Religiousness in Round Rock (Austin, Garden Ridge: buying a house, buying, gated)

[blakely]

Originally Posted by dziner

It seems to be more prevalent in Texas, but hanging crosses on your wall is a decorating trend. They are collected in different sizes and hung in a various configurations. Most of them are relatively inexpensive, hence a big impact for not a lot of money.

This.

I have noticed this in many homes here, and not always with people I would describe as overtly religious. (Sometimes, yes, but not always.) It seems to be a big thing to collect iron crosses and hang them in a pattern on the walls. I wouldn't describe my friends who decorate in this way as the proselytizing sort, if that is what you are concerned about. I would say, however, compared to other places I've lived, people here are more comfortable sharing their faith openly.

[doctorjef]

Originally Posted by dziner

It seems to be more prevalent in Texas, but hanging crosses on your wall is a decorating trend. They are collected in different sizes and hung in a various configurations. Most of them are relatively inexpensive, hence a big impact for not a lot of money.

I absolutely agree with this and it often tends to go along with decorating in a Southwestern/Mission style. I really don't think it typically represents any intensity of religiosity. Persons who decorate in this fashion might have a generically Christian belief and sentiments, but aren't necessarily even very observant or unfailing church-goers.

[love roses]

I agree. My sister is chrstian, but not a bible thumper by a long shot. She decorates with and collects crosses of various styles and has them stuck on the walls around her house. She just likes the look of them, she's not holding prayer sessions under them. You won't get lynched in RR for not being Christian. I know some atheists and some christians alike and they get along just fine.

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

This thread just struck me as funny. It's almost as if we're apologizing for it.

What do you equate being religious with OP?

I also did notice when doing my search on the MLS for homes that there were an abundance of homes with crosses. I usually saw the big, black, ornate iron ones. They had a Spanish look to them.

Maybe the transplants are really vampires. Maybe they reside under the bridges in Austin where people can point and say...see there? that's Austin weird! But not to worry, as long as they're marketable they're OK.

[doctorjef]

I wasn't apologizing for displays of crosses, merely trying to explain it. It's more cultural than religious per se. Even in the USSR a lot of Russians who weren't overtly religious and might even have been atheistic still displayed collections of icons around their apartments, because they were so culturally significant and were typically antiques. The OP mentioned coming from Sweden, an historically Lutheran country where the display of religious imagery is likely to have been less florid than in the culturally Catholic-influenced American Southwest, including Hispanic-influenced Texas. I think it's primarily a cultural thing. By the same token, if you see concrete garden statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Joseph or St Francis in various neighborhoods, I wouldn't presume the houses are all inhabited by staunch, practicing Catholics with fervent religious devotion to these saints; more likely, it's a culturally relevant expression of a felt need for garden decor. The OP may be more used to garden gnomes.

[mommyliviningaustin]

It's in the bible belt here.

[achtungpv]

I have a framed tortilla with Jesus on it. Is that wrong?

[woodinvilleguy]

I'm in Cedar park and I haven't noticed many crosses hanging on walls. We aren't very religous (not much at all) and have never had any issues with people about religion. I've been invited to church services and have politly declined and it ended there. I would worry too much.

Frankly, I'm surprised, because most people staging a house for sale will remove pictures and things like that to show the house.

[G Grasshopper]

I have been looking at homes in Austin on the MLS for a year, and there are plenty with crosses, sometimes many multiples. They don't seem to take them down when trying to sell. My guess is that they are really a fashion/decorator statement rather than a statement of religiosity. I grew up in Wisconsin and Texas and am currently in California, and I never have known anyone with multiple crosses up, not even in Texas when I was there (in the 70s). And it's not because everyone I know is less religious. I have a friend who is Catholic and goes to church 7 days a week, and she doesn't have crosses up (and she is Hispanic, from Columbia.) I think its just the thing right now in Texas, and I would not think it refelcts an extreme religious viewpoint.

[Rose Red]

Funny someone said that about the house we were selling in CA. Not so much as the crosses but as the religious carving I have of the "The Last Supper". It was carved in marble so I bought it and used it as art work. Fascinating detail. Then I have a antique picture of a nun with hands in prayer position on another wall. Then I had a cross. The realtor when we were selling thought I should tone it down because most people aren't religious. The funny thing is neither am I. I lean more toward zen buddishm. Live and let live.

So long story short they may just use it as decoration. I did take it down when I was selling because I didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable.

Lived in TX almost 3 years and everyone I have met is pretty much live and let live.