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I've been an atheist since I started reading Bertrand Russell when I was a teenager. Richard Dawkins is another favorite. What I've noticed in writings of this kind is there is not much mention of how being an atheist affects family, personal and professional relationships if an atheist makes their views known. I keep my views to myself in professional settings, but even then, in some communities, non-belief becomes evident. And my non-belief has had a profound effect on my relationships with family.
It is rare that I meet someone who shares my views. Add to that some other non-traditional perspectives: an extraordinary connection to the arts, business acumen, animal rights activism, and physical differences in terms of being taller than average --and you have a recipe for isolation and alienation.
Is this unusual?
This depends greatly on what part of the country you live in. I live on the west coast, and non belief is pretty common here. If you live in a Bible belt state, you're likely to find that non believers are less open with their opinions on religion.
When I first announced that I was an atheist, my family didn't give me too much misery about it. They thought it was just a rebellious phase I was going through. But that was 50 years ago.
This depends greatly on what part of the country you live in. I live on the west coast, and non belief is pretty common here. If you live in a Bible belt state, you're likely to find that non believers are less open with their opinions on religion.
When I first announced that I was an atheist, my family didn't give me too much misery about it. They thought it was just a rebellious phase I was going through. But that was 50 years ago.
Long phase, lol.
I am in New Jersey, and declaring yourself to be an atheist here might provoke a yawn and a "so why are you telling me this?" look. We've got assorted types of Christians and Jews and Hindus and Muslims and Atheists and Sikhs and Buddhists and all sorts of Pagans and while I won't pretend that everyone is all-accepting of everyone else, for the most part it's you live your way and I'll live mine. It has to be.
I am in New Jersey, and declaring yourself to be an atheist here might provoke a yawn and a "so why are you telling me this?" look. We've got assorted types of Christians and Jews and Hindus and Muslims and Atheists and Sikhs and Buddhists and all sorts of Pagans and while I won't pretend that everyone is all-accepting of everyone else, for the most part it's you live your way and I'll live mine. It has to be.
You pretty much described Canuckistan, that pink socialist blob on the map above you guys.
(The country that guy with the thing on his head says is a national security risk, eh. Yeah, the one where all your planes were welcome to land 11 years and 365 days ago when your airports were all closed - THAT security risk.)
You pretty much described Canuckistan, that pink socialist blob on the map above you guys.
(The country that guy with the thing on his head says is a national security risk, eh. Yeah, the one where all your planes were welcome to land 11 years and 365 days ago when your airports were all closed - THAT security risk.)
And we thank you...but it was 16 years and 365 days ago...
Oh wait, youse guys are on the metric system, no wonder you can't get the numbers right.
In terms of interpersonal interactions between free thinkers and believers, geography is an issue. But anywhere, in any part of the globe, there can be a keenly felt price to pay if you let it be known you're an atheist. Not geography and not dating, but social and professional ostracism, hidden or overt. This is what I'm getting at.
People just don't like it, possibly because they know, deep down, that their religious delusions are a function of fear. Kind of like being vegan. People hate it because they know, very deep down, that the culture's exploitation of animals is despicable.
So it's not just relatively trivial matters like dating, or the cultural backwardness of some states. It's more a deep and profound refusal among some humans to face reality without comforting rationalizations and insipid fairytales.
In general, people will notice a "holier than thou" attitude regardless of which direction it comes from and tend to resent it. It's a recipe for isolation and alienation.
In terms of interpersonal interactions between free thinkers and believers, geography is an issue. But anywhere, in any part of the globe, there can be a keenly felt price to pay if you let it be known you're an atheist. Not geography and not dating, but social and professional ostracism, hidden or overt. This is what I'm getting at.
People just don't like it, possibly because they know, deep down, that their religious delusions are a function of fear. Kind of like being vegan. People hate it because they know, very deep down, that the culture's exploitation of animals is despicable.
So it's not just relatively trivial matters like dating, or the cultural backwardness of some states. It's more a deep and profound refusal among some humans to face reality without comforting rationalizations and insipid fairytales.
You are right. I am emotionally sympathetic to vegetarianism (or Vegan, if you prefer), but I just can't give up prawns and bacon.
Yes, I'm planning on moving. As you mentioned in your other post, people in (say) No. Cali cannot know this culture unless they've lived here and/or have family like mine. Nuts, in other words. I have a friend, a pianist, who said it's like I was left on the doorstep by gypsies. I also have a slew of cousins, deeply evangelical, hunters (envision kids with rifles and a pile of dead rabbits, posted proudly on their Facebook page).
That does not prevent one from loving them. My parents loved me when I was little; as an adult, not so much.
Haha I like the bolded statement above, that's funny. Sounds like you are in a very similar situation as me, surrounded by evangelicals. I hope you find a suitable place to live that is free from the insanity that is religion. Some day I would very much like to move also, I'm stifled here and very unhappy. Good luck to you.
Haha I like the bolded statement above, that's funny. Sounds like you are in a very similar situation as me, surrounded by evangelicals. I hope you find a suitable place to live that is free from the insanity that is religion. Some day I would very much like to move also, I'm stifled here and very unhappy. Good luck to you.
I'm sorry you are unhappy. Moving is a big project involving selling a big, old comfortable house that is paid for and all my belongings, which are substantial. I don't really care about the dating, and most of my family are now deceased. Idiotic people are everywhere, and I'm not sure anywhere is free of them.
On reflection, I can tolerate the evangelicals for the advantages of low COL, low crime, decent weather. And really, I would rather have a community of loopy Jesus freaks versus urban punks and criminals. Like another poster wrote, the former can be pretty entertaining.
Last edited by KaraZetterberg153; 09-11-2018 at 09:46 AM..
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