Happy Atheist Forum

I was just wondering, are your guys' opinions on religion common where you live?  I always take note of where you guys are from, and I would love to hear what it's like to be an atheist in that region, especially in areas that have high concentrations of religious people.
I live in Portland, OR, which is incredibly liberal, so I feel almost no religious pressure in my area.  As soon as you leave Portland and head toward Southern or Eastern Oregon, you start to see the giant 'Jesus Saves' road signs, which seems so silly because I'm not used to being subject to that stuff.  I was just curious as to what it's like to be atheist in your town or city...

I live in Lemont Illinois, which is just a small (15,000 people) suburban town in the great Chicago sprawl.  Our town used to have the words "Village of Faith" on some of the official logos (although now it appears they've changed them all to "Historic Lemont") - and indeed, the village is very faithful.  There are churches everywhere, and they are almost exclusively catholic.  In fact, the community info page says there are 50 catholic churches within 10 miles ( ), 0 jewish synagogues, and 1 protestant church.  Which is weird, because I've driven by other churches that are Lutheran and even one baptist, so I'm disinclined to trust these numbers entirely.  There is also a very large Hindu temple (it does a whopping business, but draws people from all over.  It's actually named the "Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago" (http://www.htgc.org/test/).  It's all carved up and has an interesting look to it).

So, although there are a lot of religious people around, they are mostly catholic.  And the catholics are, in Richard Dawkins words, a "benign herd";  they seem to make being an atheist very easy.  I don't encounter any religious problems in my daily life, and I occasionally mouth off about my irreligious beliefs (haha, hard to believe, right?).  So far nobody has ostracized me, although I can't help but wonder what they think in private (freakin' heathen!).

Part of this is probably because Lemont, at least in recent decades and regardless of what the village literature says, has acquired more character as "another Chicago suburb" than it has kept of it's own, and the city is such a mish-mosh of ethnicity and culture that I don't perceive a lot of intolerance.  I was a boy scout growing up, and our troop was very secular.  We never did church services or anything, and nobody challenged my religious beliefs (sort of like gays in the military, right?  Don't ask don't tell, :lol: ).

This is part of why I'm so shocked when somebody comes on and posts about all the intolerance they have been subjected to - it's just a foreign experience to me.  I guess I've had it easy.

I'm in a college town right now so it's not too bad, I can go all day, most of the time, without hearing anything about religion (as long as I don't visit the forum).  When I do hear something about religion it is usually from my best friend talking about how her troubles must be part of God's plan and that she trusts that it will work out since everything happens for a reason.  She has a tendency to forget that I'm not a believer (I guess it's hard for her to accept since she knows I'm a good person and her beliefs put me n a road to hell)...I don't challange her since she needs all the support she can get right now even if it's just imagined support.

I can say I'm "not religious" around here without any problems but I'm not sure how openly saying I'm an athiest would go over and don't really want to find out right now either.  If most Christians around here are like my mom, atheist is the worst thing you can be in their view....but agnostic is okay for some reason.

Those who deal with a lot of intolerance are probably from smaller towns.  I know there are a few towns in Oklahoma where you pretty much have to be a church goer to be accepted into the community.

I'm from the Philly burbs.  It's weird here.  In one direction there's Philly, a big city with several colleges, a large gay community, and a generally open-minded vibe.  In the other direction the people are very religious and can be exceptionally judgemental.  My ex-boyfriend lives out in that direction and has gotten a few comments from strangers just for wearing a Maiden shirt with some of the lyrics from "Number Of The Beast".  That's the exception.  For the most part people in Lancaster and Berks counties are too shy/polite to say anything, even if you try to offend them.  They'll look, they'll shake their heads, but they won't usually confront you.  If they do they usually try to inform you that whatever it is that caught their attention just isn't right, but they're polite about it and will usually leave you alone if you ask nicely.  I live right in the middle where it just seems to depend on the person.  I've met the full range, from other atheists to total bible humpers and everything in-between.  I tend to avoid talking about religion unless I know someone well.  When the subject comes up and I say I'm a nonbeliever the reaction is almost always a total non-event.

I can't imagine living surrounded by Jesus freaks.  *shudder*

Quote from: "laetusatheos"I don't challange her since she needs all the support she can get right now even if it's just imagined support.

That's very respectable.  The older I've gotten, the more I've realized religion is a crutch and that's all that's holding some people upright.  It preys on weakness, but it also creates community.  So while the support of a big fake man in the clouds might not be there, the sheep look out for each other and you have to admire that on some level.

