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RE: Being atheist in the Bible Belt
January 17, 2017 at 8:42 am
The southern religious folks in America have always interested me greatly. Religion is obviously very ingrained in many parts of our culture but the people down south especially have created a very vast bubble for themselves. It seems that church is quite a big deal to the people down there and that it has sort of become part off the culture to dress up on Sunday and go to mass, talk to other churchgoers and gossip about who hasn't been to mass in three months, etc.
Your culture never has to evolve or grow if everyone in it thinks the same, acts the same and goes to all the same events. You should read "The Lottery"
“Love is the only bow on Life’s dark cloud. It is the morning and the evening star. It shines upon the babe, and sheds its radiance on the quiet tomb. It is the mother of art, inspirer of poet, patriot and philosopher.
It is the air and light of every heart – builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody – for music is the voice of love.
Love is the magician, the enchanter, that changes worthless things to Joy, and makes royal kings and queens of common clay. It is the perfume of that wondrous flower, the heart, and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon, we are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods.” - Robert. G. Ingersoll
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RE: Being atheist in the Bible Belt
January 17, 2017 at 9:21 am
This is the south, they don't read.
I've had to start hiding my atheism a bit because I'm looking for work. But I am fortunate enough to live in a [comparatively] liberal part of Oklahoma (yes, that is a thing). The nones are growing here, and more and more people are sick of the religious nuttery.
The south will change.
Except Mississippi. Because Mississippi is terrible.
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RE: Being atheist in the Bible Belt
January 17, 2017 at 9:36 am
(This post was last modified: January 17, 2017 at 9:38 am by Cyrinistar.)
I have to say, I feel bad for you having to stick to such a strong Christian society. Living in the Bible Belt must be annoying sometimes. Just believe what you want to believe and you'll be fine....
But remember, if it's weird to imagine a person in the sky who waved his hand and things appear, then don't force yourself to believe just because you reside in the Bible Belt. Oh, and, Mississippi is terrible.
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RE: Being atheist in the Bible Belt
January 17, 2017 at 12:58 pm
@Nata
LOL, you're in good company. Plenty of us southerly folks make a hobby out of hiding our better breeding and education. We learn it young to deal with our compatriots but only fully realize the extent of it's utility when dealing with uppity yankees.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: Being atheist in the Bible Belt
January 17, 2017 at 1:02 pm
It's still urban vs. rural in the South. I live in Columbia, SC. There are five colleges. I can reasonably expect not to be assaulted when someone finds out that I'm an atheist. I would tread much more carefully in Great Falls, though.
I'm not anti-Christian. I'm anti-stupid.
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RE: Being atheist in the Bible Belt
January 17, 2017 at 5:04 pm
It would bother me immensely if I was a social butterfly, but I'm a recluse so it's work and home for me.
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RE: Being atheist in the Bible Belt
January 21, 2017 at 5:16 pm
(This post was last modified: January 21, 2017 at 5:28 pm by ErikB.)
I live in the bible belt, and I generally stay away from topics like evolution, politics, and religion. But I stayed away from those topics even when I lived in some of the world's most liberal places, such as The Netherlands, Norway, and L.A. I only discuss these things with people I know and trust, and not very frequently because I think they're not the most exciting of topics.
If someone invites me to their church or start pushing their religious agenda on me, I'll change the subject or excuse myself politely and leave. Of course, sometimes it can get a little more complicated than that. But I'm a private person and don't want to discuss these things with strangers. I'll usually say that I respect their beliefs/way of life and leave it at that. People should obviously be able to live their lives the way they want, and they should respect the way others choose to live.
Disrespectful buffoons - whether religious or not - just prove that they haven't evolved as much as they'd like to believe.
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RE: Being atheist in the Bible Belt
January 23, 2017 at 5:01 am
If they don't know the real Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:11-28) and pray in public tell them to STFU.
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