They rank No. 1 in Oregon – one of only four states where “no religion” was the most common answer in a religious identification survey commissioned by City University of New York in 2001. The other states were Washington, Idaho and Wyoming.
Other recent studies draw similar conclusions, including a 2002 survey commissioned by the Glenmary Research Center in Tennessee that identifies several cities in Southern Oregon and Northern California – including Corvallis, Eugene, Medford and Redding – as those where Americans are least likely to have a religious affiliation.
[Full Story][Link Via Relasped Catholic]
Yesterday on EWTN radio I heard Mark Shea mention that Seattle was the least churched city in the least churched state. Being originally from Portland, Or I wanted to argue back that “Hey, Oregon is the least churched” and now I got the facts to back it up. I then realized how stupid is was to want to have bragging rights for the least churched state. While in the Navy I lived in both Whidbey Island, Wa and Pullayup, Wa. I was a recruiter for a bit with our station being in Bellevue. I found that Oregon and Washington were very similar in attitudes. When I went back to Portland earlier this year I would say that it is even more permeated with new age religions then it was before. The majority of signs and bumper stickers reflected a spirituality based around nature worship. I felt totally out of place and like a intruder there. Spiritually and politically the place was like antimatter to me and I felt like at any moment while walking down the street that people would point at me and scream like the aliens did in the movie “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” The most common mantra I heard was “I don’t go to any church, but I am spiritual.” Mark also mentioned on the radio yesterday G.K. Chesterton’s quote “When people cease to believe in God, they don’t believe in nothing; they’ll believe anything.” Growing up in Portland I didn’t know the difference between Catholic, Protestants, etc; but I knew about Hari Krishnas, EST, reincarnation, auras, ESP, Transcendental Meditation, and others. But if you had asked me about the Incarnation or the Trinity I would have replied with a blank stare. I had no idea that Christians believed in the Trinity or what it was suppose to be and I would have thought incarnation was a type of flower.
What factors lead to these states being like this I don’t now. The weather is depressingly similar in both states, which is one reason that when I retired from the military I moved to Florida. The weather is nicer here and I only have to be concerned about killer hurricanes and killer judges.
7 comments
In spite of all that, I still love Portland. This line, “I don’t go to any church, but I am spiritual” really drives me nuts. I hear it around here too. I think that it is best spelled “spiwitual” in this case.
When I point out, “oh, don’t you mean ‘spiwitual?'” they usually accuse me of being “inthenthitive.” Can you believe it?
I would actually love to move back to Eugene OR where I was in a parish that I loved. One thing about being in a minority, it forces one to get clear about one’s beliefs.
Hi,
My husband and I are Oregonians. I absolutely love it and I miss the beauty terribly. We moved from a Mt Hood town to Steubenville six years ago. Steubenville was a shock. It was like moving back to the 1930’s….steel factories, coal dust, pollution, broken side walks… and (you wont believe this) there is NO good coffee for 30 miles! It was depressing. When we moved here I thought, “I soon as we graduate we’re outta here!” After a while, the spiritual difference became undeniable. We have so many families that support, teach and inspire us in our Catholic faith and God has given us many ways to serve as well. With our kids still growing up, we couldn’t move back. However,we have had several requests to move back by family, friends and several priests. Good priests need the help in the parishes. Maybe someday we’ll go back as missionaries : ) I enjoyed your article. Thanks.
Mary, If you’re in *the* Steubenville, as in Steubie U up on the mountain…Hachacha! Never leave. I visited the mountain last July for a conference. They Presence of the Holy Spirit there was PALPABLE! Pal. Puh. Bull! Ohmigoodness, how blessed you are! I’d never move from TEXAS cuz it’s the best, but I wouldn’t mind spending summers there! Wowza!
LOL at the “antimatter” line. I felt the same way at a little college town in Ohio, at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Oh. Chock-full of New Age – nearly every shop and bookstore. But there’s always Steubenville!
Ah… how I miss good ol’ secularist/Neopagan Cascadia.
I married a Southerner. In elementary school, in the 1970s, they still said the Lord’s Prayer.
In Seattle, we had a “Winter concert” already by that time.
“If you’re in *the* Steubenville, as in Steubie U up on the mountain”
Lol- Is there any other? Thanks for the encouragement. We came here after we read a book called, “Mothers of the Saints” by Wendy Leifeld. It changed our life. You might like it. : )