Hello there

[Minimalist]

Thanks for the welcome.

Tempting though it might be I would not recommend this bumper sticker down there.

[KichigaiNeko]

Thanks again for the welcome, it would be nice to know if there are any atheist members here in NC, it's hard to find rational free thinking people in the mountains.

Sim. Yes there is an active Atheist group in NC.
I think SummerQueen may be able to help you there.

Greetings from Western Australia. (we have our fair share of crazies too)

[Sim2k]

Sim. Yes there is an active Atheist group in NC.
I think SummerQueen may be able to help you there.

Greetings from Western Australia. (we have our fair share of crazies too)

Thank you, my mother was born in NSW so I'm half Aussie by birth. I've often been tempted to move there.

[thesummerqueen]

Whereabouts in NC exactly are you, if you don't mind me asking?

Having kids complicates things, but while we are part of the Bible Belt, all the atheists I know have either lived here all their lives or moved here purposely and LOVE it, despite the stupidity. Then again, we're in fairly liberal Charlotte, where they have things like shoes and schools and running water. I think in the message you said you were about an hour from here - that's far enough away to hit "Deliverance" country.

[Sim2k]

I'm south of Hickory, near south mountain state park, like you can tell from the photo thread. We can't see our neighbors and they can't see us, which is nice. It's extremely quiet, apart from the occasional gun shots, lol. I love living where I do.

My only concern is with my kids growing up in the bible belt. I'm not entirely sure it will influence them as long as we give them freedom to think for themselves.

My wife is an environmental scientist / biologist while I'm a software engineer so hopefully that will help.

[thesummerqueen]

The biggest help is letting them know there are others who are like you, and that Jesus isn't the only way, which is how they sucker kids into it. I was raised Jewish in Northern VA, which, when I was younger than 10, was still very much a Southern area, and was told constantly below that age that not celebrating Christmas was "un-American." Mom had us going to Sunday school at two different synagogues to make sure we had our own kool-aid to drink.

I personally think giving your kids options for extra-curricular activities that have nothing to do whatsoever with religion so that they absolutely know there are people who think like Mommy and Daddy is the best proof against it, besides teaching them basic skepticism and how to think for themselves. Of course, I don't have kids, but I was one and between the science summer camps and the science and history-based books and magazines my parents fed me full to bursting with, religion didn't stand a chance except as proof against the cries of "HEATHEN!!" Once I found out there were other people like me in my early twenties, I dropped the charade. The group I mentioned to you in PM is excellent for that. Most of us really think that a lot of people who loosely identify as one religion or another generally only do so because they fear being branded a bad person otherwise.

---

Also, yes, that is a beautiful area. We pass through it on our way to Linville Falls sometimes. Lots of abandoned buildings and old churches I'd love to shoot some day.

[Sim2k]

Well that's all good to know, thanks. I think they'll be ok, as long as they have freedom to decide that religion is blind faith and not fact like so many people here suggest.

We've been to Linville falls several times, table rock is fantastic, wiseman's view etc.

[thesummerqueen]

Well that's all good to know, thanks. I think they'll be ok, as long as they have freedom to decide that religion is blind faith and not fact like so many people here suggest.

Definitely.

If there's anything about America that I can't stand, it's their rigorous "system" they've set up. To be American, you must be Christian (Protestant), you must speak English, you must belong to one of only two political parties, and you must believe in the stereotypical American dream of a white picket fence around a nice house in the suburbs with 2 kids and a dog and cat or there's something wrong with you.

We've been to Linville falls several times, table rock is fantastic, wiseman's view etc.

I can't wait for spring again. I've gone up to the falls several times, and this year I want to make it up to a few other places along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's such a riot of color when the trees bloom. Just achingly lovely.

[DeistPaladin]

Welcome. I'm from Kentucky so I can relate to your experiences in the Bible Belt. My atheist parents somehow managed to keep me religion free and honed my critical thinking skills, so it is possible.

[Minimalist]

where they have things like shoes and schools and running water.