy4017]

probably due to the comments on the religious cult

And those comments were largely ignorant and unfounded. So Abilene has 3 denominational universities--it's a nice place to live, and the people are friendly.

Yes, Waco is home to Baylor, a Baptist university.

It's a nice city, too. If the government hadn't stuck its unwelcome nose where it was not wanted, nobody would have ever heard of wackjob Koresh.

You can find religious nutjobs any place--and Texas is no different.

MOST of us here are friendly--and tend to mind our own business!

[RSTX]

I live in Temple, about 30 miles south of Waco. It is a nice town and one of the places I would live if I ever move. Yes, Baylor U. is in Waco, and yes, it is a private Baptist university. No, not everyone who attends BU is Baptist, or even Christian. Waco has plenty of non-religious folks, just like any other town.

The Branch Davidians were not located in Waco, but Waco was the largest town that the media could make a connection with, so it stuck. Very unfair, but we are talking about the national media, so "fair" is a relative word. In any case, you will not find any evidence of the 1993 event there unless you really look for it and dig around. No body there wants to make it a holiday. It is a page in history now.

What sort of information did you receive on religious cults in Abilene? It is a larger town than Waco and again, to label every person there as a religious nut would be very wrong. I like Abilene. Don't remove it from your list just yet. Waco is much closer to the center of the state in terms of population (ie, closer to D/FW, Austin, San Antonio and Houston) and will have milder weather. I would chose Waco over Abilene, but not by much.

Best of luck to you.

Rick

[Just Lookin]

The only thing I heard about Waco was that it had a very bad tornado go through it and it killed three people.

This morning on the news, this poor woman got busted in the head with a bottle over the county at a liquor store. That was't to nice. Other than that, I haven't heard a thing.

[lifertexan]

Well I've cooled off a little on Abeliene probably due to the comments on the religious cult,

The info you were given on Abilene is complete BS,and the guy that gave it to you didn't have a clue what he was talking about.I lived there,still have many family members there,and what you were told was a lie.Waco is fine,but to rule out Abilene over someone's BS statements would unnecessarily rule out a good town.Abilene actually does have a little religious cult,I think the call themselves the House of Yawheh,in which every member changes his last name to Hawkins,after the founder of the cult.Probably runs about 100 people.But the other 115,900 people there think they're goofy and avoid them.

[rainbird]

Originally Posted by RSTX

Yes, Baylor U. is in Waco, and yes, it is a private Baptist university. No, not everyone who attends BU is Baptist, or even Christian. Waco has plenty of non-religious folks, just like any other town.

Having a university in your town a good thing IMHO (even if the students are tipping over cows ) no slam on Baylor was intended because they are Baptist based. They could use a better football team though.

Originally Posted by RSTX

The Branch Davidians were not located in Waco, but Waco was the largest town that the media could make a connection with, so it stuck.

I didn’t know that, sounds like Waco got a bad rap.

Originally Posted by RSTX

What sort of information did you receive on religious cults in Abilene? Rick

My concern was not with any of the church schools in Abilene I am fine with those, but with the FLDS and Warren Jeffs, which IMO is cult type of religion. I know that does'nt mean Abilene is a bad town, it is just one factor to consider with all the others.

Well looks like I’ll be headed to Texas in September. I’m only going to be there for 3 or 4 days so I don’t know how far I’ll get, but I’d like to see the hill country and maybe San Angelo and I will check out Abilene, if I get that far.

Any suggestions for a good BBQ place in or around hill country?

Thanks
Dale

[lifertexan]

My concern was not with any of the church schools in Abilene I am fine with those, but with the FLDS and Warren Jeffs, which IMO is cult type of religion. I know that does'nt mean Abilene is a bad town, it is just one factor to consider with all the others.

Warren Jeffs isn't anywhere near Abilene.He is just outside of Eldorado,which is about 150 miles south of Abilene.The place doesn't even affect life in Eldorado,aside from a little bit more media attention.The people stay on the compound,and the law enforcement keeps a very close eye out for Jeffs.They would love to be the guys that arrest a person on the American top ten most wanted list.He won't stand a chance if he is ever spotted.

[RCL]

Originally Posted by rainbird

...My concern was not with any of the church schools in Abilene I am fine with those, but with the FLDS and Warren Jeffs, which IMO is cult type of religion...

Rainbird, I'm in St. George, UT right now (I'm not Mormon) and there are a lot of FLDS people who come into St. George from neighboring Colorado City, AZ (formerly Big Creek) where the FLDS church moved to several years and is now based predominantly.

Like you, I don't personally agree with their religious views, but...I can tell you they are a very closed society and for the most part, they keep to themselves. They dress very modestly, work very hard, and for the most part they are very polite and well-mannered. Aside from seeing them in the stores, they pretty much stay isolated.

Yes, Warren Jeffs is a nutcase and even some of the people who are running the FLDS "church" now (since Jeffs is missing) have commented on this. Jeffs split because he's wanted by the FBI...and I think some of the followers are now beginning to understand what's really going on. Some, maybe not all.

Anyway, FWIW, I think the FLDS are harmless.

And one thing they don't do is go door to door to try to convert people (like Mormons or JW's do)...and IMO this is a good thing...

[madmann101]

Well I've lived in Waco my whole life,and its not a bad place to live, nice people,great scenery(in some parts), and more,but its boring to me cause I'm a teenager and theres not much to do for kids my age,but I mean its a pretty cool place to live

[JVTX72]

Originally Posted by Just Lookin

The only thing I heard about Waco was that it had a very bad tornado go through it and it killed three people.

This morning on the news, this poor woman got busted in the head with a bottle over the county at a liquor store. That was't to nice. Other than that, I haven't heard a thing.

Which one.....in my lifetime theres been 2. The BIG ONE (before my time) was in 1953. I killed 114 and leveled Downtown Waco with the exception of a few buildings.

Waco Tornado - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia