Are atheists welcome in Texas (Lubbock, Abilene: insurance, Home Depot, universities)

[catman]

Nick, you are the first Christian whom I have ever seen state that the Big Bang model supports the Genesis creation story. They have little in common. The methodology involved is certainly completely different.

[TexasNick]

I'm not surprised. 99% of Christians avoid science out of fear of losing their faith. They shouldn't! Modern science is coming around to what has always been recorded in the Bible: "In the beginning, God created the heaven and earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep." The most important line in the entire Bible. The first line. So is it the same for the beginning of this universe according to the Big Bang model: the earth had an absolute beginning that was not eternal. What makes the Big Bang so startling is that it represents the origin of the universe from literally nothing. For all matter and energy, even physical space and time themselves, came into being at the Big Bang. Of course, alternative theories have been crafted over the years to try to avoid this absolute beginning, but none of these theories has commended itself to the scientific community as more plausible than the Big Bang theory. I'll leave out the rest of the data, but in 2003 an experiment [Vilenkin] was done to prove that the universe can not be eternal.

Moreover, I would argue, it must also be personal. For how else could a timeless cause give rise to a temporal effect like the universe?

Fun stuff! It's just the tip of the iceberg, though. Then when one studies the actual historicity of Jesus, fine-tuning of life [probability cause], objective morality, etc it gets even better.

[Trainwreck20]

Okay, now we are completely into the religious discussion (and that is another forum ).

[TexasNick]

Roger, agreed. Sorry!

[Matthaeus]

So... I think there is a general consensus: Yes, atheists are welcome in Texas.

With a few minor qualifications, which I would say goes for just about anywhere where a view would represent a relative minority.

[catman]

Trainwreck20: You are quite right. My apologies.

[didedra]

It's a challenge, for sure... I don't know when your original post was made, so this may be way too late of a response...

I'm an out-of-the-closet atheist... I have no qualms whatsoever about speaking my mind which, down here, can get me in a lot of unwanted arguments...

Yes, people here often ask what church you go to and when you tell them "I don't", they still make the assumption that you're a christian who just hasn't found a church you like... I can't tell you how many people have looked at me in complete and utter shock when I told them I was a nonbeliever... As if they'd never heard of that before in their lives...

Yes, a lot of social activities in the Houston area revolve around churches... For me it's not so bad since I'm 34 years old, but if you're considering retirement, chances are you're a little older than I am... There are atheists to be found, of course, as well as agnostics and deists, but not many... There are some groups that meet up occasionally, but I can't bring myself to go to a meeting... Seems too organized for my tastes...

I firmly believe that a nonbeliever can be happy anywhere they want to go... You can always find something do to and someone to do it with even if you don't see eye-to-eye... Not all the Christians down here are zealots (although a lot are...)... But, there IS religious diversity in Houston... I have friends here who are moderate Christians, Jews, Atheists, Agnostics, Deists, and even Buddhists... Evangelical Christians and conservative Muslims tend to stay within their own groups, though...

Don't know if that's helpful or not...

[nerdygirly]

I would have to say it depends on where you are. I imagine the bigger cities you would be better off.

I am an open atheist (not flamboyant but I do not hide it either) and I live in rural southeast texas and have had nothing but a hard time (including having my children humiliated, badgered, and shunned because of it). So I would suggest staying far away from small towns for sure.

[achickenchaser]

You should be able to live wherever you want, regardless of your belief or lack of beliefs. You don't need anyone's permission for anything.

I'm an atheist living in Texas (born here) and I manage to do just fine. I don't go around wearing it on my sleeve, but if specifically asked about my beliefs, I have no trouble telling anybody what they are.

If some annoying bible thumper ever tried to harass me, they'd better be prepared to turn the other cheek.

[doctorjef]

I'm not going to read through this entire thread, but has anyone mentioned that under the constitution of the Republic of Texas, ministers of religion were prohibited from holding public office? I've always thought that a rather good provision -- bet it would surprise a lot of Texans these days though.