re: i am so tired

Quoting Destiel:" I have christians, agnostics, and atheists who all think Im crazy for my differing beliefs. It hurts but you get used to it"

what do you believe?

My best friend is a Christian and I am not, I do not identify with anything...I just live. I have other friends who identify as Christians and they know my stance as well, it has yet to cause issues.

But, since moving down South into the Bible Belt I have found it very hard to relate to anyone. Everyone that I have met has put such an emphasis that they are nothing without Christ and those who deny Christ are exactly that, nothing. Those who are not Christian need saving so now I typically refrain from letting the cat out of the bag, telling them that I don't believe. My FIL believes that we are Atheist, but I don't consider myself anything...I just don't believe. He won't speak to my husband if not necessary because of DH's lack of religion. Religion, God, the Bible, whatever it may be is not important to me. I put my faith into people. I love my family, I love my friends, I do my best to be an honest person and that's all that I can do. I don't do good deeds because I believe that is what Christ wants me to do, I do good things because I believe that is what good people do. I don't live my life in such a way to see the pearly gates one day, I live my life the way I do because it is all that I have. Once I am dead I am dead, I can't change what is done at that point. I feel that if religion helps one be a better person then so be it, I just don't want to hear how I am nothing without Christ.

<blockquote><b>Quoting 624582:</b>" My best friend is a Christian and I am not, I do not identify with anything...I just live. I have other ... [snip!] ... I feel that if religion helps one be a better person then so be it, I just don't want to hear how I am nothing without Christ."</blockquote>




Every single description you have given yourself is the exact description of Humanism. You're a Humanist btw just so you know lol

Also can someone tell me what exactly is the "bible belt" and how did it come to be? I keep seeing it on here but I'm not American so I'm not familiar with what it is or means.

Quoting xTJ:" <blockquote><b>Quoting 624582:</b>" My best friend is a Christian and I am not, I do ... [snip!] ... belt" and how did it come to be? I keep seeing it on here but I'm not American so I'm not familiar with what it is or means."

That is very interesting. I've never heard of that, I'll have to look it up. For a while I would identify myself as an Atheist, but I don't believe that I can disprove anything or prove anything. I've also identified as an Agnostic, but I don't think there is a possibility. I just flat out don't care, these things mean nothing to me. So thanks for cluing me in. 

and...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_Belt

I actually live closer to Houston now so it isn't as small minded or intolerant, IMO. Religion is still strong where I live now, but it is nothing compared to where we were living about a year ago.

<blockquote><b>Quoting 624582:</b>" That is very interesting. I've never heard of that, I'll have to look it up. For a while I would identify ... [snip!] ... IMO. Religion is still strong where I live now, but it is nothing compared to where we were living about a year ago."</blockquote>




Yeah I was at a Wedding Fayre and I seen the Humanist stall and I thought oh I'm going to Google that when I get home to find out what it is and discovered upon reading it was me exactly! Prior I had identified as Atheist. That is crazy, I'm glad we don't have a Bible Belt. I couldn't imagine living in a place like that, I'm glad for you that you live somewhere else now.

Quoting xTJ:" <blockquote><b>Quoting 624582:</b>" That is very interesting. I've never heard of ... [snip!] ... we don't have a Bible Belt. I couldn't imagine living in a place like that, I'm glad for you that you live somewhere else now."

It wasn't horrible living there. The people were nice, very friendly. But, I couldn't relate to anyone enough to build a friendship. "Christ", "The Good Lord", and "God" were brought up in every conversation. Don't get me, I was respectful in their beliefs, I never spoke up about my own unless I was asked. Which that was rare, it's a common assumption that every man and woman is "God fearing". Most people who live there were born there and plan to die there, it's a small town and they're comfortable. Where we live now is more of a melting pot, there is plenty of diversity, and I like that. It's more my pace here.