I live in the middle of Lancaster County, PA. aka Pennsylvania Dutch Country. aka Amish Country. Horses and buggies. It's about as conservative as it gets. I think it's like me and two other non-believers in total!  :lol:

But the Shoo-Fly Pie is good.

I'd say it's peaceful, but we're the ones who had that Amish schoolhouse mass murder in 2006.

Quote from: "McQ"But the Shoo-Fly Pie is good.

Oh, how cruel of you to mention shoo-fly pie!  I'm drooling all over my keyboard...


Back to the topic at hand:  there are quite a lot of churches in the Phoenix area and they come in many flavors.  I laugh at believers but keep my atheism to myself.  What they don't know can't hurt me.

Sure. I don't know of many Atheist-saturated areas in the US yet. They're coming, though. If atheism, or un-faith, continues to grow the way it has even over the past few months, I'd be willing to be California and the Pacific Northwest, and New England might start being...well not predominantly, but have a much higher concentration of atheists. I just hope we don't see a whole bunch of atheist churches pop up. Science damn it, that'd piss me off.

Hey, I'm a newbie. Canadian (check the flag!) I am an atheist in a once totally church-going Catholic province. Now church attendance is the lowest in Canada. Hm. I haven't really told anyone I am an atheist, because I just became one!  I've been reading Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, doing a lot of thinking over the past couple of years and finally came to a decision. I am sure glad to find your site!

Quote from: "McQ"I live in the middle of Lancaster County, PA. aka Pennsylvania Dutch Country. aka Amish Country. Horses and buggies. It's about as conservative as it gets. I think it's like me and two other non-believers in total!  :lol:

But the Shoo-Fly Pie is good.

Hey 'neighbor'.  :lol:  That's what's great about living in Montgomery County.  Less conservative, but still close to all of the great food.

Quote from: "ScourgeO'God"

Quote from: "McQ"I live in the middle of Lancaster County, PA. aka Pennsylvania Dutch Country. aka Amish Country. Horses and buggies. It's about as conservative as it gets. I think it's like me and two other non-believers in total!  :lol:

But the Shoo-Fly Pie is good.

Hey 'neighbor'.  :lol:  That's what's great about living in Montgomery County.  Less conservative, but still close to all of the great food.

Born and reared in Blue Bell. I know Montgomery county well. Welcome to the forum, BTW!

Quote from: "semicolon"Canadian (check the flag!)

Hi semicolon - I was born in the states, but one of my parents was born and raised in Canada.  So, I guess that makes me half-Canadian.

I was "lucky" to be born in the Netherlands, where approx. 30-40% are non religious.

I was raised all over, including Japan, Texas, and Alaska.  But my home will always be the great NorthWest.  This is an interesting topic because it shows how perceptions can be so different.  It's like the way conservatives say the media is totally liberally biased, and the liberals say it's totally conservatively biased.  I've always felt a certain amount of embarrassment when people find out I'm a Christian.  I've always felt pressure to drop the religion.  But certainly not by atheists.  Mostly the non-religious.  Which I think comprise the vast majority of people in the world.  (No, filling in a checkbox with a religion does not make you religious.)  

Though, now that I'm an adult, and don't give a crap about what people think of me I really don't notice any friction.  I get along with religious people and non-religious people equally well.  I'm in the least churched area in the U.S. and I enjoy it.

In my town, almost 70% described themselves as Christian in the last census (2001). Though I'm in the UK, where church attendance has been falling for years...I think maybe around 10% attend church regularly. So most of that 70% are probably just Christmas/Easter Christians who are barely influenced by their faith for the rest of the year. Then there's some Sikh, Muslim and Hindu people (around 3% each).

In the last census, about 15% of people in my town said they had no religion whilst 10% didn't state their religion. I've had no problems as an atheist in my town and the majority of people I know are atheists.

I live in Appleton WI and it's pretty decent here. Virtually no pressure from society. I don't have any statistics, but I'd say it's 60/40 theists to atheists. Not a bad number. hehe.

In Australia most people are non-believers. When ever I see or read someone on the internet saying "With out the bible you can't have morals! Society would break down!" I know they are ether ignorant or lying, because Australia’s society is just fine.

I think religous people have a hard time thinking of the world without the guidance of god. Or thats the way it appears anyhow. Should actually be kind personally upsetting if they ever figured that out. For some reason there seems to be a mental block with reason...

Yeah - once you understand that morals don't come from god, then you understand why nothing like "society collapsing" is going to happen.  Those of us that are atheists don't worry about it, because we know that nobody is currently getting their morals from god  :wink:  

And society is hardly collapsed.  It's weird, it's got issues, but it's not collapsed.

