Any Christian friends?

[LCBOY]

I've been on the JREF for about a month. I've learned a lot and I have gained a new understanding of other's beliefs. I've enjoyed many of the topics and debates. Free exchange of ideas is always a good thing. I was really fascinated by atheist's views of theism in general and Christianity in particular. The views run the entire spectrum from indifference to outright hostility. I just wanted to to ask everyone if they have close friends or relatives that are theists (Christians in particular)? By close friends I mean people that you respect, care for, and spend time with. How does their faith guide their life? Is there anything about how your theist friends live their life that you admire? I am not interested in experiences with "crazy preachers" at the park or "door to door" evangelists or what you read about pedophile priests, only people that you know personally.

[Nyarlathotep]

One of my closest friends is a Jehovahs Witness. Admittedly she is probably the worlds least pushy JW, though.

There are many things I admire about her but they are mostly because she is a good and kind person rather than because of her faith. I am sure that she would argue that her goodness and kindness come from her faith, but I wouldn't be so sure since I have met many gooad and kind atheist and many small and petty christians. I think she would be a good person regardless.

[LCBOY]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep
One of my closest friends is a Jehovahs Witness. Admittedly she is probably the worlds least pushy JW, though.

There are many things I admire about her but they are mostly because she is a good and kind person rather than because of her faith. I am sure that she would argue that her goodness and kindness come from her faith, but I wouldn't be so sure since I have met many gooad and kind atheist and many small and petty christians. I think she would be a good person regardless.

Do you think that your friend's focus on her faith allows to her goodness and kindness be her dominant traits? All people are flawed in some way and I am sure your friend does have her "small and petty" days. I know I do. Faith doesn't make one perfect...

[roger]

Most of my immediate (and not-so-immediate family) are Christian (I'm not).

For the most part, faith doesn't seem to take a visible role in their life - meaning they behave just about like me; we try hard to do right and try to rectify things when they go wrong. Just average behavior, all in all.

Faith seems to take a larger role in my mother's life; she says she draws strength from it, but to me it looks like she relies on it rather than trying to solve her problems (lot's of "it's in God's hands, all I can do is pray" comments). But, it's not my life, so I can't judge how she would handle things w/o that faith.

In all, I agree with Nyarlathotep, in that my respect or admiration is not based on their faith or lack thereof, and I don't admire people _because_ they have faith.

[Ruby]

Originally posted by LCBOY
I've been on the JREF for about a month. I've learned a lot and I have gained a new understanding of other's beliefs. I've enjoyed many of the topics and debates. Free exchange of ideas is always a good thing. I was really fascinated by atheist's views of theism in general and Christianity in particular. The views run the entire spectrum from indifference to outright hostility. I just wanted to to ask everyone if they have close friends or relatives that are theists (Christians in particular)? By close friends I mean people that you respect, care for, and spend time with. How does their faith guide their life? Is there anything about how your theist friends live their life that you admire? I am not interested in experiences with "crazy preachers" at the park or "door to door" evangelists or what you read about pedophile priests, only people that you know personally.

All my friends are Christians of various degrees! Some are fundamentalists, some just a bit fundy, some are more liberal. I am actually wishing to have more friends who are atheist and agnostic or Pagan or anything but Christian. I live in Texas where almost everyone you meet is Christian, and anyone who isn't, tends to be quiet about it. I hate that!!

I am not saying I don't like my Christian friends...I love them...several of them are really cool.

My hubby is a Christian. He is a lot more grounded in his faith than I am, but he still asks questions like me. He has a much stronger belief on many aspects of Christianity too. He is also miles ahead of me in the brains department.

I do not talk to most of my Christian friends about some of my "liberal" views. Most would not understand and only worry for my soul!
:rolleyes:

Actually, some of my more fundamentalists friends have not contacted me in months. I was outspoken to one friend about men and women being equal and the husband not being *over* the wife etc., and she stopped talking to me.

I have another fundamentalist friend who is obsessed with the *Rapture* and *living in the end times*, and that is all she talks about when I am around her, so I avoid her! :(

Then I have some crazy, funny, liberal christian friends who I love to get together with because they are highly intellectual and full of cool knowledge and they love to drink and party. :D

[Tony]

In which part of Texas do you live?

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by LCBOY


Do you think that your friend's focus on her faith allows to her goodness and kindness be her dominant traits? All people are flawed in some way and I am sure your friend does have her "small and petty" days. I know I do. Faith doesn't make one perfect...

