What if not Christian? (Charlotte, Asheville: home, condos, rent)

[NYer]

Originally Posted by Desdemona123

...
I am surprised about your middle school (WF-R?). ... At the last birthday party we had girls from 5 different countries (US, Cuba, Iraq, Mexico and Canada) and NC natives and transplants from within the US.

Heritage MS... surprising, huh?

Jones Dairy is more as you describe Lingon.

Originally Posted by Desdemona123

We haven’t found much ‘Yankee hating’ ...

Nor have we, maybe the cold shoulder sometimes, which is the right of each individual, of course. It is my son who is bearing the brunt of this at middle school

We enjoy O'Dwyers and I think that that area will be a nice little town within a town down there soon.
My daughter goes to catholic nursery school- we are not Catholic but it is a really nice friendly church. Many of the people who go to the church live in Wakefield, Heritage & Bedford & have found their little niches.

[susan42]

Hey
We are moving to NCfrom the UK.
I believe that people should live and let live and am not looking to see if I am going to live amongst Christians or Jews or Yankees !
Reading back over these posts does not give a good feeling! Interesting that people from the North are making a conscious effort to move into neighbourhoods where everyone is a transplant. So really they don't want the Southern life anyway- just don't want to live where they lived before. Could this be a reason for peoples attitude to them rather than them being non christian?

[Ms.Charlotte]

Originally Posted by Desdemona123

I have not bashed Christianity...I have spoken about the problems I've encountered with it since moving here….things I never encountered living in the North. Every single one of my friends is Christian, but certainly not of the sort that can’t be polite about it. Sorry if that offends you, but the truth sometimes does hurt. I am not alone in my feelings about this, nor am I the only one that these things are happening to.

And I live in Wake Forest, the home of a very conservative Baptist Seminary. Heck, they don’t even let their students attend the historic Baptist church on their own property (they allow women to have a place in the church I am told in the reason) and feel the town is a ‘mission environment’ so lots of door to door preaching and are very intolerant of Catholics and anyone that isn’t SBC.

Very few send their children to the public schools it seems, but when my daughter was in 4th grade she had a girl that was there because her parents felt it was her ‘mission’ to bring Jesus to the students. Too bad this girl was a lying tattletale, but it took almost a half a year for the teachers to figure it out, because this girl ‘comes from a good Christian family’. (Thankfully my daughter was not her main target.)

And please point out where I have said I want to change anything about North Carolina? There is nothing in Southern culture that says you have to be intolerant towards those that have different religious viewpoints.

Well, for one thing, wanting to "squelch the Bible belt mentality" IS looking to change the culture here.

You certainly did not mention that you have Christian friends, other than Catholics. On another thread, you stated that even the Catholics are mocked. So, I'll make the correction. Not Christian bashing-just Protestant bashing.

I don't live in your area, so I can't know what the religious enviroment is. I do know, you paint an ugly picture of Protestants. Somehow the ones you've encountered are all lying tattletales, bullies, and drug dealers according to your posts.

Your "truth" does not hurt me, simply because it's not my truth. But, in making your comments on a forum with tens of thousands of members, you are doing much more to divide people than some rude, closed minded neighbors of yours.

I'm not saying you shouldn't be honest about some experiences, but you come across as having an agenda.

I am very involved in my church and my neighborhood. I have not once met a Christian who has spoken ill of any other denomination-be it Catholic, Jewish, or different Protestants religions.

As I said before, I'm sorry if you've had negative experiences. I whole heartedly agree that intolerance is horrible. It's a shame you haven't met more positive, religious folks. What do your Christian friends say about the treatment you've been exposed to? Are they supportive?

[Desdemona123]

Originally Posted by susan42

I believe that people should live and let live and am not looking to see if I am going to live amongst Christians or Jews or Yankees !

I believe that to....but you have to be prepared to hear other people say (for example) that they still believe the Jews killed Jesus and not to use Jewish owned businesses. (Many Christian owned companies advertise the fact and use and ichthus, (that little fish symbol) on their store windows and cars.

Originally Posted by susan42

Hey
Interesting that people from the North are making a conscious effort to move into neighbourhoods where everyone is a transplant. So really they don't want the Southern life anyway-

You may be reading more into that then there is. For one....almost all housing is new, and you can't move anywhere near a Raleigh that isn't almost all transplants....the first year we moved here, my daughter had 3 students out of 25 that were native NC'ers in her class. I choose not to live in the boonies (with fewer folks that are from anywhere else) to fit in, not that I wanted a Northerners-only gated community.

It's not about not wanting a Southern way of life....heck, I think my family has assumilated quite nicely....and where I work (many more natives in Granville county then Wake) I fit in quite nicely with the locals, some of whom trace their families in the same area, and in once case, the same property, hundreds of years.

