Anyone non-religious here? Please be nice!

[deb1]

Quote:
That is an interesting point.

 

[thaiturkey]

What is the 'Bible Belt' mentioned here a few times? I assume that its a US thing but is it a geographic area or areas in different towns?

I'm originally from England and most Christian denominations, very much in the minority these days, live peacefully amongst the non religious families. Anyone who tries to push his faith down the throats of his neighbours is soon told to push off. In fact, there's a law against harassment that could lead to them being locked up in prison. I can't imagine what it must be like to live amongst radical church people who ostracise those with different views. Where's the freedom in that. Perhaps it's similar to those extremist Islamic communities.

 

[OccamsTazer]

The bible belt is where it's not, "Do you go to church?" but "Where do you go to church?"

And I'm smack in the middle of it. It's not a great thing.

 

[Kelly G]

Quote:
Often this is our southern states...the Carolina's, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas...and a few others. These are just what come to mind. Also these areas are thick with churches - literally one on each corner.

I'm not sure if this is a true statement - or my perception, but they seem to be heavily populated with enthusiastic Christians...or Evangelicals. Maybe others can/will weigh in on that.

Your English is exceptional, by the way!!

ETA - just read that you were born in England. Of course your English is good!!!

 

[Illia]

Wow I didn't know there were so many non-religious people here!

For quite a while I was wondering if I should even bother posting such a topic. . . Well, I don't follow any religion as I find it SO unreliable (how is it there are so many and they're all right? ) but I do believe in a higher power. I could have paragraphs to explain my beliefs and all, but I just went through 4 sleepless nights of watching over eggs hatching or not hatching, so. . . Kinda tired right now.

Love reading these previous posts though.

 

[redux]

I think the Bible Belt is really the whole center of the country. I was in northern Ohio once and I really felt like I had to watch what I said. Maybe that was just my own perception (or paranoia)..but I saw churches everywhere, and Biblical references were painted on storefronts, garage roofs, etc.

I was born and raised on the East Coast, and this was startling to me.

 

[KDbeads]

Actually the area with the highest per capita of churches was in upstate SC when we lived out there, but that was 20 years ago. I think it averaged out to one church per 15 people at the time, but that was when a ton of people lost jobs and moved away.

As for this notch in the bible belt..... I don't DARE say anything about being non-religious. We just say we practice at home. We don't tell them what we practice either. It's safer for us this way because there are some real fanatics out here that, well, I'm afraid of.
There is no tolerance here. You are either religious or you are ostracized.

 

[thaiturkey]

Bible Belts.

Thank you for your explanations. I couldn't live amidst that stuff and would probably feel the same if I was still a churchgoer. What are they doing flagging up biblical references? Is it a competition to see who has the best quotation? This is living loudly, like playing loud music every evening, and not neighbourly.

More than the religious 'advertising', I'm curious about the way that non-churchgoing people or those going to the 'wrong' church are treated. I'm getting the feeling that they are at best ignored and at worst intimidated. If that is so, where do the scriptures of the religious 'in crowd' permit such behaviour? Isn't the Christian god a god of love and peace? Very confusing and off-putting.

 

[thaiturkey]

Quote:
That's very sad. I feel for you.

 

[redux]

Quote:
This goes back to what I said before- the people who truly live their faith are typically a delight to be around because they are at peace; and they live by the concepts you mentioned. Others merely wear their faith as a shield, or sometimes a sword. I don't sense any peace at all in such individuals; what I sense is defensiveness; any difference of opinion is seen as a challenge to their beliefs and it seems to unnerve them. That is why it is so essential to them that you believe the same as they do.