Hard to say. I probably would say that her faith REINFORCES her positive traits. But I still maintain that she would probably still be much the same person even if she were Jewish, Hindu, or atheist. However, I am also certain she would disagree with me on htis point so who is to say.

When I really think about it I think religion tends to magnify certain traits in people. If a basicly nice person joins a religion then they become nicer, unfortunately if a basicly nasty person joins a religion, he becomes nastier too.

For me is really hard to understand the question: Any Christian friends?

Why this forum seems to be obsessed (...) with Christianity?

Why should religion beleifs have to do with friendship?

Friendship is something else , love is something else .

Just imagine yourself visiting "stranges" cultures and places.
Don't you find yourself smart enough to respect and live in peace with them? , no matter your own personal beleifs?

Ok, I have a lot of friends , Athiests , Deists, Christians, Mormons , Jews , Buddists , Muslmans, pagans, etc, etc,
They all have something in common : They act friendly with me , and I act friendly with them , or viceversa.

Thanks,
S&S

[specious_reasons]

My roommate through college is a devout Christian, and I usually hold him up as a good example of one.

He is perhaps the smartest, most focused and functional man I have ever met. It would be highly convenient to consider those traits a blessing by God, but I've met his parents. :)

Actually, religion and ritual have probably helped him with "focused and functional", growing up, his home and church life were well structured.

His and his family's lives are centered around Christ, and especially recently, we've started to drift, as my family would be an island of atheism in a sea of Christianity during parties, since many of his social acquiantences come from his church.

How does faith drive thier lives? Hmmm... tough question. I know they go to bible study among friends at least once a week, pray together, go to church every week. I can see the behaviors, but I don't know what it means.

He's a tough-as-nails debater, but we rarely go into it too heavily, mostly to not hurt each other's feelings.

[justsaygnosis]

Same as Baskin Robbins...multi-flavors from roman catholic to protestant to fundie to new age wacko.
I also have many non-christian friends as well as atheists and agnostics.
One of my first adult friends I made when I was a kid was a muslim studying at Brown University in Providence, RI. It was interesting talking to him because the only people I was around at that time were christians and most of them catholics.
There's a large jewish community in Providence but when I was a teenager we were more interested in chasing the young jewish girls around than talking to rabbis.
I grew up right near the University and ended up meeting people from many areas and many beliefs.
People are people, if they're wound too tight in their beliefs they become unsociable.

[Dancing David]

Yes, no, maybe.

Uh, where am I?

Yes I have friends who are Xian, but they are tolerant Xians, being a nihilitic pagan doesn't agree with most thumpers.

There are things I admire about a lot of people. Man I liked the most was a strident Atheist and card carrying member of the Communist Party, but he was very nice and very funny, never offended you unless you were a friend.

Peace

[Loki]

LCBOY,

I just wanted to to ask everyone if they have close friends or relatives that are theists (Christians in particular)?
Theists, yes - christians, not really. Haven't set out to avoid any particular faith, but it just seems that the only "practising" christians (meaning people who regularly attend mass, etc) that I run into in everyday life are the parents of friends.

On the other hand, I have a few close friends who are quite "New Age" in their spirituality. They believe in 'god', but the focus is much more on "spirit" than on worship.

How does their faith guide their life?
In most ways, I can find no significant differences between theist and atheist friends - people's moral/ethical behaviour, general "happiness", and their faith don't seem to "line up" in any particular way. I find it frustrating that the most "spiritual" friends I have also seem the most willing to accept any old nonsense like homeopathy, astrology, Sri Baba, John Edward, etc.

Is there anything about how your theist friends live their life that you admire?
Plenty, but nothing I'd attribute to their faith. Some of them are just great people. Some of them are really quite unhappy, and seem lost in a cycle of religious "quick fixes" that can initially mask the underlying problems, but never solve them.

[kittynh]

well, the one Christian friend I have that I feel really tries and succeeds in following her faith, is the one person I feel I can really really count on. She is always there for me, and even though we can't agree on faith, it is never an issue. Being there for people without any thought about what's in it for her is just the way she is. She has been nice to some of the worst people I know. Her mother in law lives with her and the mom in law is a JERK. My friend just says that it IS very hard for her to deal with this witch, but no one deserves to be alone.

She prays for me, and even gets her church to pray for me if I'm unwell. I tell her I don't believe, but she says, "that doesn't matter, I do." She never tries to convert me, but if I'm feeling sad she'll say, "I love you, and Jesus does too", but that's it. It makes me feel good that she likes me despite my much more weak faith (I'm a Martin Gardner Christian....)

