What's it like growing up atheist in Indy? (Fishers, Carmel: tech jobs, elementary school)

[mrsmcfluffybutt]

I'm considering moving there but I'm from a fairly liberal area where it was never a problem growing up as an atheist. I was never bullied, didn't feel left out because of religion, and never had anything remotely religious happening during school. If we did move, it would probably be to Carmel or Fishers but we would consider private schools as well. I don't want my son to be bullied, ostracized, or indoctrinated in school. One example that comes to mind is celebrating Christmas in school. I've heard of classrooms (not in Indy, just around the country) where students right letters to Santa or have a secret Santa. While I'm atheist, my family is Buddhist, and Santa is not coming to our house. I am also not putting on Christmas just so my kid feels like he belongs. I'm perfectly aware that he will be exposed to religion through classmates, media, and just life experience in general but I think its different when its coming from the school and teachers.

[MortonR]

You should be fine as long as you avoid the outlying areas, which tend to be a bit more conservative.

I don't think anyone is "righting" letters to Santa in elementary school these days. There has been a lot of effort to avoid promoting or favoring any particular religion or following from what I've seen. That being said, you're not going to avoid it 100%, especially around Indy, as the demographics are pretty much Christian.

RM

[mike0618]

Carmel and fishers have a lot of foreigners. Mainly Indian or Asian due to tech jobs and doctors with so many hospitals in the area. Your concerns for those reasons shouldn't be a issue.

[rrah]

Carmel and Fishers are not areas where people generally make religion, or non-religion, a topic of conversation. As long as one doesn't politicize one's beliefs it should be a non-issue.

[Serious Conversation]

I moved here two years ago and have never been proselytized here in Carmel. There are churches, many churches, but it's not like the South where religion is front and center of a lot of conversations. Outlying areas are much more openly religious.