Hate to ask, but exactly how Christian Conservative Right is the Phoenix Area? (Mesa: how much, construction)

[Jnvlv247]

Phoenix in general seems very libertarian and live and let live

Tempe and Central/Downtown PHX are the more "liberal" areas of the Valley

Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa being the most along with Sdale

[BIG CATS]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

My hatred is being spewed in one direction. Those who knock on my door and think it is o.k. I simply pointed out how far fetched Joseph Smith's gold book translations were. To me at least, knock on my door when you really have something important to share. For rational people, Gold book translations by a person who had 40 wives isn't a valid reason. Ever! Not so mysteriously, I heard crickets when I asked for someone to back up that claim.

I'm with you 100% about JS's outrageous claims/visions. But besides that, you have to realize they're enthusiastic and willing to share what they love and believe. It might inconvenience you a slight bit, but your life isn't going to be devastated over it, right? All I know is that I'd rather have LDS knock on my door than an atheist who comes to steal and kill.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by Bygeorge

I find this interesting given I have lived here for sometime and no one has knocked on my door other than trying to sell a security system or windows or cookies. No religious types ever. If my doorbell rings, I look from a window to see who is there. I ignore them at first. If they are persistent I get ugly and mention 911. Why in the world would anyone open their door to strangers no matter how cuddly they appear? Ours is not a religious culture. Most just want to be left alone. The brutal heat is good for keeping people away along with a barking dog and a sign that says beware of dog. This sounds like a huge non issue.

I work out of the house. I suspect even peddlers don't like working during the nights. In fact, the last two religious door knocks were during the day. A couple of months back, a bunch of them jumped outside a van and started knocking on doors. It was either December or January. Plus, I have had neighbors knock on my door saying my sprinklers are on too long etc. Call me a risk taker, but I don't expect to get gunned down during the day in Surprise, AZ. So I shouldn't have to hide behind a window shouting out "I'm calling 911". If I was worried, I would have my gun drawn.

Late fall, I was walking the dog and someone who was knocking on a neighbors door approached me by foot. It was around 7:30 PM and dark. He was "sharing information about a new local church". IMHO, I didn't appreciate a stranger walking up to me at night. Maybe they wanted to hit up nicer neighborhoods. After all, church is a business.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by BIG CATS

I'm with you 100% about JS's outrageous claims/visions. But besides that, you have to realize they're enthusiastic and willing to share what they love and believe. It might inconvenience you a slight bit, but your life isn't going to be devastated over it, right? All I know is that I'd rather have LDS knock on my door than an atheist who comes to steal and kill.

You need to do a little more research. I've concluded most atheists are critical thinkers. In fact, read this:
How income varies among U.S. religious groups | Pew Research Center

Note who the lowest income people are. Yep, broke Jehovah's Witnesses. Their mind is easily swayed. In fact, look at the atheists. Notice how well they do economically. It's because they are often educated. I've concluded you need to worry most about broke people.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

You need to do a little more research. I've concluded most atheists are critical thinkers. In fact, read this:
How income varies among U.S. religious groups | Pew Research Center

Note who the lowest income people are. Yep, broke Jehovah's Witnesses. Their mind is easily swayed. In fact, look at the atheists. Notice how well they do economically. It's because they are often educated. I've concluded you need to worry most about broke people.

I'm not about to get into a debate over religion. I'll just say that I'm an agnostic who respects the First Amendment. Those who are deeply religious have every right to be, just as long as they don't force their beliefs on everybody else. I refuse to answer the door or speak with pesky Jehovah's Witnesses or LDS. They have thousands of other homes to choose from to peddle their papers, and they don't need to bother me. To your comment about church is a business: I agree 100%, and that's why I'm opposed to churches being tax exempt. It's too bad the national flat tax never gained momentum because I would be in favor of everybody paying a same percentage rate (5% or so), including all religious institutions.

[Andrew Wilson]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

I'm not about to get into a debate over religion. I'll just say that I'm an agnostic who respects the First Amendment. Those who are deeply religious have every right to be, just as long as they don't force their beliefs on everybody else. I refuse to answer the door or speak with pesky Jehovah's Witnesses or LDS. They have thousands of other homes to choose from to peddle their papers, and they don't need to bother me. To your comment about church is a business: I agree 100%, and that's why I'm opposed to churches being tax exempt. It's too bad the national flat tax never gained momentum because I would be in favor of everybody paying a same percentage rate (5% or so), including all religious institutions.

Religious Institutions contribute immensely, more so than the government, to charities. Orginazations that help feed people all over the world, clothe people all over the world, and overall make a positive impact on many communities. Are churches perfect? Of course not! But, because of the charity work churches do, they should be tax exempt.

Now I'm really sick of his thread. I subscribed the to Phoenix Area and Arizona forums so I could talk about AZ and PHX. Not religion.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by Andrew Wilson

Religious Institutions contribute immensely, more so than the government, to charities. Orginazations that help feed people all over the world, clothe people all over the world, and overall make a positive impact on many communities. Are churches perfect? Of course not! But, because of the charity work churches do, they should be tax exempt.

Now I'm really sick of his thread. I subscribed the to Phoenix Area and Arizona forums so I could talk about AZ and PHX. Not religion.

Are you under the impression that your participation is required?

[Andrew Wilson]

No. I just wanted to make the two points I made.

I posted things previously on this thread pointing out some people's lack of knowledge about religion. Now though, I don't mind debating religion more. But, I would rather do so on the religion forum.

I'll shut up unless I hear something more stupid than saying churches shouldn't be tax exempt.

[fluffythewondercat]

Originally Posted by Andrew Wilson

No. I just wanted to make the two points I made.

I posted things previously on this thread pointing out some people's lack of knowledge about religion. Now though, I don't mind debating religion more. But, I would rather do so on the religion forum.

I'll shut up unless I hear something more stupid than saying churches shouldn't be tax exempt.

So you can talk freely about religion on a Phoenix forum and also complain about other people doing it.

You seem confused.

[ABQConvict]

Originally Posted by Dweller790

Don't want to offend anyone here by asking, but is the Phoenix area as conservative and religious as the national media makes it out to be?

I really, really, really don't like fanatics. I worry about having to sit quietly with a neutral smile on my face in a group of people who talk endlessly about Jesus and how fabulous Trump is and how we need tons of guns for everyone and a border wall, and how poor people are all to blame for where they are in life (as if exigent circumstances never exist, for instance--who cares if you're a full-time caregiver and can't work outside the home, it's your fault that you're living in poverty, etc.), and gays need to go to conversion therapy and on and on.

While Phoenix is stereotyped as conservative, I never heard anything like what you described applied to Phoenix, which makes me wonder what kind of Berkeley basement bull session maquerading as "national media" you are exposing yourself to. I mean, there are some posters on internat forums like this one who spout that kind of crap, but internet forums do not count as national media.

Shoot, I lived right on the border of the bible belt, a county with a lot of Christians who would drop enough references to let you know they were Christian, and I never heard anything like what you are describing. At least not all in one conversation. :-)