Atheist behavior and negative connotations

[Sophie]

After living in the North and the South, I would say that there is a percentage of people everywhere that are lower intellect.  I haven't done any research in the matter, but I will admit that there is a larger percentage of stupid people in the South that aren't afraid to show it.  Regarding religion, there's a precedent for family discipline or ostracism for questioning or leaving the family's religion.  Considering the fact that it was okay for cousins to marry just four or five generations back in some states, and the fact that slavery was much more predominant in the South because of the agrarian economy... there probably are more stupid people here.  (Of course, mentioning the slavery issue is to show how strong the ignorance and rigid the intolerance were... are in some cases).  *sigh*

[filip3rd]

Theist will battler them self. this is a war amongs them and NOT us against them. So the best thing is on our path to pickup the wounded one and help them to understand. Our weapon is our knowledge and our gift to see the world with the eye of reason and not supperstition. The same way greek Gods died this new mono God will die too. it is however importand that we keep our strenght so we can be albe to with stand their battle.

This is not a war that we need to fight.

[Kona]

Sophie, if you recall your history, Georgia was where the Brits sent all of their criminals.  Maybe that is where the seeds of stupidity started?

[Sophie]

Sophie, if you recall your history, Georgia was where the Brits sent all of their criminals.  Maybe that is where the seeds of stupidity started?

True.  It's a good thing that so many northerners migrated to Georgia during the 80s.  My family was in that group.  We moved from Iowa because the John Deere plant had laid off a lot of workers (along with Alcoa, Caterpillar, etc) and he had a friend in Georgia - land of milk, honey, and lots of work.  The saddest part to me at the time was that in Iowa, I was enjoying a highly motivating, challenging education.  In the 6th grade, I was in a "move at your own pace" math class - so I had gotten to algebra and loved it.  When I moved to Georgia, they were doing fractions.  I was so disappointed.  Okay, end rant.

I think another reason Georgia's population isn't the most educated is that the evangelical, fundamentalist Christians don't look too highly on being smart.  In some cases, it's seen as a form of pride.  If you think you're smart and want to go to some Ivy League University, you must think you're better than everyone else...  Ahhhh, the good ol' Bible Belt.  Don't aim too high, because God loves the simple and humble.

[Kona]

True. It's a good thing that so many northerners migrated to Georgia during the 80s.

Damn carpetbaggers!!!

think another reason Georgia's population isn't the most educated is that the evangelical, fundamentalist Christians don't look too highly on being smart.

I'll drink to that!  Authoritarianism certainly carries the day over logic and reason in Dixie!

[BleedingOrchid]

I am NOT removing my Evolution Fish sticker. I love that thing!

[Kona]

C'mon!  The pirate fish logo is way cooler!  They also make a really cool FSM logo, too!

[MommaSquid]

They also make a really cool FSM logo, too!

Link, please!!

Thank you and RAmen.

[Kona]

Link to all things pasta:

http://www.cafepress.com/venganza/

[tacoma_kyle]

Dude I never saw that before! lol. Who are they? The cast of Pirates if the Caribbean?

[jrosebud]

I think that the car stickers (as long as they have a point other than just taking the piss) are great.  They raise consciousness.  They let the world know that we're here and we care about our children's educations being fucked over by the superstitious.  Being visible forces others to discuss us.  Those who may be questioning realize that they have options, that they are not alone.  Without some of the cheeky websites and thought-provoking bumper stickers that challenged me in my college years, I wonder if I would have found my way to Atheism.

[ShimShamSam]

I agree with this thread, I've met a few atheists who were a little over the top and gave the rest of us a bad name, in the same way Paris Hilton and Britney Spears give America a bad name to the rest of the world. But I'm not one of them, I'm not on some Missionary Atheists Crusade to hunt down and convert theists. I wouldn't sink to their level by using those tactics.

...however, that didn't stop me from debating 2 Mormons for 40 minutes who showed up on my front porch. It got dark and said they'd come back at a specific time the next week to finish our discussion, they never did, i guess I was...unsaveable.

[Will]

I don't have fun taking a theist argument apart, but I feel it's my responsibility to defend myself and other atheists when they're attacked.

[Eris]

Like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV-a1vmZ6y8


I like to deal with individuals rather than groups. I know theists who deserve respect, and theists who don't. I know atheists who deserve respect, and atheists who don't. The tendency to lump people into insufficient stereotypes is not a respectable trait, and I don't care if people do it to me. It says nothing about me and everything about the person creating the stereotype.

[rational liberal]

Sophie, if you recall your history, Georgia was where the Brits sent all of their criminals.  Maybe that is where the seeds of stupidity started?

True.  It's a good thing that so many northerners migrated to Georgia during the 80s.  My family was in that group.  We moved from Iowa because the John Deere plant had laid off a lot of workers (along with Alcoa, Caterpillar, etc) and he had a friend in Georgia - land of milk, honey, and lots of work.  The saddest part to me at the time was that in Iowa, I was enjoying a highly motivating, challenging education.  In the 6th grade, I was in a "move at your own pace" math class - so I had gotten to algebra and loved it.  When I moved to Georgia, they were doing fractions.  I was so disappointed.  Okay, end rant.

I think another reason Georgia's population isn't the most educated is that the evangelical, fundamentalist Christians don't look too highly on being smart.  In some cases, it's seen as a form of pride.  If you think you're smart and want to go to some Ivy League University, you must think you're better than everyone else...  Ahhhh, the good ol' Bible Belt.  Don't aim too high, because God loves the simple and humble.

I know exactly what you mean. I too, live in Georgia and the ignorance that exists here is sometimes overwhelming. Now, thats not to say that there aren't many people who are intelligent and not sickeningly religious. Its just that the ones that are really get all the attention and give everyone else who lives here a bad reputation among the rest of the country.