Finding Other Non-recovering Atheists in The South

[Piasladic]

The one thing that always makes me unhappy about atheist gatherings in my area is that it's always like an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. "I used to be religious, but.."

My husband and I were raised as atheists, and this whole pointing out the fraud that is religion seems sort of obvious. I understand that there is a need for recovering religious types, but for god's sake, does anyone know of a group for atheists who aren't fighting any inner religious demons near New Port Richey, FL?

[Warpy]

1. No other part of the country is as god addled as the southeast

so short of looking for the other bored eye-rollers in the crowd, there's not much out there but people who finally saw through all the bullshit and are now trying to recover from years of religious bullying.

[AlbertCat]

7. No other part of the country is as god addled as the southeast

Utah?


Y'know, evangelical radio started in NY.

[Warpy]

8. Not even Utah

at least not these days. SLC is pretty progressive and there are more Jack Mormons than true believer types.

[edhopper]

9. True

but New York is nothing like it was in the 20s. Whereas the south resembles Holly Roller, Jim Crow days more and more.

[Brainstormy]

16. True, but

I looked through Meet-ups in my area (Atlanta) about a year ago and since have found a LOT of folks gathering, yes, to tell stories, but also just to drink and shoot the breeze on a pub night, eat together on a monthly restaurant tour, book discussions, and lots of small in-home socializing opportunities. Look for "Secular Humanist" and "free thinking" groups, too. Not just atheist. You'll be surprised.

[NastyRiffraff]

2. Maybe you could help them?

I was a "recovering Christian" and I joined a group where there were others like me, all with different stories. That was the majority of the group, but there was this fantastic couple there who, like you, were lifelong atheists. They reached out to all of us, listened to our stories, and steered us to resources, books, web sites, etc. But more imporantly, they listened. I still think of them, even though I moved away from that area.

[edhopper]

3. Try the Center For Inquiry

http://www.centerforinquiry.net/

A national organization that might help you find local, more pro-active humanist/atheist groups.

[beam me up scottie]

4. I wish I could help you.

All I can say is I feel your pain, atheists are few and far between in the south and many of us have to stay in the closet.

[mountain grammy]

5. My husband asked me not to tell his family that I'm an athiest

So I respect that. He never asks for anything, so I keep it to myself and bow my head for the blessing and the family prays for our lost souls.. If I had to live there I'd lose my mind.

[Iggo]

10. I couldn't do it.

I mean, yeah, I could refrain from telling them outright that I'm an atheist, but I ain't fakin' it for nobody.

[onager]

6. Good luck and I can sympathize...

Recently re-located back to my childhood home in the South. After many years living in Los Angeles and even more as an atheist. Some people here think I'm still an SoB (Southern Baptist). So there have been some...awkward moments.

For your immediate problem, as others have suggested, I'd check the websites of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, American Atheists, CFI, and similar troublemakers. They may be able to direct you to a better local nest of vermin (inside joke around here).

Even at the "AA-style" meetings, I'd think you and your husband could provide some valuable insights on being raised in a completely non-religiously insane household. I'd like to hear those insights myself.

[Curmudgeoness]

11. Are these newer members of the group

who are obsessed with the damage done by religion? I think that it is just something that people have to work through, and talking to others who have lived through it helps them.

Is there a group leader that you can talk to about this focus on former religion? You could suggest other things to discuss that would focus on atheism instead of religion. Bring in an article downloaded from the internet, suggest reading a book and discussing it, etc.

[BlueJazz]

12. You might want to try the "Skeptic" groups around the Bay area.

[AuntPatsy]

13. Many such as myself had little say so in our upbringing, granted, though I was heavily

immersed in religious ideology I knew even then that it did not make sense, I know I was very young when I began asking questions and giving my own imput, I learned early on such was not exceptable, I was no angel but I did have respect for my elders so I learned to keep such thoughts to myself, as I got older and came of age I began to voice my concerns, actually had many interesting conversations with believers as well as non.....

I enjoy discussing religious beliefs and seriously try not to minimize another's...

[RussBLib]

14. if there is no FFRF chapter near you, start one

All you really need is 10 names of persons who are either already in FFRF in your area or new recruits. And pass a background check conducted by FFRF.

I have taken some preliminary steps to form one in Texas, but the geographical question is lingering. All of Texas? Just SE Texas? Just Houston?

Here is the FFRF Chapter list, reduced to just the south.

Alabama
• Alabama Freethought Association
Pat Cleveland
PO Box 571
Talladega AL 35161

Florida
• Central Florida Freethought Community
PO Box 621123
Oviedo, FL 32762
321-804-3373
Meetup: www.meetup.com/CFLFreethought
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CFLFreethought

Georgia
• Freedom From Religion Georgia Chapter
Mobile: [phone]

Kentucky
• FFRF Kentucky
PO Box 6171
Louisville, KY 40241

North Carolina
• Triangle Freethought Society
Harry Shaughnessy, President
P.O. Box 4491
Cary, NC 27519
Voicemail: 919-322-8371

FFRF Chapters

[Fumesucker]

15. For god's sake?

I'm an atheist and I didn't raise my kids as anything, if they asked I told them what I thought but made no attempt to indoctrinate them in my lack of belief, it wasn't and isn't my place to do that.

FWIW, I've never knowingly met another atheist. Evidently my atheistdar has technical problems of some sort.