Is Boise, Idaho A Font Of Secular Thinking?

[Ameen]

I recently spoke to someone from Boise, Idaho who said that he was very proud of his city's diversity and acceptance of gay life. (My very prejudiced first thought, for which I apologize... On what planet? I've always associated Idaho with Mormons and Republicans.)

 

I've been doing some research out of curiosity, and SUPPOSEDLY 23% of people in Idaho claim they have no religious beliefs, this despite a national average of only 15%. Also, only seven U.S. states are supposed to have a higher percentage of non-believers. Finally, the city "...offers five secular oriented organizations:

 

- Humanists of Idaho

 

- Idaho Atheists

 

- Boise Atheist, Non-Theist, and Humanist Social

 

- Boise State University Secular Student Alliance

 

- Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship"

 

My source for all this: http://www.examiner.com/x-13669-Boise-Secular-Humanist-Examiner~y2009m6d14-Who-are-the-humanists-and-atheists-of-Boise-Idaho

 

I admit this is not the best source in the world--and the information could be greatly exaggerated. But I have found it excruciatingly difficult to get any reliable statistics on religion in Boise other than its being largely Mormon and Catholic.

 

Interestingly, the oldest synagogue still in use west of the Mississippi is in Boise, and its reformed congregation, Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel, is thriving. http://www.ahavathbethisrael.org/

 

There is also a conservative (Orthodox or Hasidic?) temple in Boise (Chabad Lubavitch of Idaho) http://www.jewishidaho.com/

 

Further, There is a mosque and Islamic Center. "In the Muslim community of Boise there are approximately 4000 Bosnian refugees, 2000 Somali refugees and 300 Afghan refugees. In total, there are 44 nations represented at the Boise Mosque." Source, which may or may not also be dubious: http://pluralism.org/research/profiles/display.php?profile=69223

 

Still, I stand corrected!

 

There is even a growing gay community and an annual pride parade in Boise. http://gaytravel.about.com/od/previewsofpridefestivals/qt/Boise_Pride.htm

 

I stand corrected again.

 

O.K., I need to be less bi-coastal and less New York-centric, I shamefully admit.

 

So, is Boise, Idaho a font of secular freedom?

[Vigile]

I was born in Boise, raised in the valley and got my undergrad from Boise State. Idaho is conservative, but Boise is a small oasis in the desert that is more similar to Portland, OR or Seattle than it is its small town neighbors.

 

15 years ago it had a gay disco that had roughly 400-500 patrons on a nightly basis (pretty large considering Boise has a population of less than 200k).

 

You see as many Darwin fish as you do Jesus fish on the cars there.

 

While West Boise is family/church oriented, downtown and North Boise are primarily made up of much more liberally minded, grunge, hippy, and/or educated professional types.

 

Personally I think Boise is one of the most beautiful cities in the US. It's nestled in at the foot of the ski slopes and surrounded by gorgeous mountains and is populated with a large community of open minded citizens. I may be biased, but I've been around the world and the US enough to give it a fair comparison I think.

 

Further, There is a mosque and Islamic Center. "In the Muslim community of Boise there are approximately 4000 Bosnian refugees, 2000 Somali refugees and 300 Afghan refugees. In total, there are 44 nations represented at the Boise Mosque." Source, which may or may not also be dubious: http://pluralism.org...p?profile=69223

 

Very good friends of mine, xians, run a non profit that helps these guys assimilate. My friend Deb is a fairly artsy, worldly gal, despite her religious leanings, has commented many times about how she can live in Boise and not hear English spoken and not come in contact with US citizens other than her family for days on end. I've attended some of their functions and made friends with some of the Haitian refuges she and her husband work with. They are really interesting and I think it contributes greatly toward creating a very diverse community in Boise.

[Ameen]

Thank you so much for the explanation, Vigile. This is fascinating.

 

I get what you are saying about Boise's being like Seattle or Portland, Oregon. I guess it can also be compared to places like Madison, Wisconsin or Austin, Texas: liberal oases surrounded by conservatism.

 

The only one of these five cities I have ever been to is Madison, and I fell in love with it. The weird thing was how surprised many people were to hear that I was from New York City, as they said people from New York never go there. Of course, I was preached to by a Fundie not long after I landed there, but happily that was the exception and not the rule.

 

I have also been to Albuquerque, another city nestled at the foot of gorgeous mountains, so I know exactly what you are talking about in that respect too.

 

Well, if a chance to see Boise ever arises, I won't say no.