Are atheists welcome in Texas (Houston, Dallas: public school, place to live, lawsuit)
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Looking at Texas for retirement. I am a closet atheist. Not interested in
joining a church, or praising Jesus if I find a dollar bill on the sidewalk.
Do most Texan's make it a point to ask you were you go to church?
Can a non-believer live a happy life in Texas? Do many activities
relvolve around church membership?
Mr. Drysdale
'Welcome' is kind of stretching it. You should be happy enough with 'tolerated', which most are, maybe not in the smaller towns though. I explored a few, some are really friendly, some are well...
I have been asked many times to go to church this and church function stuff that, and also handed (more like forced pamphlets) into my hands at public places, but that is considered good. That's just like another other annoying marketing, at least not forcing. However, you might have to deal with some public conversations regarding non-christians, homosexuals, blah while waiting in line somewhere that might stink your ear. I know I have hear some unpleasant stuff, but it wasn't directed straight at me specifically, but more about ppl like me.
Yes , a lot activities revolve around church, more in suburbs, so go into a city city.
I am agnostic, but every now and then, I would use the lord, god or jesus for adjectives and exclamations, like if I ever find a twenty dollar bill on the sidewalk, but that's more lexicon based than religious.
I supposed you could live a happy life, but lets be real, you would be more welcome rather than tolerated if you fit the majority mold here.
I have no problems with those to choose to be religious and I expect them to show me the same courtesy about not being religious.
But, I will not hesitate to quote the Bible for those that feel the need to "convert" you.
"Do not preach upon deaf ears" and "Thall shalt not judge" being my 2 favorites that usually gets them off my back.
I will allow only person to preach religion to me and that is my Uncle. He sold a very profitable sandblasting business 9 years ago to become a preacher. He is the SOLE person I know that lives the life he preaches about. 98% of the people that I know that proclaim themselves to be "children of God" don't even attempt to live the life of a, in their words, Christian. Most of these also use "He will forgive your sins" as an excuse to do whatever they want and still proclaim to be Christians.
I'll end this by saying that I do NOT believe all religious people are this way. These are just examples from my experiences.
I live in Ft Worth and I'm an atheist. The Unitarian-Universalist church down the street has quite a few atheists who attend. There is also a North Texas Church of Freethought which is more decidedly atheist, but I haven't been there (it's in Grapevine). I don't have much trouble with religious people, but I don't pick arguments with them. I'll state my atheism if I am asked, which usually shuts them up; they are horrified. Most atheists I know are online.
We had some bad experiences after moving to Houston, and we're not atheists, either.
Honestly, being Northerners from places where religion is not worn on your sleeve, we really had to learn to adjust to the culture. The disappointing experiences I've had were with "Pharisees" who proclaim their faith and then act badly, as ConanS said. But I think that's key. There are people who are genuinely faithful (to whatever belief they may have) and then there are those who seem to be responding to external pressure. They treat Christianity more like a consumer lifestyle. I think the former may disagree with your beliefs, but will treat you with a lot more respect.
There are a few major megachurches in town whose main business seems to be hawking feel-good narcissism, and encouraging people to think rich because Jesus "wants you to". Doesn't sound to me like the guy who told us, "Blessed are the meek." But even then, I think it's more of a social thing. Many of these megachurches have their own gyms, youth groups, film clubs, etc, and run exclusionary programs (as is their right).
Still, most Christians in the big cities are decent people who are not immediately going to exorcise you or lecture you, unless you greet them belligerently.
On a weekly basis, we have people knock on our door and try to get us to join their church. Worse are the pamphlets that show up in our mailbox, car, and sometimes our front door - some of them liberally decorated with hellfire, and asking nice questions like, "Are you sure you know where you're going, when you die?"
My husband also received an email at his work, forwarded from someone's church, requesting that everyone in the office vote for some anti-gay initiative.
On the flip side, I have met a few bigoted pagans here, too.
We had some bad experiences after moving to Houston, and we're not atheists, either.
