Are atheists welcome in Texas (Dallas, Hart: university, approval, office)

[octaviameister]

Yes, you are allowed here, I think. If, however, you check with our GREAT Gov. Rick Hairspray Perry, he would not approve. He says ONLY Christians go to heaven (this is an actual quote from the front page of the Dallas Morning News), so this should tell you there is a huge delusional community of Christians in TX.

I live in Dallas, and I do not attend any Church, and yes, I actually do have a few friends.

TX Christians believe war is good, tyranny is good and govt is good.

I do not share their views, at all.

Please move to TX, we need some help here.

[love roses]

I would say Tx Christians believing all that stuff is only an opinion. Sometimes war IS good and even in the bible it only condones war for certain reasons, ie just wars vs. unjust wars. Tyranny is never good and only a bozo would put 100% faith in their government. That's why we have the laws we have here.

[doss1]

Originally Posted by octaviameister

Yes, you are allowed here, I think. If, however, you check with our GREAT Gov. Rick Hairspray Perry, he would not approve. He says ONLY Christians go to heaven (this is an actual quote from the front page of the Dallas Morning News), so this should tell you there is a huge delusional community of Christians in TX.

hAHAHA Hairspray Perry....

As for only Christians going to heaven...well, he's right...IF you believe in Christianity and Jesus. If you don't, then of course it wont make sense to you.

I live in Dallas, and I do not attend any Church, and yes, I actually do have a few friends.

Great! Btw you don't need to attend church to get salvation.

TX Christians believe war is good, tyranny is good and govt is good.

Well, if you're a real atheist, you should have no reason to think something is bad or good because on the naturalistic worldview, we are just a product of random biological molecules bouncing around--and are no different than the tiger that kills a zebra for food. What makes humans special? Christians believe morality comes form God. And no, we don't believe war is good, but there can be a time when suffering is for the greater good of society. This is common sense. Sometimes someone has to die so that 2 others get to live, etc. Ya know, philosophical stuff!

I do not share their views, at all.

Why? (I'm not saying they are good, just want to know why you think they are bad)

Please move to TX, we need some help here.

yes, I hope more atheists come to Texas...we welcome all.

[texdav]

There are lots of athetist and agnostic to socailize with really. In fact there are ven devil worshpiers if you prefer. Just like any group that has simialr beliefs chrisatina tend to stick togehter and socialise more with each other.Many christain don't fell confortable in secular society locations. If you can face peole not wanting to socialise with you but not being against you you might be happier else where or a large city in Texas.

[houstoner]

Originally Posted by octaviameister

TX Christians believe war is good, tyranny is good and govt is good.

Actually, I think they think government is bad, hence our lovely red state.

[TerryDactyls]

I too am an agnostic. I'm too lazy to worry about whether or not a god exists. But I haven't had any problems with people on a social level. It's the state legislative level where the problem exists. Many of our elected officials spend most of their time trying to pass laws that directly impact what consenting adults do in the privacy of their own home. I work in state government and during the legislative session I have to deal with many bills (see Rep. Chisum for example) requiring classes before you get married, before you get a divorce, classes on alternatives to abortion, and classes on healthy marriage. While these seem harmless on the surface, in reality almost all the approved providers for the classes are Christian Church funded. Evolution is being put on the back burner in favor of creationism in the schools. And now bible classes in pubic schools has been approved. The bible belt mentality is being forced upon everyone by the new laws. From a personal standpoint, it is the primary reason why I'm leaving the state as soon as I reach retirement age. I'm too close and too invested to leave before that time or I would. It is difficult to be a liberal and an agnostic in Texas.

[Canine*Castle]

Some probably do; some probably don't.

[bjh]

i have spent most of my life in texas and can safely vouch that there is every strain of thought there as there is everywhere. beware stereo typing people.

[JamesAbilene]

Originally Posted by lifertexan

I have lived in the San Angelo/Abilene/Brownwood area all my life,and don't remember ever being asked if I went to church.Any conversations about church have taken place after it was known that I did.As someone who became a Christian as an adult,I have also never asked a person if they went to church,unless the conversation was about personal problems and it was obvious they were looking for answers.

There are way more non churchgoers in almost any decent sized town than churchgoers,probably on the ratio of about 3 to 1,or more.A large Baptist church in my town did a survey a number of years ago,done scientifically by a national survey org brought in,and it showed that less than 20% of the county was in church on any given Sunday.

A person in any town who politely declines invitations will not have any problems.A lot of people in the small towns don't go to church.An atheist who openly admits it in many small towns might be ostracized if he makes it a point to make sure everybody knows his beliefs.A loud and forceful atheist who is bent on running down Christians and proving them wrong and stupid for believing will have trouble anywhere except a major city,and even then will encounter plenty of opposition if he is very adamant about forcing his beliefs on the populace.

Abilene has to be the buckle of the Bible belt. One of my closest friends is an agnostic, and he has had no problems in Abilene. He simply does not take part in conversations about church and Christianity, but he also does not make a big deal of his belief (or lack of belief, I suppose). He does answer honestly if people ask him to church. He has had no real problems; although, I am sure there are small groups of his friends praying for him privately.

[Pipeweld]

You will probably have more problems, if you insist people call you Mr. Drysdale than anything. LOL