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Ask TBC: How would you describe Bakersfield's 'spirituality'?

The Bakersfield Californian | Sunday, Aug 24 2008 12:26 PM

Last Updated: Monday, Aug 25 2008 7:05 AM

Q: We are considering moving to the area. In regards to religion, we have heard the spectrum: from Bakersfield being the friendliest town in America for a pagan to Bakersfield being the pulse of the Bible belt of California.

What do you think of the churches in Bakersfield? How would you describe the “spirituality” of the area?

Thanks.

— Laura Carpenter

A: Bakersfield and other cities in Kern County have numerous houses of worship representing a wide variety of faiths including: Protestant, Catholic, Mormon, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Baha’i congregations, and more.

As in other thriving areas of the state, there are megachurches and well-attended temples and mosques just as there are small, intimate congregations that take turns gathering in people’s homes for worship. There are churches that have existed for more than a century just like there are new ones being established every year.

Faith is such a personal issue that we cannot really give our opinion on, as you put it, “the ‘spirituality’ of the area.” However, The Bakersfield Californian family of publications has several resources that may be useful to you in making a decision on a place of worship that suits your needs.

• The Californian runs a Faith section every Saturday. Besides containing articles on religion that are of local and national interest, the section also has a Faith Calendar of upcoming local events and a double-page spread of ads from area houses of worship grouped by denomination or religious affiliation.

• Our Web site has an interactive “Bakersfield Worship Map” that shows where local places of worship are located. Please visit www.bakersfield.com/worshipmap/. A click either on the name of a church on the right-hand index, or on a balloonlike marker on the map, will open up an information box with the church’s address, phone number and Web site as available.

• Kern Life, a glossy magazine published annually, contains an extensive listing of local places of worship as well as other religious organizations. The 2008 edition is available for $1.50 from our lobby at 1707 Eye St., in downtown Bakersfield. The lobby is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.