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by Ruby
I live in Texas where almost everyone you meet is Texan, and anyone who isn't, tends to be quiet about it. I hate that!!


We're you trying to be redundant, or did you mean "everyone you meet is Christian?"

You should spend some time in D-FW, not only could you meet some real live atheists, but some Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and my area of town is full of Jews.

And one of my closest friends is a sub-deacon in his Antiocan Orthdox Church. Are all your friends of Protestant denominations? We need to get you to Dallas for the Greek Fest!

[Yahzi]

I have a few Christian and Pagan friends that I love and respect. Most of my friends would qualify as Deists, if they actually cared enough to think about it. They all know my views, and they all know that logically I am correct. Some of them may hold secret hope that I will someday be shown to be logically incorrect, but I think most of them have just accepted that their position is irrational and that's all there is to it.

Really, I don't have a problem with that. I'm not trying to destroy anyone's religion: I'm just trying to get people to acknowledge that it isn't true in the rational, empirical, scientific sense of true. Lord of the Rings isn't true in that sense either, but I still love it for its poetic truth.

You want to speak Elvish and wear your hair long, that's fine. But if you start walking around naked because your magic ring makes you invisible, that's not fine.

I have several acquaintinces who find me very challenging to be around. They are unable to square my honesty and integrity with my lack of faith. Simply being a good person and an atheist is a significant challenge to their world-view.

[Tricky]

Throughout my life the majority of my friends have been Christian, at least nominally. A few of them have been extremely devout, although few if any have been of the proselytizing nature. About ten years ago, I made some friends in the music business and discovered there were a lot of Pagans in there. I met my wife at a concert, and yes, she is a Pagan too, so now I probably have more Pagan than Christian friends, at least of the close friend variety of friends.

One friend who I consider very close is a Sikh, and he is one of the best people in the world to discuss religion with. He is non-judgmental (he knows I am an atheist) and he is a lot more concerned with how his religion teaches him to be moral than he is about convincing anyone that he is correct. We've had some jolly old brou-ha-has, but never left with a shred of resentment.

Most of my family is Christian too, with one or two "spammers", i.e. they innundate my e-mail with stories about how so-and-so was saved by their guardian angel or a man who miraculously regrew a kidney thanks to prayer. I find this spamming a tad annoying, but I still love and even like them.

Interestingly, I have almost no atheist friends, apart from on these boards. Or if I do, I am unaware of it. Because atheism is much shunned by society (at least in Texas) there are very few openly atheist people. I would be very uncomfortable discussing my beliefs with my boss or most of my co-workers.

One of the funny things I have noted about many Christians is that they can be extremely tolerant of people with different religions, but they absolutely cannot conceive of someone with no religion.

[roger]

Earlier I posted that most of my immediate family are Christian. After reading the rest of the posts, I realized that I really don't know the religious affliation, if any, of most of my friends. It's really not a topic that comes up in conversation. The times that I have had these conversations with various people the most common belief is usually "there's got to be something more out there" - more a less a deist mindset, with little or no anthromophising, supplicating prayer, etc, just an uncertain assumption that _something_ started the universe off, but with no idea of what that might be.

There's no one that is close to me in my life that goes to church, immediate family included. I have a few acquantices that go to synagogue sporadically.

[Ruby]

Originally posted by Tony
In which part of Texas do you live?

East Texas!

[Ruby]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner


We're you trying to be redundant, or did you mean "everyone you meet is Christian?"

I've already edited it to say "Christian".:D

You should spend some time in D-FW, not only could you meet some real live atheists, but some Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and my area of town is full of Jews.

And one of my closest friends is a sub-deacon in his Antiocan Orthdox Church. Are all your friends of Protestant denominations? We need to get you to Dallas for the Greek Fest!

My brother lives in the Dallas area. I am not too far from there. Have to check things out one of these days, but not ready to move there.

[Ruby]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner
Are all your friends of Protestant denominations?

Yep. :(

[LCBOY]

Originally posted by Tricky

One of the funny things I have noted about many Christians is that they can be extremely tolerant of people with different religions, but they absolutely cannot conceive of someone with no religion.

Tricky,

Being a former atheist, I can understand where you are coming from. I used to debate several christians in my dorm in college. I can conceive of someone with no religion.

[Darwin]

Many of my less or more close relatives are christian.
This does not seem to cause a lot of conflict but I´m always aware of their stand and this may also require some level of care to not invade their "comfort zone".
Some may occasionally "hint at God" or something like that,to which I usually do not respond in any manner.

