Many believe nails were pierced through his flesh; that his body hung on a cross while tormenters mocked him and friends wept — Jesus of Nazareth bellowed his last words and died. His followers say he was Christ, Messiah, the Son of God who three days later rose from the dead and soon ascended to heaven. Others claimed he was a blasphemer. But it is unarguable that the man many claim lived nearly 2,000 years ago made a profound impact on the world — and on Santa Cruz County.

This isn't the Bible belt. The Santa Cruz area is scoffed at and praised for its ultra liberalism; a place that boasts a nuclear-free zone and where protesters seem to flank the streets weekly. But is this stereotypically "open-minded" town open-minded enough to embrace Christianity?

Although local followers of Christ may not be as popular as Yoga classes, many have experienced widespread acceptance in this “anything goes” community. Some of them might not be who you think they are. Rockabillies, hippies, punks and an emerging youthful population are flooding churches and following Jesus Christ. They are joined by conventional images of grandmothers and middle-aged conservatives.

A string of conflicting stereotypes are often associated with Christians: loving, judgmental, compassionate, hypocritical, accepting, close-minded, peaceful, militant.

Outstanding achievements and murderous atrocities have been committed in Christ’s name, the horrors of which cause Dan Kimball, pastor of Graceland, Santa Cruz Bible Church’s evening service, to briefly close his eyes, as a flash of grief and sorrow washes over his face.

"That is not what the Bible teaches Christians should be like," Kimball says. "In Santa Cruz, I believe what is beginning to happen is that there is a growing realization that all Christians aren't self-righteous, angry people. There are authentic Christians here who humbly see themselves as fellow sinners saved by grace."

His desire is for Santa Cruz County to experience what he calls “vintage Christianity,” and he believes it’s happening. According to Kimball, such faith is found in a lifestyle patterned after the original followers of Christ, who often gathered, unified, in prayer.

Such an experience happened here locally last week on Sept. 11, a day when horror swept across America after terrorists flew jetliners into the World Trade Center twin towers and the Pentagon. Churches throughout the county held prayer meetings. At Santa Cruz Bible Church, 500 people gathered to lift their voices to the one who died on the cross. They sat at tables in small groups and prayed together. A somber quietness filled the worship center, where people shared their hearts, tears, and petitions to God.

As Americans seek answers and healing for these tragedies, some turn to Christianity. But Kimball professes that the faith is not a crutch. He has put the Bible to the test and discovered what he believes is a text which holds credibility and historical accuracy. However, some critics have claimed that Christians are “blind sheep” who follow the beliefs of a dead man.

"Christianity is an intelligent faith and there have been intelligent, thinking people throughout history, like J.R.R. Tolkein and C.S. Lewis who were Christians," Kimball says.

Brad Whipp, manager of Java Junction Coffee House in Santa Cruz, isn’t quite sure who Jesus was, but he’s admittedly curious and has some theories. His run-ins with Christians over the years had been somewhat distasteful.

"A lot of Christians hand you an ultimatum; be with us and like us, or go to hell," Whipp says. "There are all kinds of Christians. Most Americans that aren't religious think they're all Bible thumpers."

But then Whipp met Kimball and another Gracelander, Josh Fox. The duo, dressed in their daily rockabilly attire, complete with vintage ’50s shirts and Kimball’s blond pompadour, spend Wednesdays at Java Junction Coffee House where they prepare for Sunday night church services and often exchange spiritual ideas with Whipp.

"They're not arguing or trying to persuade me," Whipp says. "They want to know how I feel and they're interested in my opinion. I think they are living the Bible. They're trying to discover what Christianity is to the best of their ability."

There's a mutual acceptance of one another found in this trio of men who philosophize at Java Junction Coffee House. For Kimball, that approach is an integral part of Christianity. He says it's time for Christians to stop doing all the talking, and begin listening more.

"I have seen a drastic increase in the amount of younger people in particular who are now attending church here in Santa Cruz," Kimball says. "There is a renewed sense of hunger for God, I believe, in Santa Cruz, today."

His explanation for this community’s apparent spiritual appetite is that a large segment of today’s youth are currently not being raised in religious homes. Kimball believes this new wave of people have fewer stereotypes about Christians and are seeking answers to some of life’s most profound questions. His own congregation, Graceland, has seen in its four years of existence a congregation grow from 40 to 800 people, with two Sunday evening services. He says Santa Cruz Bible Church and Twin Lakes Church, the county’s two largest churches, together appeal to about 6,000 people. There are numerous Christian churches of various denominations in the county, including among others, Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopalian and Presbyterian churches.

But Christianity isn't found just in local houses of worship. It's widespread across this coastal area. Scotts Valley is home to Bethany College, a private Christian university, which educates about 500 students a year. Numerous parachurch groups, including UC Santa Cruz's InterVarsity Christian Fellowship offer alternatives for students and a Christian surfing group also exists. A handful of Christian-based camps are found in serene settings throughout the area. Such places like Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center near Felton host events and retreats for families, singles and Christian organizations.

Whipp, the coffeehouse manager, doesn’t express a particular interest in attending church anytime soon. He says his beliefs remain neutral, yet he also recognizes Christianity’s impact on society.

"Something happened 2,000 years ago," Whipp says. "There's something really important that one man created this whole belief system."

And that one man changed Kendra Morrison’s life. As a child she had attended Catholic school and personally developed what she now calls “misunderstandings” about Christians. She thought they were legalistic, judgmental, “television evangelist” types. And she thought their women were weak, purposeless and voiceless — nothing like Morrison. She admits that she had a spiritual thirst and was always seeking God. Her curiosities eventually led her to the New Age movement where she became involved in astral projection (also known as out of body experiences), astrology, past life studies and more.