SteveS, is it really morals that are holding society together?  or is it industry?

Massive unemployment, or starvation, would be a more pressing factor in any "societal collapse" than morals.... also, Zombies would be bad.

Yeah - I agree, it's more than just morals.  I think either "moral collapse", however that might happen (lol), would be bad --- picture rampant killing, looting, etc.  (it might be fun while it lasted, though...nah, I guess not).  Industrial/Agricultural collapse would be really bad too --- I can't imagine a happy outcome.

But - zombies would be the worst!  Either that or vampires (ala Midnight Mass - remember, the atheist died!!!)

I live in the Netherlands, attending a technical university. Living in the same city the Uni is settled. The number of Christians is very low, other religions are nihil. Large majority varies between atheist/agnostic so yes being Christian I am a minority.

Hi wereMole. It is nice to see another dutchman on this forum. Where do you live in the Netherlands? I'm originally from Amsterdam, but now live in Darmstadt, Germany.

I live SW of Portland, OR... and our little burg is very religious.  LOTS of Mormons here as well as a good portion of fundies and gellies.  Last election, we had the "one man/one woman" marriage thing going on and EVERYWHERE I looked there were bumper stickers and signs supporting its passing.

So whenever you hear someone talk about how liberal Oregon is, remember it's just Portland and MAYBE Salem... the rest... not so much.

Quote from: "Tom62"Hi wereMole. It is nice to see another dutchman on this forum. Where do you live in the Netherlands? I'm originally from Amsterdam, but now live in Darmstadt, Germany.

I currently reside in Enschede so I'm quite close to Germany

I live in western New York. Western New York is much more religous than the tri state area but it is not as bad as many other states.

Rochester tends to have a high concentration of Catholics, however they have a more liberal outlook than the faithful in other parts of the US. For example, there are Catholic churches with women leaders and the Bishop petitioned to the Vatican in support of gay marriage.

So although the people in WNY are quite religious they're typically open minded of non believers. However the local newspaper appears to be run largely by the militant Christians based on the editorial page.

Yep, I'm a minority. This is Indiana after all. You can get a license plate that says "In God We Trust". But you won't be seeing one that says "In Reason We Trust". And we still have blue laws here.

However I do know several people that are either atheist, agnostic, or apathetic. Indy is a fairly progressive city. Or maybe I should say it has bastions of free thought and expression. But it has plenty of religious events.

As far as I can tell Indy's not hostile to atheists. So we're here, but we are a minority.

I think, especially here, it's very much dependant on generation & other such sub-cultural groups (class is another one). Atheism/agnosticism accounts for most of my age group as well as the younger ones, without any shadow of a doubt: I've known Christian kids who've been bullied for it even in Christian high-schools (which accounts for most of them). I'd say I'm in a very powerful majority, for that reason... though many of my school-mates would rather deny this for the sake of being able to parade around trying to look like rebellious 'non-conformists' if there is such a thing :roll: . With my parent's generation, though, it's a little bit more hit and miss & with my grandparent's it's predominantly believers.

Wow - I'm sort of in shock over the atheist/agnostic majority in other countries!  We are a decided minority in the US.  So hard for me to conceive of.

Quote from: "Mister Joy"trying to look like rebellious 'non-conformists'

That's a whole interesting sub-topic:  It seems that the rebellious take a simple pleasure in being contrarian - just align themselves with the minority and feel good about it (because it is a minority).  I wonder how many rebellious people in the states have adopted atheism for the "shock value".  For me, I could give two craps if the minority agrees with me or not.  At the risk of seeming too self-assured, let me offer the following quotation:

Quote from: "A. A. Milne"The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority.
The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority.
The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking.

I would say being an atheist for the simple reason that it gives you an excuse to be a minority and enjoy pissing people off is a really bad reason.  Those who have adopted atheism because it makes sense to them are exhibiting characteristics of the "first-rate mind".  Those who have adopted atheism to piss-off their parents and shock their friends are exhibiting characteristics of the "second-rate mind".  So, you could always accuse your classmates who are posturing for a minority status of possessing "second-rate" minds!  :wink:  

Quote from: "Steve Reason"This is Indiana after all. <snip> And we still have blue laws here.

Ture.  But, Indiana is not the only one.  Whenever I travel for business, it is always a source of frustration when I can't get a beer on a Sunday night because of some dumb blue law.  Ridiculous.  I ran into this in Indiana when I was in college, but I'm sure there are some dry towns in Illinois as well.  I've encountered them all over the American mid-west and parts of the American south.

