Majestyk

What major city in the U.S. boasts the greatest percentage of Atheists? Is there anyplace that holds the possibility of becoming an atheist Mecca.

I'm thinking of something analogous to the San Francisco bay area's acceptance of homosexuality. Where the population, either active or tolerant, is so significant that the politicians have to pander to it.

Granted, an intellectual outlook/philosophy doesn't have the same pull as the libido. People will be less inclined to migrate because of it but if, I knew of an area where I could feel a sense of community that I don't feel now, I might consider it.

capsaicin67

I know what the xians would do in our place--- they would pick one [well, in their case, the Alpha Xians would pick one for them....] and they would all move there and MAKE it a xian mecca by flooding the community with their multitudes and dominate it.

Maybe that's what we should do. Pick a nice state with potential and descend on it en masse and build a cultural beachhead. The Mormons pulled it off with a cult that has a totally whacked story. Of course they went a bit too far with it in some instances in their history, and engaged in some godly bloodshedding it sounds like. But surely we could do something short of that!

trillian

I nominate Nevada. Still a pretty small population (less than 2 million), no weird religious laws, and they have secular private school!

niggle

I heard Washington has the highest percentage of atheists in a thread a LONG time ago.

I personally like Minnesota. Fundies aren't too bad. A lot of Catholics and Lutherans. I think any state that could have Ventura for governor can't be all bad.

We could all move to one part of a state so we could elect an atheist into Congress!

Let's see Representative Aspelund. I like the sound of that.

Radcliffe Emerson

I opt for a non-winter area. I never want to see snow again.

NYCparalegal

Why settle for a city or a state when we can have our own tropical island?

I offer any chain of atolls in the warm Pacific!

Shake

Yeah, the Mormons obviously decided that upstate New York, while being where it all started, was far too snowy for their tastes.

Apparently, Asheville, NC has become a sort of mecca for pagans, as there are a lot of Wiccans there. It's beautiful country there, although they do see some snow, it's far enough inland not to have to worry too much about most hurricanes.

Of course, that whole herding cats thing comes to mind when trying to find such a place.

Grumpy

I'd have to look up the survey, but I recall Medford, OR being called the least religious city in the USA. That doesn't make Medfordians atheists, though.

If you're looking for a "Mecca" apart from a major city...

There's a freethought monument in Comfort, TX, northwest of San Antonio.

And the Alabama Freethought Association has a retreat at Lake Hypatia. Kind of like a clothing-optional resort, only it's God-optional.

Jewel

Off to the Lounge....

Autonemesis

You mean a city to which atheists make religious pilgrimages? Might be just me, but this sounds a little counter-productive.