[Azathoth]

Certainly my group of friends is much more agnostic/atheist than the US average, but some of them are religious. Of those, most are from what I would call very liberal Christian, Muslim or Jewish traditions. They express their faith about as much as I express my lack -- which is to say, not often. I admit that, with a couple exceptions, the more religious friends are those with whom I spend the least time and have the least in common.
My best friend in high school became 'born again', moved to [where else?] Texas and eventually decided that he could no longer communicate with me, because of my atheism.
My mother has become very religious, possibly as a result of her involvement in AA. It is not a subject we can discuss comfortably.

My closest contact with people of strong and openly-expressed faith was when I spent a year teaching science at a Catholic high school. I can't say I envied their faith, but I found it easy to respect. The emphasis on charity and community service impressed me enormously. Indeed, it has made me become slightly more active in deed than in thought in my own charitable endeavors. For instance, I donated blood for the first time at the school.
The religious observances at the school demonstrated a spirit of community, although as a product of public schools I could never get away from the feeling that it was wrong wrong wrong.
I enjoyed the singing, but always felt sad that they were not my songs.

[LCBOY]

Originally posted by Azathoth

My best friend in high school became 'born again', moved to [where else?] Texas and eventually decided that he could no longer communicate with me, because of my atheism.
My mother has become very religious, possibly as a result of her involvement in AA. It is not a subject we can discuss comfortably.


If am may ask, did your former best friend give you specific reasons why he could no longer communicate with you?

My pastor once said something that really hit me. He told us that if we have no non-Christian friends then there is something wrong with us. It's interesting that I do more activites with my non-christian friends, snowboarding, hiking, camping, etc than with my Christian friends.

[Ruby]

Originally posted by LCBOY

My pastor once said something that really hit me. He told us that if we have no non-Christian friends then there is something wrong with us.

Oh dear, then that's what wrong....it's me!!:confused:

[Azathoth]

Originally posted by LCBOY


If am may ask, did your former best friend give you specific reasons why he could no longer communicate with you?


This happened over a decade ago, so the details are now hazy. In high school, he attended a Methodist church. During this final phone conversation some years later, he opined that the Methodists were a false church and that only Bible-believing Christians are 'true' Christians. I recall that distinctly.
But not his specific reasons for cutting off communication with me. I think it might have had something to do with cooties.

[justsaygnosis]

Originally posted by Ruby


Oh dear, then that's what wrong....it's me!!:confused:

It's a nice place to come and bounce ideas around but I do hope you're being facetious with....'it's me'.
You really don't need to conform to anyone's mindset here.....or anywhere else for that matter.

[Dymanic]

I'm glad this question was asked, because in realizing that I do have quite a number of Christian friends, I also realize that I must not be one of those really obnoxious atheists we talked about on another recent thread.

One in particular spent his entire day today helping me move some stuff. Occasionally, we engage in lengthy sparring matches about it, which I think we both enjoy. Over a number of years, we seem to have developed a mutual respect for each other that is evidently based on something besides religious beliefs.

[Ruby]

Originally posted by justsaygnosis


It's a nice place to come and bounce ideas around but I do hope you're being facetious with....'it's me'.
You really don't need to conform to anyone's mindset here.....or anywhere else for that matter.

Yes, I am being a bit facetious. I just don't ever meet anyone who isn't a Christian. I am quite shy and quiet too...and that could make it a little bit my problem/fault.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Ruby


Yes, I am being a bit facetious. I just don't ever meet anyone who isn't a Christian. I am quite shy and quiet too...and that could make it a little bit my problem/fault.

You meet lots of people who aren't Christian. You just do it here rather than face to face

[QuarkChild]

My best friend is Catholic. I've known her for 20 years and she's never mentioned believing in God that I can recall. The only time I hear her mention religion is when we make fun of Jehovah's Witnesses together. Her Catholicism might simply be an act to please her mother, who is the vocal prayerful type. I've been wanting to ask her about it for a while now, but haven't quite gotten around to it.

Maybe I'll ask her right now. (She's living in Australia at present, so it'll have to be by email.)

[Ruby]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep


You meet lots of people who aren't Christian. You just do it here rather than face to face

Yep! And here I can say much more than I can say with my Christian friends.:)

[Peach Jr.]

Yes, I have some Xtian friends and family members.

