Atheists in the Bible Belt: A survival guide

[IDemo]

Raleigh, North Carolina (CNN) – Back home, they erase their Internet histories, look over their shoulders before cracking jokes and nod politely when co-workers talk about church.

But in a hotel ballroom here on a recent weekend, more than 220 atheists, agnostics, skeptics and freethinkers let it all hang out.

The convention was called “Freedom From Religion in the Bible Belt,” and it was part celebration of skepticism and part strategy session about surviving in the country’s most religious region.

They sang songs about the futility of faith, shared stories about “coming out” as nonbelievers and bought books about the Bible – critical ones, of course.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2014/05/24/atheists-in-the-bible-belt-a-survival-guide/?hpt=hp_c2/

[Warpy]

1. The survival guide is a great one

I don't know if it's possible to explain how incredibly religion soaked the south is to anyone who hasn't experienced living there. People are still sorted out according to which church they go to without any regard to who they are or what interests they have.

While outquoting fundies when they get on your last nerve can be fun from time to time, it's always best to stay in that "I'm not religious-I'm not much of a churchgoer" closet, especially if you're female. The south is extremely unforgiving of women who stray outside religious orthodoxy.

[theHandpuppet]

5. "The south is extremely unforgiving of women who stray outside religious orthodoxy."

That's because the rules of patriarchal religions are intended for women to obey and men to enforce.

[Lars39]

13. Women can willingly be enforcers also...it garners them a little bit of power in religious circles.

My MIL is one of them.

[ladjf]

2. This is some silly stuff. It doesn't pass the "smell test".

What kind of morons would think that singing songs about "the futility of faith", or "sharing stories about "coming out" or buying books critical to the Bible?

In other words, I doubt the veracity of this OP.

[theHandpuppet]

4. The conference has been reported by multiple news sources

There are also several videos posted to YouTube. I'm not sure from your post whether you doubt the veracity of the conference or the activities held; it wasn't clear in your post.

[ladjf]

6. I doubt both the veracity of the event and the activities described.

I know many atheists and doubters and I can't imagine any of them participating in such a silly event.

But, that's just my opinion. Maybe I haven't met enough atheists and doubters.

The fact that "multiple news sources" back of the story means nothing to me. The media news is hardly a trustworthy source.

[theHandpuppet]

11. Alrighty then

I was going to provide you with some links but I can see that would be a wasted effort on my part.

[NightWatcher]

3. The great thing about being an atheist...No Meetings

Getting together to sing songs (hymns), tell stories (sermon) about how great it is (praise), buying and discussing books on the subject (bible class).... Sounds a lot like church.

[yallerdawg]

7. Sounds a lot like...

a Southern political rally -- both parties.

Everybody is selling something.

[IDemo]

8. A video for those "lacking faith" in the veracity of this story:

[ladjf]

10. I'm about to get tired of worrying about this post.

However, the above video did not show anyone singing songs about the folly of faith, nor buying any books critical to the Bible.
This meeting depicted in the video had a completely different tone than the one described in the OP.

[SheilaT]

9. As someone who calls herself a nonbeliever

rather than using the word atheist, I just tell people that when it comes up.

I live in Santa Fe, NM, which is a very Catholic city. Recently I was having dinner with some friends at work, right before Easter, and was surprised, when the conversation turned to what they'd be doing on Good Friday, at how much time and energy was being spent on things connected to their beliefs. I just didn't say anything, because no one was trying to convince me of anything. They were just sharing a couple of stories with each other.

Since I don't already live in the South, and I'm very unlikely ever to move there, I find it pretty easy to simply keep what I believe (or don't believe) to myself.

A while back, when living in a different state, I knew a group of atheists and occasionally hung out with them. They were every bit as relentlessly convinced that their viewpoint was correct as any religious people I've ever known.

[Ghost in the Machine]

12. I live in the buckle of the bible belt (Tennessee) and don't hide my atheism, nor do I try to....

If people don't like it, that's just too damned bad for them, I guess.... and this is a small town that literally has more churches than any other structures, besides homes, spread throughout the County. More churches than businesses for employment, and more churches than places to shop or get gas. You can't throw a rock around here without hitting a church, lol. If you want to get stuck in a traffic jam, you just go to a church parking lot on Sunday morning and blow your horn at parked cars

At least I know I'm not alone though. I've met a few other atheists, as well as agnostics, pagans, wiccans and two self-described "practicing witches". They are mostly the younger generation, which is a good thing, but I have met several near my age (I'm 51) who are non-believers, too.

Peace,

Ghost