Orange County and Religion (Anaheim, Irvine: home, organic, live)

[mxcolin]

This is a question for non-OC natives. Did you move here because it is so religious? I've never experienced a location where church attendance seems to be so universal. Where the general level of hard core religiosity is so prevalent. I'm wondering if OC's hard right social conservatism is the reason people move here from outside or if it's more of an organic thing. From our own perspective along with the utterly outrageous home prices, the extreme social conservatism is our main reason for getting out soon.

[OCerik]

What city are you in? I don't notice extreme social conservatism or universal church attendance here in south OC.

[pacific2]

Some places, like Aliso Viejo, are not extremely conservative, and seem to have about a 50-50 conservative-liberal mix. AV even voted for Obama during his first term, and also voted against Prop 8.

What's more, I don't get the feeling that many people here are interested in shoving religion down one's throat. Of course, there are the doorbell-ringers, but they seem to be everywhere in this country.

[mxcolin]

Obviously I'm generalizing and inland it's certainly more so than the beaches. We're in Irvine which is very religious. I agree it's not the shove it down your throat type of religion you find in the south. It seems like church attendance is almost universal here though.

[pacific2]

Ah, well some of my neighbors attend church. At least, I assume that's where they regularly go on Sunday mornings, but they never discuss it with me.

Just an aside, a lot of single millennials ( the largest group of new arrivals) are moving into AV, and I kind of suspect that few are much into organized religion, but I haven't researched it.

[mxcolin]

As a non religious, non believer, non church attender in OC it does hamper your social circle a little. Most people my age (late 30's) around here tend to form their social circle around their church. I have no problem with people's faith as long as it doesn't extend to the gay hating, conversion therapy type of Christianity.

[pacific2]

Well, I'm older than you, but people like that would creep me out too.

[teeej]

Having lived in or around Orange County for 30 years, I have no idea what you are talking about. Maybe you just have religious neighbors?

[Robsteel17]

Originally Posted by teeej

Having lived in or around Orange County for 30 years, I have no idea what you are talking about. Maybe you just have religious neighbors?

^This

I grew up in OC. It is definitely not universally churchgoing. There are plenty of churchgoers around, especially in the center of the county (read: Irvine) because of the proximity to some of the huge megachurches nearby (Mariners, Saddleback, etc.) But particularly in the north part of OC, nonreligious types outnumber their godlier counterparts.

There are TONS of places in America that are FAR more religious than OC.

[payutenyodagimas]

I am catholic and the churches are always full..whether in Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress and here in Lake Forest where I live now.