A Country Strange and Far: why Methodists failed to convert the Pacific Northwest

Washington state has one of the lowest rates of self-reported religious affiliation in the country, according to the polling firm Gallup. The experiences of one group of Christian missionaries can give us a window into why our area has remained relatively secular.

Way back in 1834, a Methodist missionary named Jason Lee arrived in Oregon. He had one goal -- convert every person he could. And Jason Lee ... was not very successful.

Which was surprising, because the Methodists were very practiced at conversion. They had a major foothold in the northeast, and had expected similar success in the Pacific Northwest.

So, what went wrong?

Michael McKenzie says that, in part, it's because of the Northwest's geography.