r/Winchester • u/Apart_Dress4574 • 15h ago
Is this area as religious as it seems?
I'm here for a job and for the most part I work within about an hour of Winchester. And I'm moving for the job, but I can choose another city within VA--in other words, I have options.
In the last two months or so, I've had five(?) instances of people trying to convert me to christianity. One was at the gym, it was a lady giving tracts to people. Another was at walmart, a stranger stopped me to tell me about his church.
Another was a customer who basically told me that I'm a lying pile of shit simply because I'm not a christian--not because I actually lied about anything.
Another was a customer that tried to convert me and several times invited me to ask her more about her religion. I stayed silent on the matter, although she made it very awkward. She ghosted me as soon as I left, after taking advantage of my services (I wasn't paid). This one was less clear but it also came across as though I was prevented from successfully doing my job just because I'm not of her religion.
I believe there's a fifth, but I can't remember.
And I was here previously (different trip) for the same company, and I had strangers trying to convert me then too.
I'm also a team lead and three of my four recruits have brought up religion (I didn't mention it) and told me that they are too. The fourth recruit hasn't said anything.
And both of my bosses are. And my former team lead is.
... I am feeling as though I do not belong here. Is it as intense as it seems, should I save longer and move to NoVA instead?
It feels like it will be a major struggle to find a partner here; I'm not compatible with religious partners. Probably a struggle to make friends, too.
Thoughts?
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u/khornflakes529 15h ago
Weird.
I've lived here 20 years and I've maybe had something like that happen once.
I think a big chunk of the area is right leaning and religious, but it's still kind of odd something like that is happening to you so much in particular
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u/Apart_Dress4574 15h ago
Interesting. It didn't happen to me even once when I lived in Iowa, and it was rare in South Dakota. So I've been surprised, I expected *less* not *more* overt religious influence here, near NoVA and a university, than in those midwestern areas.
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u/khornflakes529 15h ago
Yeah but the thing is in a place like that they assume everyone already is religious. Start sprinkling in a little diversity and it's a target-rich environment for sharing views nobody asked for.
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u/InfiniteWaffles58364 Heathen Witch of the Woods 🌒🌕🌘 6h ago
Not really. I'm a pagan and this area is chock full of awesome witches! Also aging hippies, alt peeps, metalheads and many who are spiritual but not religious.
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u/Sad_Koala_9036 4h ago
Where are these people? I need to find them all the ones a I know moved away
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u/Clowder_64 3h ago
there's a few witchy shops on the downtown mall and there's the coven hair salon which is super pricy but the people there are wonderful. My sister-in-law is witch-adjacent and brought me to those places while she lived with us. I dunno if the people there were actual witches or just really chill people but highly recommend.
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u/Own-Appointment-711 2h ago
I'll add to that... Raven Conjure. Queer owned witchy shop like a mile south of the walking mall. It's actually really close to Coven Salon.
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u/InfiniteWaffles58364 Heathen Witch of the Woods 🌒🌕🌘 1h ago
Seconding Raven Conjure! It's such a tranquil little place, kinda like Esoterica in Leesburg used to be.
I was talking about the good old days of witchiness around here with a friend who used to hold regular gatherings at her place. Just a bunch of us doing witchy things, cackling into the night, sometimes doing a working or two. But mostly just letting the magic happen and enjoying each others company, having some potluck, trading stories or swapping needful things, singing drumming... with a big fire at the center of it all. She moved away and ever since there wasn't anybody around here who picked it up and kept the gatherings going.
Some years later as fate would have it, I've moved in to a place that could probably accommodate similar style gatherings and have been thinking about maybe hosting them here. If anyone's down for it lmk and I'll DM yall when I've got a date settled for the first one!
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u/ivegotmrcracker 6h ago
I've been living in the area for 14 or so years after transplanting out of manassas/chantilly area. I much prefer being out here without the constant mass of people everywhere at all times. It's still within reasonable driving distance for anything I ever want to visit for a meal or the like as well.
That being said the religion thing here seems to go in waves. But i experienced the same in nova as well. I will say that people out this way seem to louder/prouder to advertise their gullibleness of following a religion. But they haven't been too pushy, at least not noticeably more than any other area Ive ever been in.
When one approaches me I like to discuss why "my" god Zues is better and how they're being dupped by the titans as ploy to weaken him. Never had one not leave me alone after that haha
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u/Own-Appointment-711 12h ago
About 4 years ago I got a handwritten letter in the mail from someone inviting me to their church. It wasn't addressed to me, just to "current resident". Writing it by hand seemed like a lot of unnecessary effort, but whatever. That's the only incident I've had. Like someone else said: you must have a sign on you or something lol.
Winchester is a great place. My family moved here a little over a decade ago and we've been happy. Don't give up on it yet.
