nortomaso said:
Hey Mosche, if I may add a pragmatic twist to the discussion.... since you say you are a southerner and we are in the process of figuring out where to go next year, do you (or anyone else) think a northeastern atheist like myself might have trouble adjusting to North Carolina or St Louis?
In all fairness, I think a Christian fundamentalist might feel a little unwelcome in Boston or New York.
Hey Nortomaso, I think that this is an excellent question, because it pretty much sums up why I am leaving the South! I have to say that I somewhat disagree with the above posts. First, everyone in the South assumes that EVERYONE IN THE US IS A CHRISTIAN! And why shouldn't they be? After all, "This is a Christian nation!" (if I had a dollar for every time that I've heard that, I'd be RICH).
For example, one thing that I often hear: "Michael, you know that I love you, I'm just worried about your soul"!
Now, I'm not talking about being gay -- that fact sends them over the edge. I'm talking about the fact that I'm Jewish. I know that it may seem, to some, silly; but to me it's offensive to be told -- often by quasi-acquaintances -- that my beliefs are illegitimate.
Second, it is not uncommon to hear professors inject their religious beliefs into their lectures. One of my Biochem lecturers stated that "In some research fields, the researchers OUGHT to ask themselves 'What would Jesus do?'" Further, it is not uncommon to hear my MED. SCHOOL CLASS say that evolution is for the foolish! One of my classmates believes that G-d placed dinosaur bones on earth to "trick the foolish"!
This is NOT a lie -- anyone else from UAMS want to chime in here!?
Finally, let me assure you that: I do love the South. I just don't like the hyper-religious oligarchy! Remember this: Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell get their power from somewhere; and as they continue to pontificate, the South continues to glow bright red on election day!
I do agree that St. Louis is not bad; however, Missouri prides itself on being "The buckle of The Bible Belt". Springfield serves as the national headquarters for both the Assemblies of God (Pat Robertson's affiliation) and The Baptist Bible Fellowship (Jerry Falwell's affiliation -- although , since they are Independent Baptist's, they claim that the "affiliation is a very loose affiliation". I say, "It's still an affiliation"; further, since he attends their annual meetings, I'm not convinced that it's very "loose"!).
I like what you said above about a fundamentalist feeling "unwelcome" in NY and Boston. I think that those sentiments are mild when compared to what an "unbeliever" will face in the South. Again, I'm one person; but that has been MY interpretation. Before anyone decides to start a flame war, remember that such matters are a matter of interpretation.
BTW, I answered the poll. That's how the devil does it: he dangles the bait in front of you -- something so innocent, like a poll -- you take the bait, and then you find yourself in the middle of a full blown religious war!