Quote from: "SteveS"That's a whole interesting sub-topic:  It seems that the rebellious take a simple pleasure in being contrarian - just align themselves with the minority and feel good about it (because it is a minority).  I wonder how many rebellious people in the states have adopted atheism for the "shock value".  For me, I could give two craps if the minority agrees with me or not.

Ha ha, stupid atheists!

 

Quote from: "SteveS"True. But, Indiana is not the only one. Whenever I travel for business, it is always a source of frustration when I can't get a beer on a Sunday night because of some dumb blue law.  Ridiculous.  I ran into this in Indiana when I was in college, but I'm sure there are some dry towns in Illinois as well.  I've encountered them all over the American mid-west and parts of the American south.

I think the law here lets you drink in a tavern or bar on Sunday, but not buy alcohol for home consumption. What kind of stupid shit is that? Of course, I think it was last year that New Years Eve landed on Sunday, so the Governor suspended that law for one day because of how big of a day that is for liquor stores. Hypocrite...  :lol:

QuoteI would say being an atheist for the simple reason that it gives you an excuse to be a minority and enjoy pissing people off is a really bad reason. Those who have adopted atheism because it makes sense to them are exhibiting characteristics of the "first-rate mind". Those who have adopted atheism to piss-off their parents and shock their friends are exhibiting characteristics of the "second-rate mind". So, you could always accuse your classmates who are posturing for a minority status of possessing "second-rate" minds!

I prefer the expression "dim-witted attention whore". It generates more of a reaction That's a good quote, though. I'd actually lump second and third rate minds into one category since they both amount to the same thing: they allow other people around them to control their opinions.

QuoteI think the law here lets you drink in a tavern or bar on Sunday, but not buy alcohol for home consumption. What kind of stupid shit is that? Of course, I think it was last year that New Years Eve landed on Sunday, so the Governor suspended that law for one day because of how big of a day that is for liquor stores. Hypocrite...

I think it'd be fair enough if the tavern (now there's a word I've not heard used in a long time) owners where Christian themselves and made the decision on their own, but to make it a legal requirement? That's a wee bit absurd if you ask me. And your Governor sounds like a moron.

Is working on Sunday a sin or isn't it, Mr. Governor sir?
Erm... ask God. I have no real conviction, I just like making laws to piss people off.

Hey Steve Reason!  
I live in a smaller town (Elkhart IN) than Indy, but i'd be exaggerating/ bordering on lying if i said i think most Hoosiers are not hostile to atheists up this way.
 
 Oh yeah, they ARE hostile here.  Like most religious people, you can't debate them--even if THEY bring it on, trying to convert me, etc--without taking on some weird defensive wrath and eventually, hostility, and a surprising amount of anger.  Even if you are being polite and respectful, the very notion just sets 'em off !!!  Well, most of 'em anyway.
(This isn't from my social friends, it is others, coworkers, etc.)


  My town was trying to get the commandments put out in front of the courthouse!!  c'mon!!!

so i am mostly in the closet, still......not worth the wrath.

Even those who are not openly hostile, there is something...a superior attitude/pity/ostracism, something not good that falls on out of 'em when/if they find out one is atheist ......

But how encouraging that you have a different experience in the larger city.  I heard Bill Maher say last week, that in the under 30 age group, 20% are now atheist, which makes them a larger 'minority' than blacks, latinos, or gays. Our time is coming.

 I wonder in the over 30 age group, the percentage?  I was certain i was the ONLY one for decades and decades, wish they'd had sites LIKE THIS when i was younger....

I DO FEEL like a minority, i definitely feel philosophically isolated here.   And you are right, it's pubs only on sunday! No liquor stores!  When i first moved here from Cape Cod, i thought the clerk at the grocery store was kidding me!!!!!

And yeah, i rather loathe the new plates.  pullleeeeze..

Personally, I think that if we make it illegal to buy alcohol on Sunday, then it should be illegal to attend church on Saturday!

I'm just kidding, of course.  These sorts of laws are senseless to me.  If I buy, and then consume, alcohol on Sunday in my home or in a bar ---- whose rights am I violating?  How am I impacting anybody else?  "Land of Liberty", huh?

I'll drink to that, Steve S!!

PLus, the whole SUNDAY crap, what does WHAT day it it have to do with rum?????  Tequila, maybe, but rum?? bah ha ha!!

i mean rationally.....  as if we were pretending there was a separation of church and state....i think we all oughta go set up a margarita stand outside all of our local churches..sell it for like, $10 per paper cup full.....there'd be salt, of course.

