Are you apart of a religious (or non-religious) minority where you live?

Started by nuclear, December 09, 2022, 10:01:29 AM

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nuclear

For me, I would say yes. I live in Mississippi: the bible belt, where over 80% of the population is Christian; I'm apart of the less than 20% non-Christian minority here.

It's been kind of hard to find someone IRL who shares my fascination with taboo left-hand path religions like LaVeyan Satanism.

It leaves me feeling excluded from my local society, which is why I stay indoors and spend most of my days in front of a computer screen.

Thank goodness for sites like this, a place where I can explore alternative theological perspectives.

ETA - I accidently said "Thank God." Couldn't let that typo go through.

Mike Cl

Quote from: nuclear on December 09, 2022, 10:01:29 AMFor me, I would say yes. I live in Mississippi: the bible belt, where over 80% of the population is Christian; I'm apart of the less than 20% non-Christian minority here.

It's been kind of hard to find someone IRL who shares my fascination with taboo left-hand path religions like LaVeyan Satanism.

It leaves feeling excluded from my local society, which is why I stay indoors and spend most of my days in front of a computer screen.

Thank God for sites like this, a place where I can explore alternative theological perspectives.
I live in CA.  But the county I live in voted for Bush/Cheney twice and Trump every time.  If one could dig the county up and move it to Alabama, they would not notice any difference--huge bible-belt mentality. We are the only dems on my block--I do not discuss politics with any of them.   
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?<br />Then he is not omnipotent,<br />Is he able but not willing?<br />Then whence cometh evil?<br />Is he neither able or willing?<br />Then why call him god?

Dark Lightning

We're all Dem voters in this house. I see fewer chump flags in the neighborhood, so that's a good sign. 3 of the 4 of us are atheists, as well.

Blackleaf

"Oh, wearisome condition of humanity,
Born under one law, to another bound;
Vainly begot, and yet forbidden vanity,
Created sick, commanded to be sound."
--Fulke Greville--

Luther Martini

Quote from: Blackleaf on December 09, 2022, 02:41:35 PMI'm an atheist living in Texas so...yep.

LOL -- I grew up in Dallas.  Walking the seven blocks from my house to elementary school, I would walk past two churches, missing a third church by only a block or two, and on Sunday mornings they were all full. 

I've spent most of my post military service adult years in Iowa -- same deal -- churches everywhere.  Some of my neighbors know that I am an atheist, and maybe they all do; I don't care one way or the other.  We get along with all of them by avoiding discussions about religion and politics.

nuclear

Quote from: Blackleaf on December 09, 2022, 02:41:35 PMI'm an atheist living in Texas so...yep.

I've never been to Texas. Is it any good? Is it better than Mississippi?

Blackleaf

Quote from: nuclear on December 09, 2022, 08:53:09 PMI've never been to Texas. Is it any good? Is it better than Mississippi?

We're full of religious fruitcakes, at least in this part of Texas. I hear that Austin is more secular. But no matter what part of Texas you live in, this man is our senator:



And this is our governor:



I've never lived in Mississippi, so I can't compare, but these two were in charge when our state lost power due to a freeze, bringing business to a halt and killing who knows how many people. Any other state would borrow power from their neighbors, but these geniuses think it is better to keep Texas on its own separate power grids. When Texans were suffering, Cruz took a vacation to Cancun.

Just after one of the worst school shootings in our state's history, both went to an NRA meeting. Neither offered any solutions, but continued pushing the status quo.

