Wondering how it is where you all live (extreme religiosity)

[HeiressofBickworth]

17. Not very visible

Last edited Sat Nov 16, 2013, 09:57 PM - Edit history (1)

My little town has a population of 20,090 (2012 estimate) near Seattle. There are 21 churches with a mailing address in our town. There is also one mosque. The town has an ordinance prohibiting church bells or calls (mosque) or other noises emanating from a religious location. I occasionally get something in the mail from one of the local churches, but it is in the recycling bin before it even comes in the house. I rarely get door-to-door religious salespeople. My house is close enough to the LSD church that I've always believed I'm within their "zone" and over the past 35 years, I've had fewer than 5 such calls. Much to my surprise, last week I had a Jehovah Witness pair knock on the door to offer me literature (all the while claiming they were not trying to change anyone's religion to which I said, well, of course you are otherwise you wouldn't be here). The man asked why I wasn't interested in reading their pamphlet. I told him that I've read the beliefs of many different religions but I am an atheist and their message is meaningless to me. He asked me if I always felt this way. We had a nice chat about the belief in god being similar to the belief in Santa Claus -- a mythology that originated in childhood but for many disappears over time due to the lack of relevance, plausibility and evidence. It was a pleasant chat -- he was very curious about my beliefs. At the end, he even shook my hand and thanked me for being willing to share. It was the first such call in many years.

P.S. Oops. Make that LDS church. Fingers not working in proper order.