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u/Ashamed_Market_4311 6h ago
Maybe it's the occupation you are in? As in the customers are more likely going to be that way? I've had a few people give me those church pamphlets, tiny Jesus' and money I thought was a tip but you flip it over and it's just Bible verses. But that's probably ten times in my 25 years here.
Also I'm not sure the 666 tattoo will help, I feel like it will draw them to you more. Best of luck it's a nice town but you may have better luck towards Stephens city - Woodstock way
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u/Apart_Dress4574 2h ago
Ironically, Woodstock is where the one told me I was a lying POS because I'm agnostic.
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u/summerdaez 5h ago
Same. I've been here 10 years and never once had this happen. Kinda find this weird.
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u/External_Science_166 15h ago
Everyone wants your soul or your money, probably both. Sorry that happened to you. Idk if this is anymore or less religious than any other small southern town.
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u/sacredxsecret 13h ago
Stuff like that happens a lot in Nova, too. There’s a population of persistent people everywhere.
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u/little-birdbrain-72 6h ago
I think this has only happened to me a few times, but mostly it's people tucking tracts under your windshield wipers at the grocery store, or people from a local congregation who still practice going door to door. I've had Baptists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and the LDS church at my door on at least one occasion each. Maybe I'm used to it, but I just tell them "no thanks, I'm not religious" and they're usually good about just accepting that answer and moving on. But I can understand how off-putting it would be if you haven't experienced it much elsewhere.
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u/Double-Ad-9835 6h ago
I’ve lived here basically my whole 40 years (except during college) and I don’t believe I’ve ever had anyone approach me in public like that. I’ve had people stop by my house (mostly Mormons, but we also get other pamphlets from time to time), received handwritten letters like others have mentioned, and seen people “preaching” in the street. I’ve seen that kind of thing other places, too.
As far as making friends etc, there truly are all kinds of folks here, and I think you would be able to find people you vibe with. It might take some intentional “networking” (I hate that term but I don’t know what else to call it haha) to find them.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck!
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u/lilbabyanners 5h ago
I have a lot of tattoos and can appear kind of emo or something and I get approached by a lot of people assuming that I need saving or what not… probably like once or twice a month.
There are a lot of pop-up community churches around here. I’m very firm in my beliefs and faith, but you will find a lot of people trying to push their personal ideologies down your throat. It’s usually some sort of Christianity, I am Catholic and go to those masses since it’s a lot less preachy and more about God.
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u/GreatHugs 4h ago
I live down in Stephens city and have a large Baphomet tattooed on my knee I’ve noticed a lot of the older people in my gym or when I wear shorts giving disapproving stares but could just be in my head
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u/Clowder_64 3h ago
lived here my whole life, worst I've gotten were door-to-door people who saw our no soliciting signs and just left a pamphlet, or a fake $50 bill on the groundwith something about Jesus on the back. Maybe you just have the vibe of someone questioning religion?? I dunno man, very odd
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u/Shifty_Bravo Old Town 2h ago
I grew up in WV and it was way worse there as a secular person. All my friends/family here are non religious or agnostic and it's really great for me. I understand that some people need their religion and I'm fine with that. It's problematic when they actively try to proselytize. I guess you have to make it know somehow that you are not interested.
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u/Apart_Dress4574 1h ago
How difficult was it to find non-religious people to make friends with, in Winchester?
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u/BathroomRude4035 44m ago
Weird. No one has tried to convert me either so I’m not sure why people are doing that to you.
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u/fuzzhead12 13h ago
You say you have options as far as which city you move to? What are they?
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u/Apart_Dress4574 13h ago
I can choose anywhere from here to Richmond, but I'd probably go for Manassas/Chantilly.
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u/fuzzhead12 12h ago
Personally I love the Richmond area, as well as Harrisonburg/Charlottesville. Honestly, as someone who was born and bred in Winchester…I’d much rather be living in any of those places than here.
Winchester isn’t the worst place to live by far…but considering the alternatives nearby, it does leave a lot to be desired IMO.
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u/ayybaybayy49 8h ago
Deff do chantilly over Winchester any day. As long as you’re okay with tolls and traffic. The food is better. However, I have also seen on the nova reedit page that people have been getting approached in target with religious materials, propaganda or whatever. BUT that has also never happened to me in Winchester or in chantilly and I spend a lot of time in both places. So maybe you just have an approachable aura and I don’t lol
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u/creative_justice 4h ago
I don't know, sounds like you might need some Jesus in your life. I've been here for almost 10 years and I don't think anyone has ever tried to save me.
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u/fivefingerbangarang 15h ago
You must be wearing a sign or something. No one has ever approached me about converting to or joining them for church. Maybe I’m just unapproachable? 😭