There were a couple churches in the Cedar Valley whose actual influence on the community was questionable, but they definitely knew how to make noise. Through signs in their yards, ads on the local TV and radio, and various prayer circles, they let their feelings known about everything from gay rights to evolution. Most cases ended up with out and out fire 'n brimstone type speeches (I attended a couple after being coerced by a friend in that scene and what went on inside was a whole other level of hell to pay). In many cases, the prominent church members were present in city hall and school board meetings to make their feelings known. They protested, through various efforts things like a Hot Topic opening in town and Marilyn Manson concerts. They took out full page newspaper ads talking about Satan trying to shut out “the light of Christ” because the building they used for their annual haunted house got condemned for having excessive asbestos. They did manage to keep a casino from being built in town, calling it’s Satan’s influence. The thing that always got me, was that I’d known some of the prominent members of those churches that were funding a lot of the activities and in many cases, they had all the same dirty laundry as any other group. Drug habits, affairs, legal problems etc up to and including a couple pastors. Anybody who knew any of the vocal members knew how far the hypocrisy went. Despite all the caterwauling, that casino eventually did get built, evolution continues to be taught in schools and Waterloo has grown to have a fairly significant LGBT community (one of the churches still holds a prayer vigil at their Pride Parades, which has grown to be one of the largest in Iowa). I’m given to understand as the more vocal members of those churches are getting older or moving away the noise has died down in the last 10 years.
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