In the Bible Belt, Offering Atheists a Spiritual Home • Hacker News Board

Re: In the Bible Belt, Offering Atheists a Spiritual Home

#21

Post by vacri » Thu, Jul 04, 2013, 12:57 PM UTC

jasonlotito wrote: post #11

lenni wrote: post #3

I really don't like it but I can't shake off my smug European sense of being weirded out when I read about how atheists are seemingly treated in America. Is it really as bad as it's made out in this article or on Reddit? Do your neighbours really get into your hair because you don't have a faith?

> Is it really as bad as it's made out in this article or on Reddit? It probably depends on where you live. Here in PA, it's been a non-issue for me. But then, be careful. America is much larger than Europe, and while we are all part of the same country, we aren't the same people. There are big difference among the different parts of the country, and making them out to be all the same would be like me using a single…

America is much larger than Europe

Only in land area, and much of that extra land area is very sparsely populated. Europe has over twice as many people.

Re: In the Bible Belt, Offering Atheists a Spiritual Home

#22

Post by andyjohnson0 » Thu, Jul 04, 2013, 1:01 PM UTC

brazzy wrote: post #19

akmiller wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've never really experienced any type of heckling, however, where I live (Missouri) most people just assume you are a Christian of some form. I do feel like if my employer knew I was an atheist I'd see some discrimination at work. Not to mention that, for the most part, you won't get elected to public office if you are a atheist. In fact in Texas an atheist can't run for public office.

> In fact in Texas an atheist can't run for public office. Can you cite a source for that? Because it sounds like one HUGE violation of the 1st amendement.

Texas Constitution. Article 1, Section 4:

"Sec. 4. RELIGIOUS TESTS. No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being." [1]

This doesn't actually say that an atheist can't hold office, but a non-believer can be excluded from office.

There are some particularly egregious examples of public-office tests listed in [2]; in particular Tennessee.

[1] http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CN/htm/CN.1.htm

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discrimination_against_atheists...

Re: In the Bible Belt, Offering Atheists a Spiritual Home

#23

Post by cpursley » Thu, Jul 04, 2013, 1:01 PM UTC

bliker wrote: post #8

lenni wrote: post #3

I really don't like it but I can't shake off my smug European sense of being weirded out when I read about how atheists are seemingly treated in America. Is it really as bad as it's made out in this article or on Reddit? Do your neighbours really get into your hair because you don't have a faith?

I was in US only 6 months and it was in Mississippi. But my experience was very similar. Even more radical I could say.

I'm sorry. Mississippi makes Alabama look like NYC.

Re: In the Bible Belt, Offering Atheists a Spiritual Home

#24

Post by arethuza » Thu, Jul 04, 2013, 1:06 PM UTC

cpursley wrote: post #20

icegreentea wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This article doesn't actually make it to be all that hard. I mean, let's be reasonable. You are part of a community that strongly identifies with a set of beliefs and activities. You become disillusioned with said set of beliefs and activities. How are you going to stay part of that community? Doesn't matter if its NASCAR, hacking around in python, DIY bioengineering, whatever. What happens is that there are situatio…

Exactly. It's hard enough to be a male and not a sports fan in America. "Ok, so you're an atheist. Wait, you're not a {local team here} fan!!!"

I presume you don't have a strong connection between particular football teams and religion and therefore particular community allegiances?

Rangers/Celtic, Hearts/Hibs etc.

Re: In the Bible Belt, Offering Atheists a Spiritual Home

#25

Post by VBprogrammer » Thu, Jul 04, 2013, 1:20 PM UTC

andyjohnson0 wrote: post #18

arethuza wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"But then, be careful. America is much larger than Europe" Europe (the continent) actually has a larger area (10,180,000 km² > 9,826,675 km²) and a much larger population (739.2 million > 313.9 million ) than the United States (the country). I presume you mean the EU (which still has a much larger population) or maybe Western Europe? Or maybe North America (the continent)?

I read "larger" as meaning "more diverse". Not sure I agree though.

