Freethought & Rationalism Archive

SecularFuture · 02-08-2003, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GaryP
The 50's were indeed the Golden Age for this type of thing.

Here in Ohio, the state motto, "With God, All things are Possible" was enacted in that decade. And in my city, my favorite public creche started being displayed in the late 50's.

ROAR!!!!

Toto · 02-09-2003, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GaryP
Toto--

I take it that you are a little older than me. I was in my single digits in the 50's. I was raised as a Methodist here in Ohio. My impression would not equate the Methodist church with anything like Deism.

But I have heard people speak of a large difference between the church on the East Coast and the practices here in Ohio. Did you grow up in a more cosmopolitan area than I did, or do you base that statement on research?

I'm a little older than you. I was raised on the east coast in a community that was not very cosmopolitan, but was big on education. It was my experience all through the 60's and 70's in two different midwestern college towns that there was a common understanding among intellectuals that there was no personal God, and that at most "God" was some sort of metaphore for some undefinable concept that could not be proven. Churches were social groups and had nice buildings that were available for political meetings, but anyone who took "God" seriously as a concept was probably from the South (i.e., a redneck), or was an African-American, and was excused because of their long history of slavery.

This all started to change around the 90's (or at least that's when I became aware of it.) I think the 12 step programs were a part of the change, also evangelical Christians started infiltrating the universities, and using religious tolerance to claim a place for their own beliefs. There's probably a lot more to it than that.

GaryP · 02-09-2003, 07:25 PM

I think you are right about the academics and intellectuals.

But the practice here in my hometown was pretty fundamental. I remember not being allowed to play cards, dance and don't even ask about drinking and smoking!

And it's always nice to know that there a few Infidels out there older than myself!

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02-09-2003, 07:25 PM	#23
GaryP Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, OH Posts: 1,792	I think you are right about the academics and intellectuals. But the practice here in my hometown was pretty fundamental. I remember not being allowed to play cards, dance and don't even ask about drinking and smoking! And it's always nice to know that there a few Infidels out there older than myself!

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