atheist in a religious area

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dawn K on January 11, 2011 at 3:17pm

Me, me! We live in a quite progressive city in a quite liberal state (MA) and I just love it here. We've only lived here for 6 months so I'm not actually sure what the make-up of homeschoolers is. The two big homeschool groups are religious (Catholic and "statement of faith" Christian) so I suspect the majority are still christian, however rarely do you see people outwardly displaying signs of their religion. We're more likely to see rainbow stickers and solar panels than religious tchotchkes.

Permalink Reply by Southern Orbit on January 11, 2011 at 3:30pm

I live in Conyers, and I agree that to say Atlanta is not part of the bible belt (as wikipedia does) is incorrect.  Look at all the mega-churches in the area.   Good to know you are out there.

Permalink Reply by K on January 11, 2011 at 3:41pm

I have found a nice assortment of atheist/secular homeschoolers in Metro Atl., esp. Gwinnett.

 

I've also found great acceptance in the local UU and Pagan homeschooling groups.  I can be an open atheist in both places with no issues at all.

  In another local group, although xian oriented but with no statement of faith, I had  good xian women who wouldn't allow my children to play with theirs, JIC...

Permalink Reply by eintob on January 11, 2011 at 3:42pm

lol...we have a lot of xtian homeschoolers here but I wouldn't call Tucson a religious area compared to a place like the South. 

 

For example, I just got back from our (secular, inclusive) homeschool group's park day.  A new lady showed up and she and her daughter were in denim dresses with high-necked shirts and tights and tennis shoes.  Her boys were wearing ties.  We were welcoming but she will surely decide that our group is too progressive/liberal/pagan/etc soon.  Tucson has a lot of Hispanic Catholic influences but we lean Democrat/liberal. 

 

And we currently are an awesome place to get a screaming deal on a foreclosure! :P

Permalink Reply by K on January 11, 2011 at 3:50pm

Oh We have LOTS of those families around here.  It's amusing yet sad to see them at various homeschool events...Mama and all the girls in  long sleeves, and denim jumpers or skirts, all wearing little kerchiefs on their heads, even the toddler.  All the boys are wearing jeans and hats, and they are stairstepped.

Obviously a child born every 18-24 months... 14, 13, 11, 9, 7, on down to mama being preggers or carrying a tiny baby.  Usually 6-8 kids, too.

 

They also don't join up with our secular/liberal or pagan groups...

Permalink Reply by Leila Cook on May 20, 2012 at 7:38am

I wish.  We live in a small, rural Southern town and- while I love living in the country (it is quite, people leave you alone for the most part and I can grow my organic vegetable garden) it is a bit lonely- if I didn't have online friends, I would go crazy.

Permalink Reply by K on May 20, 2012 at 10:03am

Hi Leila,

  I've found a few friends, but lots of folks who avoid me.  Not so bad now, since the area is growing and people from all walks of life are moving in. Still outnumbered, though, and likely will always be, until I move to some other area, or country. Can't imagine not living in the south, since it's where I grew up, but who knows what life has in store?

 Where in Tn is Livingston?  I live NE of Atlanta proper, but still considered Atl for commuting puproses. 

Welcome!

Permalink Reply by Leila Cook on May 29, 2012 at 5:29pm

It is about halfway between Nashville and Knoxville.  If you have ever watched a Stephen King movie, you can just imagine that, rofl.  :D