Singles Scene for Liberal Atheist Young Professional new to Town (Seattle: high school, college)

[supermegahyperultrauber]

Back when George HW Bush was president he decided to attack atheists. Because of that, those who were irreligious started The Non Religious Left, trying to protect their freedoms. Being HW Bush was a conservative republican, they became democrats. Now conservatives, as they usually do, decided to attack and belittle anyone who doesn't believe in God.

We can thank HW Bush for The Non-Religious Left and Anarchists, and W Bush for MoveOn. They were born of necessity.

[CarawayDJ]

So in other words, we can blame extremists on both sides for the equal and opposite reactions they created

That's why I'm an extremist centrist

[texastrigirl]

Take a look at this. Seattle is not as irreligious as it seems...

Local News | Most in state believe in God, poll finds | Seattle Times Newspaper

I can appreciate how you must feel a bit isolated in Dallas. I am a Christian and conservative and I fit in really well there. LOL. But I have to say, I feel just fine here as well. Though I live on the Eastside and it's a bit more conservative and all, I still have plenty of friends that shun organized religion and that are more liberal than I. Diversity keeps life interesting and helps me challenge/and or strengthen my perspectives and beliefs. Don't move to Seattle just because you think there are more liberal atheists. You are going to need more than that to go on to make it a home you'll be happy in.

And I am guessing my husband of 16 years who at the time I met him told me he was not at all interested in the Christian religion but thought I was cool enough to hang out with initially would tell you he's glad he got out of his box and met someone different than him. He can even handle church now...who would have thought that could even happen? Not me. Not then. Life can take strange turns. It's good to be open to people who are different than you. Heck, you might find someone just like you who you realize you'd never want to date.

[PollyGlott]

James Carville - Mary Matalin

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by Joe Doer

Back when Jimmy Carter was president he decided to attack religious schools. Because of that, those of religion started what is now," The Religious Right", trying to protect their freedoms. Being Carter was a liberal democrat, they became republicans. Now liberals, as they usually do, decided to attack and belittle anyone who believes in God.

We can thank Carter for The Religious Right and Neocons, and Obama for The Tea Party. They were born of necessity.

Carter didn't attack religious schools. He taught in them, and continued to after his Presidency. What he did was attempt to revoke the tax exempt status of a few religious schools because they did not allow black people to attend.
The argument wasn't over whether the schools were religious or not. Those who opposed Jimmy Carter on this felt that as religious schools, they should have the freedom to choose who attends.

[CarawayDJ]

Originally Posted by PollyGlott

James Carville - Mary Matalin

No kidding. If that marriage could happen, anything is possible. I'd love to be a fly on the wall of that house sometimes though...

[texastrigirl]

My husband and I usually cancel each other's votes out Sometimes I try to trick him and pretend I am going to vote a certain way just to see if he is opposing me and not my candidate!

[cgb0057]

Like anywhere there are people interested in the same things as you. You just need to know where to find them. Like yourself, I am not very conservative or religious. There are some great groups on meetup.com I can recommend, or you could try the group I just started up if you're interested in the arts: ARTSgenY (Dallas, TX) - Meetup (http://www.meetup.com/artsgeny/ - broken link) .

[Seacove]

Reputations and cliches happen because they are often true. Dallas and a lot of Texas is generally more conservative and religious than the west. Seattle is not particularly religious and they don't mix politics and religion. The urban parts of Seattle and the Eastside are more liberal and not particularly religious (by percentage) but the further you go out, such as North and East, the more conservative it becomes, but still not necessarily religious. The eastern part of Washington is more traditionally conservative (I sort of wish Idaho would take them, they'd be happier).

It's like Northern California. San Francisco is more liberal, but if you go to the East Bay and more toward Sacramento, they become more conservative politically.

You would fit in Seattle politically and religiously, but you would be able to forget your political and religious definitions. You wear them now because you are standing out from those you know and it's a constant reminder. It sounds like your contrarian position allows you to be successful with a religious (or maybe agnostic?) website. Seattle might make you lose your mojo since there is nothing to get riled about.

In Seattle, we really don't care about your religion and don't much like to talk about it. If you come here with a big banner that says "I'm liberal and agnostic", that will make most uncomfortable. We may be largely liberal, etc. but we don't make a big thing about it.

[eskercurve]

Most people are either agnostic or universalist in their thoughts in Seattle. There is a higher percentage of Atheists in Seattle than anywhere else in the nation except San Fransisco. Seattle is overwhelmingly liberal, to the left of Obama. The rest of the area is either right of center or centrist. Rural areas are typically republican.

But I have yet to see a heated argument about politics in public here. It just doesn't happen. People don't care too much about politics insofar as how it affects their daily life here. The best example would be the rise in parking fees and the tolls which will go on 520 and I-90 (and most likely all highways in the area in the next 15 years). People care about the issues, not so much about the political affiliation.