My best friend (25 years and counting) is a Protestant - born and raised a Catholic and converted when she adopted her daughter 3 years ago. She lives her faith (as far as I can tell) but does not push or evangelize.

Most of my family (not parents or sister) are Xtians; all of my in-laws are. The only Xtian in my family who I can tolerate is my great-aunt. A great woman! She lives alone, still teaches piano and is the music director at her church at the age of 83. She says she prays for our safety and well-being, but has never been pushy or tried to "save" us. Ever. (Wish I could say the same for the Mr.'s family, but that's not the subject here :rolleyes: )

[Dragonrock]

In spite of 22 years of christian abuse, my wife is still a christian. Although, we recently had a discussion about creation/evolution and when I pointed out the contradiction between Genesis 1 and 2 her response was "oh, I never saw that." Her bible studies in school always kinda skipped over that bit.

I've had lively debates with christian friends about evolution and the great flood but I've only felt insulted one time. Someone who wasn't a friend was talking about how he couldn't believe that anyone would believe in evolution. He was rather condescending and rude. I felt my face turning purple and my wife put her hand on my arm to calm me down. I didn't respond as I didn't want to start an argument because I felt that rational debate with this man was impossible.

I am the only atheist I know about in my group of friends, but no one treats me like a leper because of it. In general I feel that their religion is their own concern, I feel they would be better off without it, but I don't look down on them for their beliefs. I feel that they are kind and generous people, not because of their religion, but because that is who they are.

[ntech]

Boy, Texas is one state I will never move to with my family.

I will take good old atheist friendly New York any day of the week.

Halleluiah

No offence but I like diversity.

and reality.

[Dragonrock]

Originally posted by ntech
Boy, Texas is one state I will never move to with my family.

I will take good old atheist friendly New York any day of the week.

Halleluiah

No offence but I like diversity.

and reality.

While I agree with you about the christians and reality, I take exception to what you said about diversity. While christianity may be widespread, races, languages, countries of origin, income levels, and other things are different and interesting.

I can actually say that I've been almost everywhere, and the least diverse place I've been in America has to be the new england states. Blatent racism, distrust of strangers, and condescention to anyone from the south were all halmarks of my trips there.

I've been to New York city several times, and the fact that around every corner is practically a new world makes it a great place to visit. However, the fact it's so crowded that when you put on your pants there's already someone in there with you means I'd rather not live there.

Perhaps it's such diversity of opinion that makes America what it is?

[Ruby]

Originally posted by Dragonrock
[B]

While I agree with you about the christians and reality, I take exception to what you said about diversity. While christianity may be widespread, races, languages, countries of origin, income levels, and other things are different and interesting.

I can actually say that I've been almost everywhere, and the least diverse place I've been in America has to be the new england states. Blatent racism, distrust of strangers, and condescention to anyone from the south were all halmarks of my trips there.

My hubby is from New Hampshire has never been racist or exposed to it...until he came here to Texas about six years ago. I did not even know racism existed until I came to Texas.

I've been in Texas a long time now, and there is much I love about it, but there's much that I hate too. My poor hubby has never adjusted. I don't think he likes being called a "Yankee".

When I went to New England to visit with my hubby's family, I found people to be very friendly and relaxed.

[Dragonrock]

Originally posted by Ruby


My hubby is from New Hampshire has never been racist or exposed to it...until he came here to Texas about six years ago. I did not even know racism existed until I came to Texas.

I've been in Texas a long time now, and there is much I love about it, but there's much that I hate too. My poor hubby has never adjusted. I don't think he likes being called a "Yankee".

When I went to New England to visit with my hubby's family, I found people to be very friendly and relaxed.

I think we've stepped into the world of perception and opinion. You'll have your stories of racism and I'll have mine. I also found them to be friendly and relaxed, until they found out I was from Texas. I may have misconstrued the behavior I saw when I compared it to what I'm used to. But, then again, maybe I didn't need to be told how to figure out which fork to use.

[Ruby]

Originally posted by Dragonrock


I think we've stepped into the world of perception and opinion. You'll have your stories of racism and I'll have mine. I also found them to be friendly and relaxed, until they found out I was from Texas. I may have misconstrued the behavior I saw when I compared it to what I'm used to. But, then again, maybe I didn't need to be told how to figure out which fork to use.

Sorry you had a bad experience. Perhaps the fact that I'm not a born and bred Texan and don't have a strong Texas accent made a difference. I'll have to ask hubby how true blue Texans are treated in NH. I know his family are just great and his sister married a true blue Texan who has been very well accepted.