"It seemed empty to me," Morrison says. "There was no grounding force, jumping from one thing to another, never fully satisfied, never fully feeling a connection to God in a tangible way. As I got deeper into it, I felt deeper confusion. I was spinning out. It's almost like seeking a drug. I was seeking some sort of experience that would quench my spiritual thirst."

Then one day something changed. She met David Morrison, (whom she later married), who possessed an intense, deep kindness, sincerity and spirituality. They had a five-minute conversation and later that night Morrison went home and knew something was different. She says she realized how awesome Christ was, because David placed Jesus as his highest priority, and she recognized that he believed in a powerful and personal God. She says that overnight, a line was drawn and she sensed God saying, “Keep going, or allow me to work in your life.”

"My eyes had opened to the emptiness, but alongside that was a hope," Morrison says. "I decided to surrender to the Lord."

But how do Christians and New Agers, agnostics, atheists or others with opposing beliefs get along? Apparently, in Santa Cruz County, many get along just fine. Shekhinah Mountainwater, a local witch, verbalizes no angst toward Christians. Even her daughter, Angelina Brandwein of Arizona, is a follower of Christ.

Mountainwater says she's one of about 2,000 people who practice the pagan movement of Wicca in this county. She practices magic, casts spells, performs rituals, but says she doesn't perform curses or hexes. She wears an iridescent, multicolored scarf over her long black and white, peppered hair, and insists that she only practices positive and loving things.

"It's not about disagreeing," Mountainwater says. "I honor people's beliefs. They have a right to . religious freedom, as long as it doesn't hurt anybody."

Her only concern is what she sees as the conservative element of Christianity being incorporated into politics. She believes the Christian faith is a patriarchy and she expresses concerns as a lesbian woman in that environment. But she also praises Christians who pursue community, “go on picnics” and help the homeless.

"I believe we're all one, all human beings, we're all one family," Mountainwater says. "I'm a peacemaker. I won't pick a fight. You can't just label a group. We should refrain from making categories."

The 61-year-old witch raised her daughter, Brandwein, here in Santa Cruz, and affirms their love and respect for each other. Brandwein remembers when she was young, her mother jumped from one faith to another.

"This left me with the distinct impression that they (religions) were all pretty much worthless nonsense, so I guess you could say I was a confirmed atheist as a child," Brandwein says.

They had a rocky past, and years went by, without any communication. But Brandwein doesn’t elaborate or explain the reasons for their distance. However, the two are bonding again. She credits much of their reconciliation to her Christian faith, which she discovered when she was 21, at a time when she was searching for answers to fill an internal emptiness. She says she respects her mother’s individuality and creativity, yet Brandwein believes there’s only one way to heaven, and it’s not through witchcraft.

During Brandwein's years living in Santa Cruz, she met few Christians.

"The Christian community seems pretty quiet," says Dave Garbacz, manager and buyer for Gateways Books and Gifts, a popular downtown Santa Cruz bookstore that sells an eclectic mix of religious and Wiccan texts, among other things.

"They don't protest. It's not like the Midwest. This is a very tolerant community."

Brandwein believes this 2,000-year-old faith offers a practical and peaceful way to live one’s life. Additionally she says society benefits from these people who try to live righteously.

"Since the fall of man, the only way (people) can commune with the Creator is through sacrifice, which covers sin," explains Brandwein. "Jesus provided the ultimate and final sacrifice, opening the door to God for all who choose to enter there. How much more relevant can any relationship be? This is the one that makes you whole again. In a world where people push and pull, sweat and steal, in search of satisfaction, only God satisfies."

Although her mother, Mountainwater, disagrees and places her faith in “the Goddess,” she seems unconcerned when she’s informed that about 20,000 people are expected to flock to Main Beach on Sept. 22 and 23 for Beachfest Santa Cruz, a mega Christian event similar to a Billy Graham crusade. World evangelist Luis Palau will speak and music groups will perform, including the popular Christian/mainstream crossover band dc Talk. Mountainwater quotes Jesus, “You will know them by their fruits,” Matthew 7:16 (NKJV).

According to the Bible, "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control," Galations 5:22 (NKJV).

Those are not the words that Ashley Huston formerly associated with Christians. Instead, her list was full of bitter stereotypes. The words, “Lord,” “Christ,” or “Jesus,” would make her cringe. Two of her best friends that she partied with were Christians. But when the trio moved to this area from Colorado, her two friends began attending Graceland. Huston, a 20-year-old Cabrillo College student, noticed a startling change in her roommate.

"She turned into a loving person who lived out what she believed," Huston says. "It was a radical change."

Huston finally checked out the church, where the Santa Cruz culture is distinctly represented. Dreadlocks and pompadours bop up and down to worship music, which sounds more like rock ’n’ roll than old-style hymns. During a 10-minute time of prayer, Huston poured out her heart to God and started crying.

"Someone was listening and was ready to take it on and deal with it," Huston says. "Everything flooded into me. We're in a battle between good and evil. That night it made sense. It was more than just a prayer. Christianity has made my consciousness come alive."

Kimball agrees that this faith is about more than a prayer — it’s about Jesus. He says it’s not about attending church, being a good person or reading your Bible. These things, Kimball believes, are all good things, but they will not get someone into heaven. On their own, such practices are simply religion. This pastor, whose intense passion for people is reflected on his face and in his voice, believes that Jesus wants Christians to live lives that reflect the love that God has for His people.

"The Bible teaches that God loves all mankind so much, that He sent Jesus to die for us and through His death we have life," Kimball says. "But Jesus didn't stay in the grave. He was raised from the dead by the power of God and by putting our faith in Jesus, in His death on the cross and supernatural resurrection from the dead as payment for our sin, this is what gets you to heaven. Not anything we do. It's all about Jesus."