How conservative is middle-class Decatur? (Atlanta, Stone Mountain: university, live, mold)
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He's saying not to discuss his religion with him. He accepts the rudeness of the inquiry.
He also said:
"But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."
"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship..."
Here's a good one for the alcohol thread:
"In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own."
I only mentioned Jefferson--far too complex for this discussion--to somehow explain Decatur--and I'm not familiar enough with the complete history to speak with great authority. The metro Atlanta area/Decatur was once farmland--Scots-Irish, English, German and Jews were among the first settlers. Independent, strong-willed people who fled persecution--and so we have today's Decatur.
I like it very well--shrug--not far from the Carter Center--so some Southern Baptists had vision as did many others. 'Progressive'--liberal or conservative--progress is needed.
I think you'll be just fine. I wouldn't call 30033 Decatur (or neighboring Atlanta 30345) uniformly liberal, however. The long-established 50+ residents tend to be quite conservative. If you don't think so, try lunching at the Oak Grove Market (the neighborhood hangout) and listen to them getting churned up while Fox News is running constantly on the television.
Yes, I'd agree with this. I think the majority of the (on-point) responses to the OP's query are referring specifically to the City of Decatur (30030). It has a small, "college town" vibe. The "Greater Decatur" area of unincorporated DeKalb is simply "suburban." Although I do think the OP would also like the 30306/30307 areas near Decatur, especially the neighborhoods of Candler Park, Lake Claire, Virginia-Highland, and Inman Park -- all of which also have good schools and are generally very liberal and progressive.
I like it very well--shrug--not far from the Carter Center--so some Southern Baptists had vision as did many others. 'Progressive'--liberal or conservative--progress is needed.
Jimmy Carter isn't a Southern Baptist. Neither was Jerry Falwell. Carter withdrew from the SBC years ago because it was too conservative. Falwell never WAS in the SBC because it wasn't conservative enough. See, that's two extreme examples of how people like to ASSUME and lump all the apples into one basket.
Every Baptist church on the block is different. There's no ideology that unites them all like the Catholics. That's where the confusion comes in.
By the way, the very LARGE First Baptist Church of Decatur isn't a Southern Baptist Church either -- it's affiliated with the far more liberal Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. And it has a female pastor. I believe the Baptist churches in Avondale and Druid Hills also are liberal and have female -- and possibly gay -- ministers. And there's a history of moderate theology in Decatur with both Emory U. and the Candler Seminary. So there.
END OF DISCUSSION: I have nothing wrong with people who believe differently from me, or choose to believe nothing at all. Doing so would invalidate my OWN belief. What I do have issue with is people who openly oppose ME because of my beliefs. And unfortunately, when you let it be known you're a Christian, that means you're fair game. People assume you're some rabid lunatic. So be it. Christians have been misunderstood since Jesus walked this earth. Saying you're a Christian in the world today is like painting a huge target on your ass. I'm not about to knock on somebody's door and invite them to church because I'm liable to get shot. You gotta figure people must be pretty sincere about their faith if their willing to die for it. Unfortunate thing, not enough people are willing to die for anything these days.
END OF DISCUSSION: I have nothing wrong with people who believe differently from me, or choose to believe nothing at all. Doing so would invalidate my OWN belief. What I do have issue with is people who openly oppose ME because of my beliefs. And unfortunately, when you let it be known you're a Christian, that means you're fair game. People assume you're some rabid lunatic. So be it. Christians have been misunderstood since Jesus walked this earth. Saying you're a Christian in the world today is like painting a huge target on your ass. I'm not about to knock on somebody's door and invite them to church because I'm liable to get shot. You gotta figure people must be pretty sincere about their faith if their willing to die for it. Unfortunate thing, not enough people are willing to die for anything these days.
Climb down off your cross. Quit manufacturing yourself into a martyr, when nobody cares about what the heck you believe - they just want you out of what they believe, if anything.
So many people are engaged in a big "notice-me" festival.
Protestants can do whatever they want without any interference from anyone else - as long as they keep their religion out of politics, the schools, the government and anywhere else where they might use it to limit my freedom or distort or limit the free exchange of ideas.
