Freethought & Rationalism Archive

SLD · 06-04-2003, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by braces_for_impact
I live in Indianapolis, which I consider the most "Dixie" city in the north of the union. I have an evolve fish on my car (actually it's the evolution fish humping the Jesus fish) and at times I have caught Christians smiling at my symbol. Then I watch their face turn to a frown and then to anger or horror.

I haven't encountered too many problems with myself being an atheist. Mostly people get to know me before they find out, and they are usually surprised. Then they start asking me questions, and I get to dispell some illusions. Topping the list is that 1)Most people seem to think atheists are extremely rare. 2)Most people think that atheists have no ethics or hold no beliefs at all. 3)Most people expect atheists to be 'rabid' haters of all things religious. And of course there does also seem to be the atheist/intellectual stereotype. I have gotten some stares from time to time when answering questions, like on hospital check-in.

I have been prosyletized to quite a bit. No matter where I live, I usually have someone religious knock on my door a few times a year. I get approached on the street or in public transportation or public places. Religious people usually react more negatively, while non-religious people of course tend to react more positively. My coworkers all seem fine with it, though I had to disspell some common misconceptions with some of them.

All in all it's not too bad. I do hear prejudiced or bigoted comments in public from time to time which make me cringe, both at work and on the street. Certainly on television or radio. I think religion is going down the tubes and the last adherents to these outdated ideas are simply not going down without a fight, at least here in the U.S.

Amen to that last comment, BFI. Religion, at least fundamentalist Christianity, is slowly dying, and as it does so the hardcore adherents are trying desparately to get it propped up - especially by using the power of the state to do so.

It's funny that you have people knock on your door several times a year. I returned to Alabama from my time in the Navy in 1989 and not once has someone knocked on my door to proselytize. In fact the only proselytizing I've seen has been a few street corner preachers handing out religious tracts - harmless. I thought I was in the heart of the Bible belt.

SLD

fromtheright · 06-04-2003, 08:29 PM

SLD,

I don't want you to be disappointed for having gone so long without being witnessed to, so

REPENT AND BE SAVED!

SLD · 06-04-2003, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fromtheright
SLD,

I don't want you to be disappointed for having gone so long without being witnessed to, so

REPENT AND BE SAVED!

OK, and now I finally get to respond to someone: Sorry, I just don't buy that crap, do you really?

SLD

wade-w · 06-05-2003, 12:18 AM

I grew up in Georgia. I don't recall ever seeing a christian billboard, or being proselytized much. Most people simply assume you are a baptist there. I never kept my atheism a secret, but I never went out of my way to advertise it either. If the subject came up, I would debate.

I recently moved out of the Bible Belt. I had JW's (I think I recognized a copy of The Watchtower in one woman's hand) knocking on my door less than a week after moving into my new apartment. I have to pass several "I knew you in the womb..." and "Jesus is Lord" billboards on my way to AND from work every day.

I have been working as tech support for the last few months. I've actually had customers start trying to witness to me!

sklippstein · 06-05-2003, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by schu
Here in the bible belt we are just keeping our heads above water. The xians so love skeptics here that they will gladly blacklist our businesses when they find out we are not xian. I hear it is better on the east and west coasts, but here the fundie preachers tell their followers that atheists are the spawn of the devil. One man who had a Darwin evolving fish on his car had his new car keyed, scratched up with a car key. But we do survive, and the xians who run everything here think themselves persecuted! Ain't it wonderful?

If a so-called Christian keyed ANYONE's car.....they are not a Christian.

niggle · 06-05-2003, 06:24 AM

I think things will get better simply because I believe in an "ideological evolution." False philosophies, government, and govt systems naturally self-destruct at some point. Christianity is an evil that will fade away into irrelavancy.

The only way I see this trend reversing itself is if a disaster strikes America. In crises situations, people in general revert to their child-like tendencies. Some people rise to the occasion, but most don't. Take for example post 9/11 violence against Muslims and America's comtinued "need for faith in times like these."

Such possible crises could be:

1. Economic depression like the 1930's due to enormous national debt.
2. WW3 starting due to lack of oil and foresight to counter the situation in time.
3. Rising tempatures causing global climate to change.

But I can't see how any of these things could happen, so don't worry and sleep tight.

Radcliffe Emerson · 06-05-2003, 01:06 PM

And, with the people in power right now, such a disaster isn't beyond probability, in my opinion.

Goliath · 06-05-2003, 01:59 PM

skippstein,

Quote:

Originally posted by sklippstein
If a so-called Christian keyed ANYONE's car.....they are not a Christian.

I do not see how this follows. Why does the belief that the xian god exists, the belief that Jesus is the son of said god, and an attempt to follow said god necessarily imply not being able to key another person's car?

Sincerely,

Goliath

Aravnah Ornan · 06-05-2003, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sklippstein
If a so-called Christian keyed ANYONE's car.....they are not a Christian.

Behold the power of the "no true Scotsman" fallacy.

06-05-2003, 06:24 AM	#26
niggle Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 746	Getting better, but still worried. I think things will get better simply because I believe in an "ideological evolution." False philosophies, government, and govt systems naturally self-destruct at some point. Christianity is an evil that will fade away into irrelavancy. The only way I see this trend reversing itself is if a disaster strikes America. In crises situations, people in general revert to their child-like tendencies. Some people rise to the occasion, but most don't. Take for example post 9/11 violence against Muslims and America's comtinued "need for faith in times like these." Such possible crises could be: 1. Economic depression like the 1930's due to enormous national debt. 2. WW3 starting due to lack of oil and foresight to counter the situation in time. 3. Rising tempatures causing global climate to change. But I can't see how any of these things could happen, so don't worry and sleep tight.

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06-04-2003, 08:29 PM	#22
fromtheright Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 633	SLD, I don't want you to be disappointed for having gone so long without being witnessed to, so REPENT AND BE SAVED!

06-05-2003, 12:18 AM	#24
wade-w Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Silver City, New Mexico Posts: 1,872	I grew up in Georgia. I don't recall ever seeing a christian billboard, or being proselytized much. Most people simply assume you are a baptist there. I never kept my atheism a secret, but I never went out of my way to advertise it either. If the subject came up, I would debate. I recently moved out of the Bible Belt. I had JW's (I think I recognized a copy of The Watchtower in one woman's hand) knocking on my door less than a week after moving into my new apartment. I have to pass several "I knew you in the womb..." and "Jesus is Lord" billboards on my way to AND from work every day. I have been working as tech support for the last few months. I've actually had customers start trying to witness to me!

06-05-2003, 01:06 PM	#27
Radcliffe Emerson Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: the dark side of Mars Posts: 1,309	And, with the people in power right now, such a disaster isn't beyond probability, in my opinion.

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