If you are coming from the UK, you are going to notice a huge difference how religion is handled in daily life. That's just a fact of the world that.

[meandb]

Gee, after reading this thread, all I can think to say is "I'm truly sorry" (not to mention embarassed) for such a sad misrepresentation of Christianity. And unfortunately, I know exactly what you're talking about and being a Christian, I hate that mentality myself. Without a proper understanding and practice of grace, there is no real understanding of forgiveness and acceptance. I don't believe Jesus Himself ever had the attitude many of you have experienced.

Sure do hope you have a better experience down the road - if someone treats you with that kind of judgement, ask (them or yourself) if that's really what Jesus would do! I'd be glad to be your neighbor and friend - any one of you - all the best! Thank you for your honesty.

[Ms.Charlotte]

Originally Posted by Desdemona123

I believe that to....but you have to be prepared to hear other people say (for example) that they still believe the Jews killed Jesus and not to use Jewish owned businesses. (Many Christian owned companies advertise the fact and use and ichthus, (that little fish symbol) on their store windows and cars.

Okay, now you may have had your share of negative experiences, but this comment is too much to bear. I have to now ask, what circles are you running in?

If you are such an outsider in the world of Baptists, why are they confiding in you how they feel about Jews? It makes no sense, logically.

Second, I have an ichthus on my car-that does not mean I am prejudice against other religions! That is a completely ignorant statement! Do you even know what "that little fish symbol" stands for? When Christians were being persecuted for their faith in Jesus, they put this symbol in front of their homes so that other Christians would know them. They lived in fear and could not speak out about their faith.

It is not in any way a symbol of hatred, or exclusion. Being proud of Christianity should suddenly be a negative?? Businesses should hide their Christianity? I'm afraid not. What about organizations such as the Jewish Business Association? The Jewish Business Alliance? The Jewish Association For Business?

I don't mind any of these organizations. Do you? What's wrong with a group supporting eachother?

I've never heard any one talk against giving business to Jews. Would we rather support Christians? A lot of Christians here would. That's a choice to support eachother, not an act of hatred!

If you do come from the Northeast, you already know how incredibly tight knit the Jewish communities are. Some neighborhoods are made up of mostly Orthodox Jews don't even allow the local police to get involved in their matters. Hey, that's fine for them. I do live and let live. But I wouldn't move into town and start complaining about how they live their lives.

[goldfire99]

Originally Posted by albinoazian

My family is from the Carolina's, grandpa from south and grandma from the north and my dad was born there, but was an army brat. I still have family around Dallas and other areas. Anyhow, I am a Zen Buddhist leaning Atheist and wondering if any area like Asheville would at all be feasible? My father recently retired outside Austin, Texas from CA and has been having trouble adjusting to the heavy Christian society. Anyhow, not looking to rile folks up, just curious it is still highly devout like I hear from my family who is from there or have things changed?

I lived in Asheville for years and did experience prejudice when I first moved. I was constantly asked what church I belonged to and when I told them I didn't attend it was, "Oh. Why not?!"

However, over the years Asheville has become more tolerant. I'm talking about Asheville. Not the surrounding areas like Madison County (lived there for about a year).

I moved to Asheville in 1992 and saw a lot of changes so I don't think you have too much to worry about.

[Desdemona123]

Originally Posted by Ms.Charlotte

Okay, now you may have had your share of negative experiences, but this comment is too much to bear. I have to now ask, what circles are you running in?

If you are such an outsider in the world of Baptists, why are they confiding in you how they feel about Jews? It makes no sense, logically.

Second, I have an ichthus on my car-that does not mean I am prejudice against other religions! That is a completely ignorant statement! Do you even know what "that little fish symbol" stands for? When Christians were being persecuted for their faith in Jesus, they put this symbol in front of their homes so that other Christians would know them. They lived in fear and could not speak out about their faith.

It is not in any way a symbol of hatred, or exclusion. Being proud of Christianity should suddenly be a negative?? Businesses should hide their Christianity? I'm afraid not. What about organizations such as the Jewish Business Association? The Jewish Business Alliance? The Jewish Association For Business?

I don't mind any of these organizations. Do you? What's wrong with a group supporting eachother?

I've never heard any one talk against giving business to Jews. Would we rather support Christians? A lot of Christians here would. That's a choice to support eachother, not an act of hatred!

If you do come from the Northeast, you already know how incredibly tight knit the Jewish communities are. Some neighborhoods are made up of mostly Orthodox Jews don't even allow the local police to get involved in their matters. Hey, that's fine for them. I do live and let live. But I wouldn't move into town and start complaining about how they live their lives.

Whoa....now...talk about getting ahead of yourself here. I never said that the ichthus was a hate symbol. (And yes I do know what it stands for, but I often run into people that don’t know the term ichthus so I included an explanation of what I am talking about.

