God and Country in Seattle (Everett: living, military, educational)

[Tobias Wolff]

What is your experience with religion (particularly Christianity) and over-the-top flag-waving in Seattle? Where I live now, people thump like the dickens and really love their freedom ribbons. I know it sounds harsh, but I hope these types are an outcast minority in Seattle.

[grastus]

I never see them in Seattle...I see flag waivers north of Everett often, though.

[texastrigirl]

I am a Christian and I live on the Eastside. A friend of mine just moved back to Seattle after 17 years away and she commented on all of the churches springing up in Seattle and on the Eastside. She was really surprised to see that change. That being said, there is very little social pressure in Seattle to be a part of organized religion. If anything I often hear "You go to church?" with a very surprised tone though my church (Overlake Christian) has pretty good attendance every Sunday. I don't know about the "flag waving". It personally doesn't bother me as we had a line of military service on our family. Seattle in general is a fairly liberal place so I am not sure what you are comparing it to. Hope that helps.

[eskercurve]

There's very little bible thumping and bible study groups consisting the totality of socialization here in Seattle. We don't need it, there's plenty of other things more worthwhile to do

[leoo4321]

Originally Posted by eskercurve

There's very little bible thumping and bible study groups consisting the totality of socialization here in Seattle. We don't need it, there's plenty of other things more worthwhile to do

I agree wholeheartedly

[Ira500]

Although Seattle has the lowest church attendance amongst large cities, there are also a lot of churches and plenty of people who atttend them. There are even some very large megachurches in the Seattle area that are well attended. But it's a far cry from the bible belt. There may be churches and people belonging to every stripe of religion, but Seattle is clearly not thumper territory.

[rmkiefer07]

Originally Posted by Ira500

Although Seattle has the lowest church attendance amongst large cities, there are also a lot of churches and plenty of people who atttend them. There are even some very large megachurches in the Seattle area that are well attended. But it's a far cry from the bible belt. There may be churches and people belonging to every stripe of religion, but Seattle is clearly not thumper territory.

I wonder why that it is? I know a lot of people who go to church and consider themselves religious or even devout. I rarely, however, had any one throw fire & brimstone at me or even discuss there spiritual beliefs in any detail.

[eskercurve]

Originally Posted by rmkiefer07

I wonder why that it is? I know a lot of people who go to church and consider themselves religious or even devout. I rarely, however, had any one throw fire & brimstone at me or even discuss there spiritual beliefs in any detail.

A friend of mine who is a pastor at the Mars Hill church said that this is primarily a result of not mixing culture with evangelical preachings. Fire and brimstone is only cast by people who are very insular and not willing to see things from the other side of the coin. By mixing a world view with integrating religion with the culture, he postulates, not only do you get more accepting individuals but also more people willing to attend since it is more relevant to them.

I tend to agree with him. People in the Bible belt are more often than not very insular, backwards, and unwilling to see opposing viewpoints.

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by rmkiefer07

I wonder why that it is? I know a lot of people who go to church and consider themselves religious or even devout. I rarely, however, had any one throw fire & brimstone at me or even discuss there spiritual beliefs in any detail.

It's just not the way to do things up here.

[JesseJB]

We are too busy living free, fulfilling lives to bother with thumpin' and wavin'. While some people in more backwards towns are watching Fox News and having Bible studies, we are busy watching educational documentaries and reading Proust.