Being atheist in the Bible Belt
January 2, 2017 at 8:02 pm
(January 2, 2017 at 8:39 am)MyelinSheath Wrote: I'm sure there are plenty of fellow Bible-Belters here who share my disdain for the staunchly religious component of this region of the world. I was raised southern baptist. My family was (and still is) a Christian family. I find it increasingly difficult to be myself around here nowadays. There is almost no conversation I can get into here that doesn't involve me going along with precepts I don't agree with in order keep the peace.
I live in NC and do not know any live Atheists here. I get along fine in conversations. I just go along with the little precepts. It's like going along with a kid that believes in Santa. I rarely get dragged in a deep discussion about God. When it happens, I either humor them or I challenge them on things playing the role of someone that is not sure of things but has a bunch of hard questions. If it's a total stranger, I just tell them that I am an Atheist. They look at me funny and go away.
Quote:I'm pretty much open about my atheism whenever the question of belief is brought up. I'm sure that not everyone knows, but I try to be as unabashed as possible. I'll be damned if I'm going to make any bones about my true opinions. At the same time though, I don't volunteer the information, and try to stay away from religious discussion with devoutly religious bumpkins.
Just blend in and get a little jab when you can't resist.
Quote:I try to share my opinions via tacit "innuendo" type facebook posts wherein I don't explicitly use the word "atheism" or talk about the existence of God, but I do talk about science, evolution, reason, evidence-based thinking, and logic. Whenever there is a post from someone that says "please pray for me/us", I always comment with something like "I'm thinking of you today".
Pray to Thor instead.
Quote:I have started conversations with some of my more open friends. In these conversations, I usually let loose and speak with much more candor and honesty. I usually open up about what I really think.
Good, good, let the hate flow through you.
Quote:The primary problem I have with religion, especially as it pertains to the Bible Belt, is that it fosters such ignorance.
A smart man living amongst the ignorant has an advantage if he uses it.
Quote:I see literally no path forward for the culture down here. The ignorance here is very prideful in nature, and is entirely self-sustaining. We cannot reach the point wherein evidence-based thinking dominates. These people are steeped in tradition, and value their traditions and hidebound beliefs much more than evidence or intellectual progress.
But they are sooooo happy.
Quote:Does anyone else here have some things to say about being atheist in the Bible Belt? Please share!
Learn to be a Ninja.