I think you'd have to be slightly delusional to feel that the USA is more diverse than the whole of the EU.

Re: In the Bible Belt, Offering Atheists a Spiritual Home

#26

Post by arethuza » Thu, Jul 04, 2013, 1:37 PM UTC

VBprogrammer wrote: post #25

andyjohnson0 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read "larger" as meaning "more diverse". Not sure I agree though.

I think you'd have to be slightly delusional to feel that the USA is more diverse than the whole of the EU.

I think that's a bit harsh. In the case of the USA my impression is that the main source of cultural diversity is from immigrant communities whereas in Europe the main diversity is between long established communities - often at a level well below that of the current nation state (particularly noticeable in places like the UK and the other larger European states).

Personally, I think that Europe does have a lot more cultural diversity than the United States - but I can see that the point is arguable and that it's hardly a case of being "delusional" to argue the opposing point.

Re: In the Bible Belt, Offering Atheists a Spiritual Home

#27

Post by cpursley » Thu, Jul 04, 2013, 2:01 PM UTC

arethuza wrote: post #24

cpursley wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly. It's hard enough to be a male and not a sports fan in America. "Ok, so you're an atheist. Wait, you're not a {local team here} fan!!!"

I presume you don't have a strong connection between particular football teams and religion and therefore particular community allegiances? Rangers/Celtic, Hearts/Hibs etc.

Well, I don't mean both at the same time. What I'm saying is, it's more difficult socially and in terms of community if you are not a sports fan (at all, of any type) than it is to be an atheist. Most people are smart enough to avoid religion and politics so that leaves sports for the small talk.

Re: In the Bible Belt, Offering Atheists a Spiritual Home

#28

Post by pekk » Thu, Jul 04, 2013, 3:03 PM UTC

icegreentea wrote: post #6

lenni wrote: post #3

I really don't like it but I can't shake off my smug European sense of being weirded out when I read about how atheists are seemingly treated in America. Is it really as bad as it's made out in this article or on Reddit? Do your neighbours really get into your hair because you don't have a faith?

This article doesn't actually make it to be all that hard. I mean, let's be reasonable. You are part of a community that strongly identifies with a set of beliefs and activities. You become disillusioned with said set of beliefs and activities. How are you going to stay part of that community? Doesn't matter if its NASCAR, hacking around in python, DIY bioengineering, whatever. What happens is that there are situatio…

It really goes beyond this, because taking on some labels gets you labeled as a walking blasphemy, an immoral person who subscribes to a philosophy of mass murder. Atheism is understood as opposition to God (Satanism) in much of rural America. One area where Western Europeans really can be smug with justification.

Re: In the Bible Belt, Offering Atheists a Spiritual Home

#29

Post by pekk » Thu, Jul 04, 2013, 3:06 PM UTC

bliker wrote: post #8

lenni wrote: post #3

I really don't like it but I can't shake off my smug European sense of being weirded out when I read about how atheists are seemingly treated in America. Is it really as bad as it's made out in this article or on Reddit? Do your neighbours really get into your hair because you don't have a faith?

I was in US only 6 months and it was in Mississippi. But my experience was very similar. Even more radical I could say.

That is culture shock for you

Re: In the Bible Belt, Offering Atheists a Spiritual Home

#30

Post by tzs » Thu, Jul 04, 2013, 4:38 PM UTC

lenni wrote: post #3

I really don't like it but I can't shake off my smug European sense of being weirded out when I read about how atheists are seemingly treated in America. Is it really as bad as it's made out in this article or on Reddit? Do your neighbours really get into your hair because you don't have a faith?

> I really don't like it but I can't shake off my smug European sense of being weirded out when I read about how atheists are seemingly treated in America.

That's OK, 'cause we Americans can be smug right back at you over the way Gypsies are treated in Europe.

Just as we treat atheists the way Europe did a century ago, Europe treats the Gypsies the way America treated black people a century ago. Actually, Europe doesn't seem all that friendly to blacks yet, either, at least judging by what soccer fans have been chanting at opposing team black players.

So...don't get too smug over there. :-)