Honestly, being Northerners from places where religion is not worn on your sleeve, we really had to learn to adjust to the culture. The disappointing experiences I've had were with "Pharisees" who proclaim their faith and then act badly, as ConanS said. But I think that's key. There are people who are genuinely faithful (to whatever belief they may have) and then there are those who seem to be responding to external pressure. They treat Christianity more like a consumer lifestyle. I think the former may disagree with your beliefs, but will treat you with a lot more respect.
There are a few major megachurches in town whose main business seems to be hawking feel-good narcissism, and encouraging people to think rich because Jesus "wants you to". Doesn't sound to me like the guy who told us, "Blessed are the meek." But even then, I think it's more of a social thing. Many of these megachurches have their own gyms, youth groups, film clubs, etc, and run exclusionary programs (as is their right).
Still, most Christians in the big cities are decent people who are not immediately going to exorcise you or lecture you, unless you greet them belligerently.
On a weekly basis, we have people knock on our door and try to get us to join their church. Worse are the pamphlets that show up in our mailbox, car, and sometimes our front door - some of them liberally decorated with hellfire, and asking nice questions like, "Are you sure you know where you're going, when you die?"
My husband also received an email at his work, forwarded from someone's church, requesting that everyone in the office vote for some anti-gay initiative.
On the flip side, I have met a few bigoted pagans here, too.
The mega churches here have a lot of influence, and it is a huge social thing, and it seems these churches have a hand in every social (not to mention political) aspect imaginable. Being in marketing, I can really appreciate all the tactics they come up with for followers, but I certainly don't appreciate the impact it has on me, a non-christian, but that is another story
Wahine: Pagans aren't atheists. They are polytheists. That being said, some members of every group are unpleasant people. I have no problem with any of the groups as long as they don't condemn me for not agreeing with them! Live and let live.
Wahine: Pagans aren't atheists. They are polytheists. That being said, some members of every group are unpleasant people. I have no problem with any of the groups as long as they don't condemn me for not agreeing with them! Live and let live.
Hey, I thought I recognized that screenname - Hey catman!
I actually haven't had anything terrible to speak of as an atheist in Texas. Most everyone I've talked to about it seems very approachable. Most would like to know my reasons and so forth. I have had a few isolated incidents where people (pretty much ones I didn't know at all or very well) would give me the shocked look or the look followed by "...you can't do that.". But upon further speaking with me and understanding my view they understand. I try my best to approach it as someone would a polite conversation about anything which two people differ in opinion on.
I've actually gotten more flack for listening to metal music than being an atheist in Texas.
I'm quite happy to hear that atheists can live at peace in Texas. I am a christian but as a christian I believe in tolerance for everyone. I may disagree with you if you are an atheist or any other religion, but I will still respect you. What you believe is your personal decision and the consequences or lack thereof are yours as well.
You have to realize that christians do believe there are consequences for not believing in Jesus and that is why they talk to you about it. They do it because they care for you. Not because they mean to annoy or offend you. I'm sure if you politely tell them you're not interested they will respectfully leave you be. At least I hope that is the case
Person, as far as offensive conversations are concerned I am sorry that you are sometimes forced to listen to what you would rather not hear. I sympathize with you because main stream TV, Radio, and most everything in society today is in some way offensive to me and many other christians. Poeple say well you can just turn off the TV but that's like me saying you should just get out of line. Neither of us should have to.
As a possible future Texas resident I just hope more christians practice what they preach then they do here in good ol' Northern Illinois.
Lucas Streit: If only all Christians shared our 'live and let live' attitude. Some do, but others do mean to annoy and offend you if you are an atheist, because you threaten their worldview. I suspect they are the ones whose faith is shaky, since they need for everyone to agree with them. Those who are comfortable with their outlook don't need to push so hard.
I'm an atheist living in Dallas for six years now. I've had no problems at all. Few people seem to care what my religious orientation is. So I'm on the don't ask, don't tell plan.
The only problem I've had is recently being rejected by eHarmony.com.
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