[justsaygnosis]

Originally posted by Dragonrock


I can actually say that I've been almost everywhere, and the least diverse place I've been in America has to be the new england states. Blatent racism, distrust of strangers, and condescention to anyone from the south were all halmarks of my trips there.



As a native New Englander all I can say is...."Hey we didn't ask you to come here."
Just kidding.....sorry to hear that was your experience but if you stay in the touristy areas that's how it seems.
You've got to mingle with the real people.
I will agree on the xenophobia though.
The state of Rhode Island is smaller than most counties in the US but there is almost a clan mentality.
You can move to RI when you're four years old and live here for 40 years and you'll still hear..."You just don't get it cuz you weren't born here."
The demographic is something like 92% christian with 68% of that roman catholic.
Going back to the late 1800's there were almost no catholics but as the protestant's are prone to say of the catholics..."They outf*%ked us."

[SRW]

Originally posted by Ruby


My hubby is from New Hampshire has never been racist or exposed to it...until he came here to Texas about six years ago. I did not even know racism existed until I came to Texas.

I've been in Texas a long time now, and there is much I love about it, but there's much that I hate too. My poor hubby has never adjusted. I don't think he likes being called a "Yankee".

When I went to New England to visit with my hubby's family, I found people to be very friendly and relaxed.


I lived in New England for four years and would have to say the amount of racism there was astonishing.

I would never characterize New England and a raciest area but the impression I got was that everyone is fine just as long as they stay on their own side of town. I moved there from Missouri and was surprised at how blatant the racisms was. (this was back in the 70's but when I visit I do not see much change.)

I still get dirty looks from people when they see me with my Oriental wife.

[Ruby]

Originally posted by SRW



I lived in New England for four years and would have to say the amount of racism there was astonishing.

I would never characterize New England and a raciest area but the impression I got was that everyone is fine just as long as they stay on their own side of town. I moved there from Missouri and was surprised at how blatant the racisms was. (this was back in the 70's but when I visit I do not see much change.)

I still get dirty looks from people when they see me with my Oriental wife.

I am SO sorry to hear that.

I was just asking my hubby about his experiences growing up in New Hampshire and he never saw or heard any forms of racism. He is far from being racist himself. He is rather shocked by the stories I am relaying to him from this thread.

Where in New England did you live? How awful for your wife to get such looks.

[ntech]

I grew up in New York City however I live upstate now. The town that I live in is made up mostly of city transplants searching for a better life. I like the fact that I work and live with people black, white, gay, single and with family that came from every country on earth. They have all sorts of religious beliefs and most don’t mind my atheist family. Many of my friends are atheist as well. My wife and I do read bigoted nonsense about atheists contained in letters to the paper so we know that they are out there however most people that we meet are not like that. I would just feel uncomfortable living where everyone I met was religious and I find it unusual, Ruby, that you never met any atheists in person.

[Ruby]

Originally posted by ntech
I grew up in New York City however I live upstate now. The town that I live in is made up mostly of city transplants searching for a better life. I like the fact that I work and live with people black, white, gay, single and with family that came from every country on earth. They have all sorts of religious beliefs and most don’t mind my atheist family. Many of my friends are atheist as well. My wife and I do read bigoted nonsense about atheists contained in letters to the paper so we know that they are out there however most people that we meet are not like that. I would just feel uncomfortable living where everyone I met was religious and I find it unusual, Ruby, that you never met any atheists in person.

It is unusual!!!

[SRW]

Originally posted by Ruby


I am SO sorry to hear that.

I was just asking my hubby about his experiences growing up in New Hampshire and he never saw or heard any forms of racism. He is far from being racist himself. He is rather shocked by the stories I am relaying to him from this thread.

Where in New England did you live? How awful for your wife to get such looks.

I lived in CT, there were no blacks in the town I lived in. 5 miles away was a town that was mostly black. There was no mixing. Out side of the big citys I hardly ever see mixed race couples even today.

[Dragonrock]

Originally posted by SRW


I lived in CT, there were no blacks in the town I lived in. 5 miles away was a town that was mostly black. There was no mixing. Out side of the big citys I hardly ever see mixed race couples even today.

Ah yes, the old "separate but equal" thing which was outlawed, aparently only in the south, about 40 years ago.

[EdipisReks]

my best friend is Muslim, and i have many friends who are Christian. i'm a secular humanist, so the way i deal with it is by not allowing discussions of religion and philosophy to start up between us. i find that such discussions can do a lot of harm to a friendship. i