Really, just curious. I have never been there, nor I am a christian, but what draws people here and what is this religious tourism that is so big there?
Colorado Springs is the hotbed for evangelical christians in Colorado.A lot,an awful lot,of christian ministries have their headquarters in Colorado Springs.The Navigators originated there,the others just began moving in.A good number of christian ministries moved there from California after the 1992 riots in Los Angeles.The most famous of these is Focus On The Family.Frankly,I wish they all would leave.These ministries dabble in politics and have negatively impacted the political scene in Colorado for many years.
It could have started because people have this weird tendency to come here, see the mountains, and all of the sudden "feel God's power", or some such nonsense.
Who knows.....
One thing that I believe DOES contribute to the explosion of evangelicals here is the fact that many people who are drawn to evangelical Christianity are also extremely "family-oriented", and Colorado is a very family-friendly state. Once people spend a bit of time here, they come to realize that Colorado is a pretty idyllic place to raise children and have a family-centered lifestyle....and, boom, here comes Focus on the Family!!!
One thing I think *IS* true is that successful evangelical churches tend to breed other successful evangelical churches. So, as Focus on the Family and other well known churches around here became successful, newer churches followed in their wakes. Soon, with exposure in both the Christian and the mainstream media, it became known (or inferred....) that Colorado is a good place for evangelicals to live, so people attracted to that lifestyle moved here.
The thing is, alot of the press/outside impression of the evangelical Christian community in Colorado is overblown. I've lived here all my life and I've never felt like I live in a terribly "religious" place. Sure, the Focus on the Family folks border on cult-status, but they're genuinely nice people! Not once has a member of one of the evangelical congregations tried to convert me or told me that I'm going to hell because I'm a Buddhist (that drinks and eats meat...heh!). There is a very strong "live and let live" undercurrent to life here....and people who can't help but make everyone else's lives their business generally don't fit in well in Colorado.....
It´s not. Only Colorado Springs. There is no such thing as "RELIGIOUS TOURISM" (???) I live in colorado. Tourism here is mostly about sports. Skiing, skating, biking, hiking, etc. Religious right? only in the Springs, and that's because of the Air Force...very conservative there. Lots of religious right.
What´s up with religion in the Southeast, huh? my perfectly normal friend went back to live near her mom and where she grew up, now she's trying to tell me we can't be friends unless I agree with her church. What's up with that? Huh? Bible Belt and all that? Now THEY are religious!
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Colorado Springs is the hotbed for evangelical christians in Colorado.A lot,an awful lot,of christian ministries have their headquarters in Colorado Springs.The Navigators originated there,the others just began moving in.A good number of christian ministries moved there from California after the 1992 riots in Los Angeles.The most famous of these is Focus On The Family.Frankly,I wish they all would leave.These ministries dabble in politics and have negatively impacted the political scene in Colorado for many years.
Good question...
Honestly, I have no f'ing idea.
It could have started because people have this weird tendency to come here, see the mountains, and all of the sudden "feel God's power", or some such nonsense.
Who knows.....
One thing that I believe DOES contribute to the explosion of evangelicals here is the fact that many people who are drawn to evangelical Christianity are also extremely "family-oriented", and Colorado is a very family-friendly state. Once people spend a bit of time here, they come to realize that Colorado is a pretty idyllic place to raise children and have a family-centered lifestyle....and, boom, here comes Focus on the Family!!!
One thing I think *IS* true is that successful evangelical churches tend to breed other successful evangelical churches. So, as Focus on the Family and other well known churches around here became successful, newer churches followed in their wakes. Soon, with exposure in both the Christian and the mainstream media, it became known (or inferred....) that Colorado is a good place for evangelicals to live, so people attracted to that lifestyle moved here.
The thing is, alot of the press/outside impression of the evangelical Christian community in Colorado is overblown. I've lived here all my life and I've never felt like I live in a terribly "religious" place. Sure, the Focus on the Family folks border on cult-status, but they're genuinely nice people! Not once has a member of one of the evangelical congregations tried to convert me or told me that I'm going to hell because I'm a Buddhist (that drinks and eats meat...heh!). There is a very strong "live and let live" undercurrent to life here....and people who can't help but make everyone else's lives their business generally don't fit in well in Colorado.....
It´s not. Only Colorado Springs. There is no such thing as "RELIGIOUS TOURISM" (???) I live in colorado. Tourism here is mostly about sports. Skiing, skating, biking, hiking, etc. Religious right? only in the Springs, and that's because of the Air Force...very conservative there. Lots of religious right.
What´s up with religion in the Southeast, huh? my perfectly normal friend went back to live near her mom and where she grew up, now she's trying to tell me we can't be friends unless I agree with her church. What's up with that? Huh? Bible Belt and all that? Now THEY are religious!
It's not, people think it is because Focus on the family is headquartered in Colorado Springs.