The problem with Alabama

Discussion Open Forum
1

Gao_bo_han, this thread is directly specifically at you. In another thread you mentioned that you, living in Alabama as I presume you do by the text under your avatar, were interrogated “about a million times in the past year” about your lack of Christian faith. To wit:

[quote=“gao_bo_han”]Exactly. And I think that’s what the essence of the OP’s rant. I have to deal with it constantly. I have had the following conversation about a million times in the past year.

Somebody: May I ask you a personal question?
Me: Sure. Fire away.
Somebody: Do you go to church?
Me: No. You?
Somebody: Yes I do, most certainly I do. Would you like to visit my church this Sunday?
Me: No, thank you for the offer.
Somebody: Are you a Christian?
Me: I was raised Christian, but no, not any longer.
Somebody: Why not?
Me: I just no longer believe.
Somebody: But why?
Me: Um…
Somebody: Are you an atheist?
Me: Yes.
Somebody: (Gasp). So what do you think of believers? Do you think we’re all stupid and deluded? Is 94% of the world stupid and deluded? Is that what you atheists think?

That inevitably how it ends in one way or another. They ask me if I’m religious. I say no. They get offended and demand to know why I look down on them for their beliefs, even though I’ve made no such comment or suggestion.[/quote]
This exchange astounds me, as does the religiosity in the United States in general. My limited experience in various parts of the U.S. suggests to me that it’s not limited to the “south,” either. Still, stereotypes abound about the “Bible Belt,” and your anecdote only seems to confirm them.

My question to you is: How can you live in a place like that? Does that kind of thing not bother you? Or, do you feel like you have something to “push against,” that living in a place like Canada, say, would be unfulfilling because it would be “too easy,” because no one would ever feel the need (or dare) to question your personal beliefs?

Aside: Yes, this post smacks of Canadian self-congratulatory smugness, but it’s unavoidable in this particular respect. No one here would ever, ever in a million years come up to me in any social situation whatsoever and ask about the state of my “spiritual” situation. Oh, sure, we have people prozelytizing on the street, but the idea that a co-worker, relative, neighbour or acquaintance would conduct the type of conversation quoted above, which you say is so commonplace for you in Alabama, is absolutely and utterly preposterous (at least outside of the Bible Belt in Alberta and Saskatchewan, anyway). I shudder at the notion of living in a place with a critical mass of religious people such that the type of conversation quoted above might occur even once, let alone often.

But do the family ties win out in the end? Or does the fact that you’re living in a region where they have 10,000-strong Baptist congregations not really bother you? Maybe you get off on being an iconoclast in a masochistic sort of way? What’s the deal? Enquiring minds want to know!

2

PP -
I do not presume to speak for GBH, just to offer a comment.

The actions he describes are regarded as neighborly and friendly in a lot of areas in the USA. To invite someone to your church is to invite them into the neighborhood and into a social group. It is not done with any sinister evil intentions.
I have had ‘church people’ visit me quite a number of times when I have moved into a new area and invite me to services or various bible-study and groups. Never had a problem with high pressure or felt anything but kindness from them. Went to a few Sunday services as a result and made some local acquaintances. Honestly, I never joined any of the churches as a result of this - but it was a nice welcome.
Likewise, if a person holds deep and sincere Christian beliefs, a part of that is what is called ‘witnessing.’ This is a sharing of your personal beliefs and a willingness to share these with another, even a stranger. Who will not be a ‘stranger’ after this is done. Again, its not done to cast any judgment on the other person, but to let the person know that you are willing to share your aith with them if they should so desire.
It may be easy to mis-interpret this…if one so desires, but its really not all that complicated.
Some people, actually a lot who have had religion in their life since childhood, do find it hard to understand why someone would not have this faith in a supreme being as part of their life. For some of these, their questions regarding ‘lack of belief’ or ‘atheism’ or agnosticism may come off as a bit strong. But mostly its because they have never been confronted with someone who has come to this personal conclusion in their life. It a bit hard for them to wrap their brain around it.

I offer this only as a personal comment. No judgment one way or the other.

3

But they’ll try and scrounge a reefer.

4

Look you CAN’T play Alabama man unless you get the Action figure set !
Wife sold separately :laughing:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/64994/alabama_man/

So shut up B !

5

You’re right, it’s definitely not limited to the South. There is strong religiosity all over the US. I present exhibit A from Ohio.

Porcelainprincess, meet KrakenJesus. KrakenJesus, meet porcelainprincess.

The Bible Belt is termed such because of the high level of proselytizing that occurred in a wide temperate region across the south and central US during the colonization era. Various denominations competed with each other for the souls of the frontiersmen and their families by holding huge “camp meetings” that drew hundreds or sometimes thousands of people. The ordeal always consisted of a stage, sometimes a confession chair for new converts, wailing, speaking in tongues, rolling around on the ground, etc. The Methodists and Baptists are much more tame nowadays, but back then they were holy rollers. The Pentecostal/Holiness movement originated from Methodist camp meetings and eventually competed with the other denominations as a full blown sect. That is why the Bible Belt has a higher concentration of fundamentalist churches than other parts of the US. And yes, I live in the heart of the Bible Belt.

It does get annoying, but I just make do. As TC said in his thoughtful post, it is considered polite to invite others to your church. And of course witnessing and attempting to convert others is part of the Christian religion, and in the area of the country I live in, it is normal to make open expressions of your (Christian) faith.

I have no problem with people politely inviting me to church or trying to convert me, as long as they are polite about it and don’t get pushy. What I hate is when they find out I’m an atheist, they get offended and act like my very existence is an affront to all they believe to be good and just.