After all that shit, Texas still voted Cruz and Abbott back in.
"Oh, wearisome condition of humanity,
Born under one law, to another bound;
Vainly begot, and yet forbidden vanity,
Created sick, commanded to be sound."
--Fulke Greville--

Mike Cl

Quote from: nuclear on December 09, 2022, 08:53:09 PMI've never been to Texas. Is it any good? Is it better than Mississippi?
Almost anywhere is better than Mississippi!  Or Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida---well, the South.  The best way to visit Texas is to drive right through it.  But then, maga is everywhere.  You are young.  If I were your age I would consider moving out of country.  But do research.  What skills do you have that another country might use?  Are you willing to learn another language and set of customs?  Both of my grandparents on my mother's side was from Sweden and my mom kept in contact with quite a few of our relatives still in Sweden.  I would go there because of my roots and ready made connections.  But I'm way to old to do that now.  Something to think about.
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?<br />Then he is not omnipotent,<br />Is he able but not willing?<br />Then whence cometh evil?<br />Is he neither able or willing?<br />Then why call him god?

Dark Lightning

I'll stick with California. It's 45º here in the morning when I walk the dog, and I wear a t-shirt, sleeved shirt, heavy flannel shirt and a horse-blanket lined denim jacket. People ask me, "Are you cold?", and I say, "NOPE!" 😁

Mike Cl

Quote from: Dark Lightning on December 09, 2022, 10:44:35 PMI'll stick with California. It's 45º here in the morning when I walk the dog, and I wear a t-shirt, sleeved shirt, heavy flannel shirt and a horse-blanket lined denim jacket. People ask me, "Are you cold?", and I say, "NOPE!" 😁
I live in CA, too.  I am satisfied with my area now--not the politics but the area.  My personal favorite areas are in CA, Oregon or Washington--the west coast is hard to beat.
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?<br />Then he is not omnipotent,<br />Is he able but not willing?<br />Then whence cometh evil?<br />Is he neither able or willing?<br />Then why call him god?

aitm

If I wanted to spend an inordinate amount of time with the religious, I would associate with like minded events/places. However, simply by changing the setting of where I wish to relax at, I find a more or less...as it may be, religious fervor. I like neighborhood bars. I don't preach or even use the word atheist...I simply say..."meh....not much for religion...I think it's kinda nutty". That simple downplay of a more hard core belief, gives them pause and a relief valve to think about the nuttiness without being offended. But even better, when we start....IF we start to banter...and it becomes obvious I know the babble way better than they do, they just change the subject and we talk about shit that annoys them....like Tom Brady....LOL....
A humans desire to live is exceeded only by their willingness to die for another. Even god cannot equal this magnificent sacrifice. No god has the right to judge them.-first tenant of the Panotheust

nuclear

Quote from: Blackleaf on December 09, 2022, 09:46:42 PMWe're full of religious fruitcakes, at least in this part of Texas. I hear that Austin is more secular. But no matter what part of Texas you live in, this man is our senator:



And this is our governor:



I've never lived in Mississippi, so I can't compare, but these two were in charge when our state lost power due to a freeze, bringing business to a halt and killing who knows how many people. Any other state would borrow power from their neighbors, but these geniuses think it is better to keep Texas on its own separate power grids. When Texans were suffering, Cruz took a vacation to Cancun.

...

That sounds pretty interesting. To be honest, I'm not really into politics that much. (I'm liberal, btw) I'm currently in Biloxi visiting my mother. (I lived in some crappy RV near my dad's shed in Vicksburg; my mom's apartment that I'm currently in is WAY better) In Biloxi, we have weed edibles and all sorts of different strands of weed in our local dispensary (no med card or anything, just state ID). Not bragging or anything.

I'm curious. Do you have anything like this where you live?

Mike Cl

Yeah, my little town of 80,000 has 3 weed shops.  All we need is a form of ID, usually a drivers license. I prefer edibles, so that is what we get.  I never thought I'd see the day--glad I did!  Use it nightly to combat restless leg and it works better than anything else so far.
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?<br />Then he is not omnipotent,<br />Is he able but not willing?<br />Then whence cometh evil?<br />Is he neither able or willing?<br />Then why call him god?

Shiranu

Just a heads up, if you are using D8 and all the alternatives - Texas is voting in February on if they want to keep it legal or not.

Medical shouldn't be effected as far as I know.
"A little science distances you from God, but a lot of science brings you nearer to Him." - Louis Pasteur

the_antithesis