....i guess i'm glad enuff the ones who decided gawd didn't want us purchasing alcohol one day each week didn't pick FRIDAY!!  


"Rum.....it isn't just for breakfast anymore......"

wow, we derailed THIS thread, huh!  what is this thread, again?
 :lol:

We were talking about whether or not you (as an atheist) are a minority where you live.

Hmmm, all this talk about alcohol; seems to me like sober atheists would be in a minority group....

 :wink:

Quote from: "SteveS"We were talking about whether or not you (as an atheist) are a minority where you live.

Hmmm, all this talk about alcohol; seems to me like sober atheists would be in a minority group....

 :wink:

Hey I was a Christian, or a reasonable facsimile thereof for 30 years; I have a lot of drinking to catch up on!  :wink:

QuoteHmmm, all this talk about alcohol; seems to me like sober atheists would be in a minority group....

Throw in a bit of repressed sexuality and this may as well be a Catholic forum.

QuoteHmmm, all this talk about alcohol; seems to me like sober atheists would be in a minority group....

Hey, I'm sober right now!

But why should we deprive ourselves of the pleasure of a fine alcoholic beverage every now and then?   It's not like tea-totallers get into heaven.

Not that I don't enjoy tea...

If not booze, why caffeine? If not caffeine, why chocolate? et cetera.

Gotta balance happiness and health, not sacrifice one for the other. :lol:

I live in Southwest and there are atheist everywhere. Its horrible as they have signs up everywhere: "Born again atheist" and "I was born right the first time."
They call it the atheist belt here.
Probably all false prophets lead by the devil.

What, on God's green Earth (figure of speech), are you jabbering on about Churchy? :lol:

I'm starting to believe that this is a prank. Am I being stupid, people? Was it really obvious from the off?

Quote from: "Mister Joy"What, on God's green Earth (figure of speech), are you jabbering on about Churchy? :lol:

I'm starting to believe that this is a prank. Am I being stupid, people? Was it really obvious from the off?

No, you are not being stupid. Churchworker is working on getting a warning about Trolling pretty soon, if he/she doesn't come clean with an intro. and purpose for these meaning less posts.

Got that, Churchworker?

Go Oregonians!

I live in Sheridan, OR...about 50 miles away from Portland. Predominantly wiccan/atheist town, with the occasional Christian.

Well... I'm gonna have to move to Sheridan!  I'm in Sherwood, about 15 miles SW of Portland... and we're over-run with Mormons and Fundies here.  I know it's worse that it is because my son goes to a school in a church (NOT a church-run school) so my exposure to the fundies is probably higher than if he didn't go there.  

Ah well... nice to see another Oregonian!  

pffbt Mormons? holy crap! I would've never known! I'm up in Lake Oswego all the damn time!

And I used to live in Shelley, ID where they are overrun with Mormons.....so I know how that goes. I felt like I went to a Mormon High school. There was NO seperation of church and state...it was non stop church and people trying to convert you! They had a class [non credit, but still] called seminary, which was insane! I was one of 3% non Mormons, I was baptized and so was the other of the 3%. I was the only female non Mormon, which made it weird. We could only date each other! xD it was quite amusing...we scared people based on our religion. 2 Atheists and a Wiccan. The wiccan...never baptized, and wasn't stalked. Damn him x]

I grew up here, only lived in Shelley for three months. Still..it was insane.

*waves to the other oregonion *

It feels good to be home

Eh, the Mormons I can take... but I didn't have to go to school with them.  I was raised from age 10 on in California (central valley)... I never even MET a Mormon until I moved here at age 37!  My neighbor was very accommodating in answering all of my stupid questions based on the stereotypes I had and the misinformation I'd gotten from my mom.

For the most part, they are some of the nicest people I've ever met or hung out with.  The neighbors are up to 4 kids now... had none when we moved here.  And she was a scrapbooker so we had that in common.  Thank goodness for Mormons or the scrapbooking world would be VERY different and there wouldn't be as much stuff out there to play with!  LOL!

Got that, Churchworker?

In the name of the Fat Fucker, the Son of a Bitch and the Holy Goat. A womem.

Man, i'm moving to YOUR town, Take2gemini !  sounds real nice!

Yeah, McQ, have at the churchworker.....wait, i gotta get some popcorn......
okay, now i'm ready.  go for it.

xD true that! My aunt is gonna celebrate her 8th anniversary with her seventh kid O_O but she is a fantastic cook!