Atheists in Austin, and surrounding suburbs? (organic, live, safe)

[TexasHorseLady]

I saw " complaints" that it was turning into a "little California"....let's hope so!

Please, NO!!!!!! If you want California, please go there, and don't encourage turning Texas - any part of Texas - into a copy of California, or anywhere else. For that matter, don't encourage turning anywhere but California into a replica of that most unique state.

For the record, the only prosyletizing I've experience in my almost 40 years in Austin has been the same that I've experienced elsewhere - Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons coming to the door, and politely going away when I equally politely say "No, thank you." I've never been asked where I go to church, come to that, here or elsewhere in Texas. (I grew up in East Texas and, being the preacher's kid, of course I was never asked, but moved to Dallas, lived in Arlington, before coming to Austin, and my husband grew up in San Antonio and his mother lived there so I spent a fair amount of time there, as well.)

Clearly I run in the wrong circles and always have!

[jwb123]

Those kids that talk to yours are wonderful kids. Parents must be proud!

-But I know it probably gets annoying @ times.

More than annoying... no, those kids aren't "wonderful". They mean well, I am sure they do... they are just regurgitating what's been fed to them... but they also need to be taught that religion is a personal thing, and shouldn't be shoved down someone elses throat, and that it's impolite really, to talk about it.

My kids don't need other kids to "spread the good word" to them... I seriously wish religious people would GET it, that just turns people off. Live and let live....

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by Jenbar

More than annoying... no, those kids aren't "wonderful". They mean well, I am sure they do... they are just regurgitating what's been fed to them... but they also need to be taught that religion is a personal thing, and shouldn't be shoved down someone elses throat, and that it's impolite really, to talk about it.

Amen. I would use stronger language, as I think it goes beyond "impolite" into something more offensive. I don't want my children being asked by other children if they are "saved" or not.

We just moved from the Pacific Northwest to Texas and it is such a cultural change. At dinner this week, my three year old and my five year old suddenly began reciting the prayer they have been taught to say at their preschool before meals. It was a sweet prayer and I like them to be taught gratitude, but I was startled because I never heard of this kind of thing in the Seattle or Portland area unless you were in an explicitly religious school.

[love roses]

On the other hand, I don't want an athiest child telling my child that she is wrong to believe in what she does. But I can help her learn to defend herself verbally if need be (Not attacking the other person, but defending her beliefs). I for one am glad that Texas is different from the Pacific Northwest/West Coast, etc....

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by love roses

On the other hand, I don't want an athiest child telling my child that she is wrong to believe in what she does. But I can help her learn to defend herself verbally if need be (Not attacking the other person, but defending her beliefs). I for one am glad that Texas is different from the Pacific Northwest/West Coast, etc....

Agreed! I know that some posters here didn't experience the Pacific Northwest as hostile to religion but we did, and I didn't like that. On the other hand, aggressive proselytizing makes me uncomfortable. Somewhere in the middle is a happy tolerance and respect for others' beliefs.

[Liza54]

From the child's view I imagine they're quite uncomfortable being one of the few who don't attend church and preach the bible. I also would be upset w/ any talk of being saved or the devil and stuff. I'd also be shocked if they were teaching any kind of praying in the public school. Unless they would also teach about other religions including Wicca. Yeah, right. Anyway...again...live and let live.

[jwb123]

On the other hand, I don't want an athiest child telling my child that she is wrong to believe in what she does.

I don't know what other atheist's teach, but I know that I teach my children that we have religious freedom in this country, and people have the right to believe what they want... and like I said above, it's really impolite to talk about religion because it's such a personal situation.

From the child's view I imagine they're quite uncomfortable being one of the few who don't attend church and preach the bible.

Are you a child who was brought up atheist? If not, how could you generalize like that? I think my children feel secure in our beliefs - but we have also told them that if they want to learn about Christianity, or any other religion, when they are older, they had the right to research more...

[Liza54]

Yup....not much religion in my house as a child. I did feel strange not knowing all the bible stories,etc. But, now, with my kids I feel the same way re: teaching religious freedom and tolerance to others' differences. Not an easy thing to teach. I think living by example ( though sometimes hard ) is best. I just am trying to NOT get to an area again that is heavily influenced by the bible/ church. We'll see...

[TexasHorseLady]

On the other hand, aggressive proselytizing makes me uncomfortable.

It's always made me uncomfortable no matter who was doing the prosyletizing - and some atheists (not agnostics) can prosyletize with the best of them. For those atheists who do prosyletize, frankly, it's hard to tell much difference between them and any of the other believers other than the name they call their particular belief system.

[jimmyjack]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

I saw " complaints" that it was turning into a "little California"....let's hope so!

Please, NO!!!!!! If you want California, please go there, and don't encourage turning Texas - any part of Texas - into a copy of California, or anywhere else. For that matter, don't encourage turning anywhere but California into a replica of that most unique state.

Hooooweeee! Many have tried but all have failed. They might come wantin to turn Texas into where they have come from but sooner or la ter, even if they don't their offspring will be turned into Texans.