| Exploring Christianity A Forum for Non Christians to explore Christianity with Christians. |
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5th November 2009, 12:28 PM
| | Contributor
   
| | Join Date: 28th October 2004 Location: California
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Reps: 866,456,371,216,119 (power: 866,456,371,232) | | | Hi Reality Pixie, not to worry, San Francisco is probably the most pagan large city in the USA. Less than half the people claim any sort of faith group. And not too far from the bay area you can see landscapes of great beauty. Drive either north or south along the coast, visit wine country, see the really tall trees, and do not miss the national parks.
May God Bless |
5th November 2009, 05:06 PM
|  | Legend
 | | Join Date: 24th March 2005
Posts: 20,426
Blessings: 8,715
Reps: 225,918,858,897,027,968 (power: 225,918,858,897,054) | | The US is a big place. What people described above is fairly recognized information.
I am in the Northeast, and atheists have been very freely vocal here for as long as I can recall. It is more likely for Christians to be cut down here-- mostly by people with Christianity in their family background.
I can't guarantee you will not have verbal abuse anywhere, lol, whether you are an atheist or a lama farmer or a movie star. No one is exempt.
Both coasts have some good schools too. Are you looking for any specific programs?
Wiki has an interesting map of predominant denominations... where you see Baptist, it is closest to the Bible Belt described above. File:Religions of the US.PNG - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
5th November 2009, 10:11 PM
| | Space Cadet
    
| | Join Date: 4th November 2009
Posts: 298
Blessings: 2,063,548
Reps: 19,550,139,574,747 (power: 19,550,139,577) | | Originally Posted by heron 
Cheers for the wiki link, clears some things up. Yeah I study youth work, so am looking for something with a youth work/social work/psych/councelling focus, another reason why I picked that area. I've been recommended Berkley? I think? but have yet to do proper research into individual unis. If you have any info that would be tops  |
5th November 2009, 10:19 PM
| | Space Cadet
| | Join Date: 4th November 2009
Posts: 298
Blessings: 2,063,548
Reps: 19,550,139,574,747 (power: 19,550,139,577) | | Originally Posted by Van Hi Reality Pixie, not to worry, San Francisco is probably the most pagan large city in the USA. Less than half the people claim any sort of faith group. And not too far from the bay area you can see landscapes of great beauty. Drive either north or south along the coast, visit wine country, see the really tall trees, and do not miss the national parks.
May God Bless
Nice! I'm a bit of a greeny at heart so can't go past a bit of natural tourism ....or alcohol tourism teehee. Also heard the beaches there are wonderful, which would make a welcome change. Perth beaches are dull and clogged with stinky seaweed unfortunately. Thanks for the advice and kind words guys  |
7th November 2009, 03:55 PM
|  | Orthodox Christian
35  
| | Join Date: 29th December 2004
Posts: 5,118
Blessings: 2,223,987 My Mood 
Reps: 497,283,109,336,874,176 (power: 497,283,109,336,887) | | Originally Posted by RealityPixie
So I suppose what I'm asking is, for those of you in the US (and especially in California/San Fran), how do you feel about atheists? And what is the religious climate in that general area?
Cheers;
RP
I live in Louisville, KY and I know plenty of outspoken atheists as friends, co-workers, and relatives. None of them seem to complain about being treated terribly, and I haven't seen that they are. They simply stay away from the religion topic altogether among those they feel wouldn't take their atheism well. Obviously, they have no problems telling me all about it, as some have tried to sway me to their way of thinking in the past. A particular co-worker is mystified at my being a believer and is constantly telling me that he thinks I'm wasting some potential (in what way I have no idea) in persisting in a belief in God and that he respects me otherwise- magnanimous of him.
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Troparion - Tone 4
Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we who are unworthy beseech you, by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory, and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you: “Deliver us from all harm, for you are the commanders of the powers on high!”
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for me.
"Why do you increase your bonds? Take hold of your life before your light grows dark and you seek help and do not find it. This life has been given to you for repentance; do not waste it in vain pursuits."~St. Isaac the Syrian
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22nd November 2009, 05:31 PM
| | Newbie
| | Join Date: 20th September 2009 Location: Alberta
Posts: 2
Blessings: 60,080
Reps: 10 (power: 0) | | | You'll be overjoyed to know that Christianity in America is no longer what it was intended to be. If it was, then nobody would be against it and atheists would have no ammunition for their stance. In other words, most "Christians" in most churches don't live out the gospel like they should, and therefore atheists like yourself and agnostics have plenty of validity for not believing that God exists. So that's a long way of saying, no worries about being maligned for your (lack of) faith - the only people who hate/get angry at atheists are pseudo-Christians who don't live the life of Christ outside the four walls of a church. Welcome to America!
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, and learn about one man's experiences as a former God hater. You'll be challenged (and encouraged) in your faith!
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22nd November 2009, 06:20 PM
|  | Born Imperishable
 