Jimmy Carter isn't a Southern Baptist. Neither was Jerry Falwell. Carter withdrew from the SBC years ago because it was too conservative. Falwell never WAS in the SBC because it wasn't conservative enough. See, that's two extreme examples of how people like to ASSUME and lump all the apples into one basket.
.
Please excuse me-- I should have said Carter was Southern and a Baptist.
This is not my denomination.
~humming Amazing Grace in an effort to recall what I do believe~
'I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.'
I will add that when we first moved to Decatur, my son went to an after school program at the First Baptist Church of Decatur. I never once had anyone ask me if I went to church there, or felt pressured to come because I used their after school program. They did not try to brainwash my child while he was there either..lol. So if that doesn't speak volumes, I don't know what will. I grew up in middle Georgia and was raised (well they tried their best) Southern Baptist, once you get far enough outside the perimeter, Southern Baptists assume, for the most part, if you aren't one of them you must be a devil worshipper!!! There is truth to what everyone is saying here as far as the stereotypes go, don't try to pretend there isn't. On the flipside, there are always exceptions as well, we all know this.
I will add that when we first moved to Decatur, my son went to an after school program at the First Baptist Church of Decatur. I never once had anyone ask me if I went to church there, or felt pressured to come because I used their after school program. They did not try to brainwash my child while he was there either..lol. So if that doesn't speak volumes, I don't know what will. I grew up in middle Georgia and was raised (well they tried their best) Southern Baptist, once you get far enough outside the perimeter, Southern Baptists assume, for the most part, if you aren't one of them you must be a devil worshipper!!! There is truth to what everyone is saying here as far as the stereotypes go, don't try to pretend there isn't. On the flipside, there are always exceptions as well, we all know this.
I lived about 5 miles from Decatur as a child.
Back in the 50's my neighbors attended a Baptist church that happened to have a good Vacation Bible School and I looked forward to attending every summer. We sang songs on the bus and enjoyed ourselves.
I believe that church is actually a very conservative Southern Baptist church.
We lived next door to each other and never discussed religion. You went to a church on Sunday and hopefully tried to live decently throughout the week.
shrug--Things worked pretty well.
According to this article Carter didn't part ways with the Southern Baptists until 2009. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_1...23-503544.html
July 21, 2009 12:54 PM
Carter Calls for Gender Equality in the Baptist Church
There's nothing "moderate" about asking someone where they go to church. It's an invasive and threatening question.
If you already know they're Catholic, it's fine to ask what parish they belong to. If you see a Jesus fish on their car, they've already opened that door. Absent some permission, asking someone of their religion, especially in the South where religion is used as an exclusionary tactic, is a horrible breach of manners.
As for that "moderate" business, the Texas schoolbook controversy says the Protestants are anything but moderate. The creationist kooks in Kansas also tell me a lot. Blue laws tell me more. Two centuries of racism, lynchings, slavery and segregation in the South, all backed by churchgoers and God's will, tell me just about all I need to know about the moderate quality of Southern Protestants.
If Darwin is not quite accurate on evolution, the alternative is to perfect his thesis, as Einstein did to Newton. The alternate theory is not to run from science and say "God did it."
Calling people "the protestants" as if they are all of the same mold is being just as closed-minded as you assume THEY all are. You certainly can't be serious about this...and certainly not if you are calling yourself a liberal. A real liberal is much more open-minded than that!
Since when is a desire to avoid a rude and intrusive question "anti-God?"
Since when is a cautious view of Southern Protestants "anti-God?" (See Southern History 1700-1970)
Since when is Protestantism "organized religion," when there are a million varieties of Protestants dotting each block?
Up North, asking someone about their religion is simply a horrible breach of etiquette. It's considered rude and one of those "none of your business" moments, like asking someone how they voted.
Well then...there is nothing wrong with answering the question with "NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS". There is no need to be afraid of it or react rudely, but just answer as you would any question that you find too personal. That what I would think that most rational people would do...it's definitely not rocket science here.
I have never quite heard of such a weird reaction to a simple question!
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