Quoting 624582:" My best friend is a Christian and I am not, I do not identify with anything...I just live. I have other ... [snip!] ... I feel that if religion helps one be a better person then so be it, I just don't want to hear how I am nothing without Christ."

right. i understand you exactly. the judging never stops. I asked a girl about it who i grew up with. she was like oh God doesnt care what religion you are. As long as you accept jesus as the son of god and the savior and you say it out loud. Oh yea bc I thought other religions just do that all the time. WTF? Other religions are not believe in Christ as the messiah, therefore um they arent christians. Some people are so closed minded.

Quoting xTJ:" <blockquote><b>Quoting 624582:</b>" My best friend is a Christian and I am not, I do ... [snip!] ... belt" and how did it come to be? I keep seeing it on here but I'm not American so I'm not familiar with what it is or means."

the bible belt is like the south, if you picture a belt running across the bottom of the states, meaning that is where the majority of Christians are. I call Alabama the buckle of the belt but the other southern states are just as bad. The bible belt usually votes republican too.

Quoting momma melissa85:" the bible belt is like the south, if you picture a belt running across the bottom of the states, meaning ... [snip!] ... call Alabama the buckle of the belt but the other southern states are just as bad. The bible belt usually votes republican too."

Yes, there are very many Conservative Republicans where we were living. DH's father is one, in fact. The entire family is assumed to be Republican and if you indicate in the slightest that you're not you can prepare for a smurf storm. Dinner at their home consists of saying grace first, then discussing politics over the hearty meal that The Good Lord gave them. It was a bunch of fun, I sure do miss it.  

While living with my in-laws I asked my husband if he voted in 2008 because I couldn't remember. My FIL heard our conversation and chimed in with "You better had!" and DH said he didn't. My FIL then began saying how he was behind Rick Perry (this was before he dropped out). My husband asked if I was behind Michele Bachmann, I told him I thought she was a quack based off of her views on gays. My FIL began questioning my stance on gay marriage, when I told him how I felt I was called a retard and that I needed to pick up the Bible. I laughed, went out for a smoke, and a listened to his muffled ranting and raving.

Quoting momma melissa85:" what does agnostic mean?"

If I am not mustaken I believe an agnostic does not currently believe in a deity because there is no proof but also acknowledge that there is no proof a deity does not exist

I'm an Atheist. I really don't mind civil conversations about religion and I find it all very interesting the way I find Mythology interesting but I've learned to avoid the topic around my family/friends who are super into it.

It's great that they believe and it's great that they are going to "heaven" should it exist, but I honestly don't need religion or faith and because I'm an Atheist I'm automatically damned to hell and my friends/family think I need to be saved. Nevermind the fact that I was raised Christian, and asked jesus for forgiveness every day because I was smurfing TERRIFIED of going to hell when I died and supposedly you only need to ask for forgiveness once and it is given. The only reason I prayed was because I was scared that I would go to hell if I didn't. The only reason I believed in god was because my parents told me he was real and I didn't know any better, they also told me santa, the easter bunny, and the tooth fairy were real lol.

Hmmm pretty interesting, again just couldn't imagine living somewhere like that. People behaved like that here they'd be thought of as kind of extreme and pretty crazy. In Scotland our last Census showed almost half the population identified as not religious/believing and even then most of the people you meet that identify as religious aren't extreme in their views. There is no one concentrated area of highly religious people either.

I have this problem as well since moving to Georgia. I have a religion that I believe in but I generally don't like to talk to people about it. Yet it always seems to come around to it with people here and I always try to be respectful and listen to what they have to say but then at the end when I don't make any sort of show of enlightenment they get angry or frustrated at me.

It has gotten worse since my pregnancy, it feels like everything thinks it's their job to 'save' my baby and this really bothers me. I know exactly how you feel about being judged for not believing in their theology, the only thing I can tell you is just try to be respectful but stay true to what you believe in your heart. It's not their place to tell you what or how to believe.

I want to add that when people get too pushy about their beliefs I get a sense that they are not secure in them. A happy person radiates positive enegry towards others. A negative person does the opposite often in the guise of preaching. I have also read of near death experiences of formerly judgamental Christians met God and realized how wrong they were and that God had no interest in theology and even found some of it amusing. God is only interested in the evolvement of all souls through growing through the experience of receiving and giving love.