| | Join Date: 23rd February 2004
Posts: 23,369
Blessings: 415,098,645 My Mood 
Reps: 664,114,628,762,749,312 (power: 664,114,628,762,780) | | Originally Posted by RealityPixie I live in a pretty secular society (Australia) where a huge portion of the population doesn't consider themselves to be religious, so my atheism has never gotten me into trouble. However I currently have the opportunity to study as an exchange student in the USA. I'm a fairly, erm, 'alternative' person so was thinking San Fransisco. I know the US is a pretty religious place, and I've heard from sources that admitting atheism can get you into all sorts of trouble. Is this true? Keep in mind I'm a pretty outspoken atheist, but I'm hardly the kind to walk around handing out copies of 'Evolution of the species' spouting Dawkins quotes.
So I suppose what I'm asking is, for those of you in the US (and especially in California/San Fran), how do you feel about atheists? And what is the religious climate in that general area?
Well, I'm not in that area, but a lot is going to depend on the actual people involved. And of course, how you let your atheism be known. If you go blaming religion in general for the world's problems, that's going to get you some vocal disagreements. If you're more decent about it, decent people will respect you. Of course, if you came to my area, people would want to talk to you about faith either way. Originally Posted by RealityPixie Yeah I'd agree, but there is a big difference between the different types of xtian, ranging from extremely liberal to hardline conservative. The majority of xtians I know are liberals, and over here if you believe in creation that's considered extreme. Even the xtains will look at you a bit wonky if you are of the view that the bible is complete truth, and that's here in WA, haha (WA is basically considered the 'conservative backwards rural' state). I suppose from what I've seen and heard, in America they tend to lean more towards the conservative lean, and that a huge number believed in creation (again, can cite but can't be pooped looking up reference or exact % right now. Let me know if you want it.)
You know, I hope you have the benefit of meeting some actual conservative Christians. We're not as scary as people say we are. In fact, when I spent a little time in the heart of Southern Baptist territory, I was pleasantly surprised.
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Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Do not add to His words, or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
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Sovereignty is not racism.
Last edited by Sketcher; 22nd November 2009 at 06:26 PM.
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25th November 2009, 06:04 PM
| | Legend
| | Join Date: 24th March 2005
Posts: 20,426
Blessings: 8,715
Reps: 225,918,858,897,027,968 (power: 225,918,858,897,054) | | I've been recommended Berkley? I think? but have yet to do proper research into individual unis. If you have any info that would be tops
Berkeley is good, competitive to get in. Peterson's has a great database for searching. |
30th November 2009, 10:04 PM
|  | Spirit of 8-Bit
20   
| | Join Date: 21st July 2008 Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,874
Blessings: 209,238,970 My Mood 
Reps: 343,789,121,616,877,504 (power: 343,789,121,616,884) | | | California, and most of America, I don't think will provide you with much trouble at all. I am from the midwest and I have never saw any of the horror stories, although there are isolated groups who hate everyone, including mainline and liberal Christians so meh. The Bible belt expanding from Texas to Georgia would be where any major issues would arise but its something you should fear for, although it doesn't sound like you'll be in that area anyways.
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"Entropy wins, Entropy always wins..." --Thane, Mass Effect 2
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4th December 2009, 05:55 AM
|  | Senior Veteran
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| | Join Date: 13th July 2007
Posts: 3,240
Blessings: 212,496
Reps: 243,178,651,546,741 (power: 243,178,651,554) | | You'll be fine in California. Honestly, the militant fundamentalist Christian you fear would have more trouble. I'll admit to having witnessed some pretty intolerant behavior on the part of Christians in other parts of the country, but that was in rural communities who were xenophobic about other things as well, like race, and even rooting for the wrong football team  . | | |
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