Louis_S

Well I've been pretty surprised by some of these responses. I have not lived in the Bible Belt as an atheist yet, but I've lived there for 15 years as a non-Christian in a religion that most have never heard about.

I have been pretty open about my beliefs previously, and that has led to being told I'm going to hell more times than I can count. Many people have tried to convert me, and sent me info, or had me talk to their preachers, but usually the conversation came to "Well at least you believe in God." As a result I've been somewhat shuttering to see what will happen living there as an atheist. I'm currently still working at a religious school now, but perhaps there's hope for me when I go back.

There is just an expectation there that you are a fundamentalist Christian, same as them, unless you tell them otherwise. In my experience, most people will, at best, just shrug and accept it, be somewhat disappointed but will accept you eventually based on your character, or raise hell and try to convert you.

The one advantage about that last group, is that they're pretty much stuck with just a few extremely simplistic arguments, and you're probably better informed about those arguments than they are already. If not you'll quickly learn them and it'll be no big deal.

I wouldn't worry about it too much, if it becomes a problem, just say that you don't go to a particular church. It skirts the truth a bit, perhaps, but at least it avoids a sermon. Most people worth being friends with will accept you anyway. I've got several fundamentalist friends and they usually get over it pretty quick.

winterwooskie

i don't know if i am in the bible belt but it seems like it to me. once i mentioned that i was an atheist and i was asked if i like to kill things. i said i didn't and asked how she could make an assumption like that and she got really defensive and wanted to change the subject.

also someone that i used to know asked me about my views on religion and i told him and he didn't have a problem with it, it seemed. but one time there were some people talking about religion and i mentioned something and he said something like "oh, i don't want to here what you have to say about it since i already know what you think." a bit rude and ignorant.

there are lots of fundy's here. and it's all over my college campus.

GypsyLife

Went to live with extended family for my first year of college (they had a new baby and were in and out of hospitals with their own illnesses - thought I was helping).

After politely refusing to become a member of their Southern Baptist church, I was told I would have to find somewhere else to live because my "instability as a Christian" would infect their young, impressionable children. This was a huge shock .. I had even attended their church (although it fits the definition of a cult ) for two months in hopes of putting their minds at east that this was not simply a rebellion against them.
I really love those young impressionables and because of that, haven't come out as an atheist because I have no doubt that I would no longer be allowed to visit them.

Fundies. Ho hum. Families aside, I haven't been discriminated against otherwise... Just the usual looks of confusion and "Oh. honey... things will get better".

faust

winterwooskie:
West Virginia? Hell, that's where they cinch up the belt real tight.

GypsyLife:
You're just "seeking." You're not really an atheist, that's just a phase. You are seeking Jesus. He is acting in your life. It will get better when you accept Jesus in your life. The Bible is true. Do not ask questions. There are no contradictions.
I hate when i get that. "you are just seeking." I usually tell them to buy me dinner. If they refuse, i quote bible verses at them. I've gotten lots of free meals
I am "seeking" free food.
Make sure they know that you are really an atheist and that we do exist. We can prove it, unlike their proof of "God".
<-- faust

GypsyLife

Hm... I am a starving-student....

TealVeal

Which verses have gotten you free food? I like GypsyLife am a poor college student

faust

Hehe,
I wish i could say i came up with this idea, but some other slick atheist theologians beat me to it.

Matt. 5:42 (38-48 for the good bits, esp 48 to drive it home.)
"Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away."

Give me money or food please. The True Christians always have a bible handy to look up the quotes.

Luke 6:30 KJV is pretty good, but NIV is better. Most of the real fundies seem to have NIV anyway.
KJV - "Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again."
NIV - "Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back."

I have used these to get food, but was unsucessful in getting the "shirt off your back" from the local fundy girl i know. She admitted to committing sin by not following what the bible said. My response? "Hell, if you're going to commit a sin, at least it should be a fun one, let's go out around the corner" hehe.. that didn't work either.

Luke 6:34-35
NIV - "And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."

KJV - "And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35___But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil."

There you go, you don't even have to be thankful, just evil

I am sure there are more, but if they are TRUE Christians, they should do what the bible demands of them, and consequently what you demand. good luck. post success stories!

TealVeal

Thanks, I'm gonna work on memorising these

GypsyLife

<taking notes> Geez, me too.. Does this mean I don't have to pay my family back for car repairs? I'm sure that falls under SOME verse.... "And if the car of thy niece breaketh down, fix it and give to her extra spending money as the Lord would give to thee."

And a whole new respect for the b-i-b-l-e has been born...

pariah

ive never actually been discriminated against here...(well some kids screamed "FUCK YOU ATHEIST" at me for stating the facts about cercuit 9's decision and what the guy said about the pledge. i mean i didnt even state my opinions...but it was just that once)

although its appalling how people around here relate patriotism to christianity. three of my friends won an award at a government thing-a jew, a muslim, and an atheist. when they won the award they were reffered to as "three good christian boys".

although its not so bad for me at my high school, i go to an international bachaloreaute/fine arts school so we have a lot of intellectuals and liberals...

i have heard horror stories though. kids getting beaten up, or just harrassed. once this creepy southern baptist guy kept trying to get us kids to go on the bus to his church. he wouldnt leave-some of the bible thumpers are REALLY pushy (there is a thread about this on the forum, its fairly common here but not THAT severe)

and the local paper (daily oklahoman, im straight out the OKC yall) is one of the worst, christian agenda pushing papers i have ever seen. omg its horrible...and always talking about evil atheists in the editorials. we are trying to take over the country by getting god taken off the money and out of the pledge.

::sigh::

edit:

haha i thought of some other funny stuff. when i was in middle school we played card games (magic the gathering) and dungeons and dragons afterschool outside...we got told we were giong to hell more than once although thats a lot more like humor than harrasment, and we were all rather proud of ourselves for being infested with demons who caused us to play these abominations

another time a kid asked me what religion i was (IE what denomination of christian). i told him i was an atheist and he asked me what that was. he just couldnt wrap his mind around the idea that there might not be a god. our conversation ended with him concluding: oh, so you a christian, you just dont go to church.

i have expereinced little, really no discrimination. there isnt very much hate in the bible belt, just a lot of ignorance. and a lot of stupidity (ignorant people who are also unwilling to learn...thats how i see it)

ps: i dont play those anymore. I AM NO NERD GOD DMANIT!