Interesting question, but the answer is no, I don’t enjoy being accosted for my lack of faith.

[quote]Aside: Yes, this post smacks of Canadian self-congratulatory smugness, but it’s unavoidable in this particular respect. No one here would ever, ever in a million years come up to me in any social situation whatsoever and ask about the state of my “spiritual” situation. Oh, sure, we have people prozelytizing on the street, but the idea that a co-worker, relative, neighbour or acquaintance would conduct the type of conversation quoted above, which you say is so commonplace for you in Alabama, is absolutely and utterly preposterous (at least outside of the Bible Belt in Alberta and Saskatchewan, anyway).

I shudder at the notion of living in a place with a critical mass of religious people such that the type of conversation quoted above might occur even once, let alone often.[/quote]

For some reason I thought you were from Saskatchewan and were actually part of the Holiness movement when you were younger. But obviously I have you confused with someone else, because a former holy roller from Saskatchewan would not find life in the American Bible Belt anything out of the ordinary.

But hey, Canada sounds like a tolerant place that would be a welcome refresher from the “I can’t believe you don’t love Jesus” crowd. But really, you’ll find the same tolerance in places like Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, etc.

Well don’t forget the 10,000-strong non-denominational congregations who compete with the 10,000-strong Baptist congregrations, the arrogant and massive Churches of Christ who run churches and schools all over the state, the very visible our-womenfolk-don’t-cut-their-hair-and-only-wear-long-denim-skirts-unlike-your-whore-wives Holiness pricks who have churches every five miles, your occasional quasi-Christian personality cult, and even your hordes of (mainly tame) Methodists, Episcopalians, and Lutherans who, while not nearly as nutso as the other groups, are still there to remind you that otherwise sane, intelligent people can still believe in something completely loony.

And once again, no, I do not “get off” on being antagonized by the faithful. We live here because we were sick of the traffic, pollution, and stress of Houston, the house prices are lower here, the land tax is considerably lower, and yet salaries are comparable to Houston for technical and professional jobs.

Of course we miss the cosmopolitan culture of Austin and to a lesser extent Houston. One of the little known secrets about Austin is that despite the fact it is the capital of one of the most conservative states in the US, it is actually very liberal and has an international outlook. But we aren’t committing ourselves to grow roots anywhere at this point. We’ve considered living in Europe, or somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, on either the US or Canadian side. Got any suggestions? :slight_smile:

6

Thanks for the considered answer. After posting it I was afraid you might find the smugness off-putting. To be frank and blunt, I myself could never live in the U.S. for cultural reasons, but I do envy you down there your weather. If the British had held on to enough territory back in 1812 so that Canada’s southernmost city were in the region of Washington D.C. I would be a very content person!

I’m from southern Ontario, not Saskatchewan (shudder). I went through a phase at the age of 16 where I became “born again” under the influence of my mother, who herself became very religious at the same time at the age of 40. That’s a long story. Suffice it to say that by my later teens I left religion far behind.

Suggestions about the Pacific Northwest, specifically Vancouver or thereabouts? The scenery is fantastic if you like mountains, but the city itself is relatively dull in comparison with Toronto or Montreal (though it surely beats Saskatoon, Saskatchewan…shudder). You get eight months of rain per year, and what they refer to as “summer” amounts to high temperatures in the low 20s for July and August. Of course, people there will retort that their winters are the warmest in Canada, and they would be right, though winters in this country suck the big salami no matter where you are.

Toronto is the most cosmopolitan and interesting city in Canada. Montreal comes a close second, though the perceived charm of its gallic exuberance is offset muchly by its provincialism. It’s also way, way colder than Toronto in the winter, as unlikely as that may sound…it’s a serious icebox. But you may not be looking for the big city vibe, and if not then you should skip Canada altogether, as we lack those left-field, quirky little places that you have in the U.S., such as Athens or Madison, etc.–Canada does not have “college towns” the way you do, and it’s a damn shame.

Canada…it’s a great place, but it’s just too damn cold to recommend. Me, I grit my teeth for three months of the year, and try to escape for part of the winter, and that seems to help.

7

Nick Cave says it best:

God Is in the House

We’ve laid the cables and the wires
We’ve split the wood and stoked
the fires
We’ve lit our town so there is no
Place for crime to hide
Our little church is painted white
And in the safety of the night
We all go quiet as a mouse
For the word is out
God is in the house
God is in the house
God is in the house
No cause for worry now
God is in the house

Moral sneaks in the White House
Computer geeks in the school house
Drug freaks in the crack house
We don’t have that stuff here
We have a tiny little Force
But we need them of course
For the kittens in the trees
And at night we are on our knees
As quiet as a mouse
For God is in the house
God is in the house
God is in the house
And no one’s left in doubt
God is in the house

Homos roaming the streets in packs
Queer bashers with tyre-jacks
Lesbian counter-attacks
That stuff is for the big cities
Our town is very pretty
We have a pretty little square
We have a woman for a mayor
Our policy is firm but fair
Now that God is in the house
God is in the house
God is in the house
Any day now He’ll come out
God is in the house

Well-meaning little therapists
Goose-stepping twelve-stepping Tetotalitarianists
The tipsy, the reeling and the drop down pissed
We got no time for that stuff here
Zero crime and no fear
We’ve bred all our kittens white
So you can see them in the night
And at night we’re on our knees
As quiet as a mouse
Since the word got out
From the North down to the South
For no-one’s left in doubt
There’s no fear about
If we all hold hands and very quietly shout
Hallelujah
God is in the house
God is in the house
Oh I wish He would come out
God is in the house