In the north, you seldom, if ever see them. People just don’t to around bragging about what religion they may or may not be. Certainly not to the extent you do down here. Most businesses wouldn’t put such a thing on their store front either, because they want business from everyone…not only certain groups. You also don’t find them on the back of cars…and not with the school of baby fishes to denote children in the family. That is a very southern thing.

And, as for the Jewish comments I’ve heard….ah…if you are talking to people about anything, I find that they normally aren’t afraid to share such negative opinions they hold about those they deem inferior. (The Jewish comment came up when I mentioned to someone that someone I know was starting a business. They asked his name as they were interested in the service, and when I told them (it is a Jewish sounding name, though I have no clue if they are or not) this person precedes to tell me his opinion of Jews and that no ‘good Christian’ should ever deal with a Jewish owned business! Hard to bloody avoid that one.

This seems to be all a real surprise to you, and to have hit a hard spot that not every Christian is a credit to your religion and that they do effect the rest of us in negative ways.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Ms.Charlotte

Okay, now you may have had your share of negative experiences, but this comment is too much to bear. I have to now ask, what circles are you running in?

If you are such an outsider in the world of Baptists, why are they confiding in you how they feel about Jews? It makes no sense, logically.

Second, I have an ichthus on my car-that does not mean I am prejudice against other religions! That is a completely ignorant statement! Do you even know what "that little fish symbol" stands for? When Christians were being persecuted for their faith in Jesus, they put this symbol in front of their homes so that other Christians would know them. They lived in fear and could not speak out about their faith.

It is not in any way a symbol of hatred, or exclusion. Being proud of Christianity should suddenly be a negative?? Businesses should hide their Christianity? I'm afraid not. What about organizations such as the Jewish Business Association? The Jewish Business Alliance? The Jewish Association For Business?

I don't mind any of these organizations. Do you? What's wrong with a group supporting eachother?

I've never heard any one talk against giving business to Jews. Would we rather support Christians? A lot of Christians here would. That's a choice to support eachother, not an act of hatred!

If you do come from the Northeast, you already know how incredibly tight knit the Jewish communities are. Some neighborhoods are made up of mostly Orthodox Jews don't even allow the local police to get involved in their matters. Hey, that's fine for them. I do live and let live. But I wouldn't move into town and start complaining about how they live their lives.

AMEN - thank you for taking the time to say all this In Charlotte I have NEVER heard a single ugly remark made about Jews or of anyone not wanting to do business with them. Maybe this stuff happens in rural parts of the state -but even there I doubt it would be the norm. In Charlotte some of our best doctors, lawyers, neighbors (and REALTORS - hi there SouthCharlotte&Union ) are Jewish and the vast majority of us Christians are happy to have them here. I too question what kind of pocket of hostility you apparently moved into, and I'm really sorry for your sad experiences.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Desdemona123

Whoa....now...talk about getting ahead of yourself here. I never said that the ichthus was a hate symbol. (And yes I do know what it stands for, but I often run into people that don’t know the term ichthus so I included an explanation of what I am talking about.

In the north, you seldom, if ever see them. People just don’t to around bragging about what religion they may or may not be. Certainly not to the extent you do down here. Most businesses wouldn’t put such a thing on their store front either, because they want business from everyone…not only certain groups. You also don’t find them on the back of cars…and not with the school of baby fishes to denote children in the family. That is a very southern thing.

And, as for the Jewish comments I’ve heard….ah…if you are talking to people about anything, I find that they normally aren’t afraid to share such negative opinions they hold about those they deem inferior. (The Jewish comment came up when I mentioned to someone that someone I know was starting a business. They asked his name as they were interested in the service, and when I told them (it is a Jewish sounding name, though I have no clue if they are or not) this person precedes to tell me his opinion of Jews and that no ‘good Christian’ should ever deal with a Jewish owned business! Hard to bloody avoid that one.

This seems to be all a real surprise to you, and to have hit a hard spot that not every Christian is a credit to your religion and that they do effect the rest of us in negative ways.

Just to help you understand the southern Christian a little better, I want to tell you that in the south we aren't BRAGGING about our religions (when you see the fish symbol, bumper stickers or other religious signs). We are just not afraid to acknowledge our faith as a part or our daily lives. Having these symbols on a storefront is not meant to say that store only wants to deal with other Christians - they are just saying they are proud to stand up for Jesus, something we view as an honor to be able to do.

And that one (1!) person had degrogatory remarks about a Jewish buisness owner does not in any way mean the majority of folks feel that way. Of all the different christians I know (Catholic, Baptist, Methodist) they would have been as appalled as you to hear such a thing. Don't let a minority opinion like that represent NC for you - please!