Comments on: Godless in Alabama

By: Mims H. Carter

Mims H. Carter — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 03:19:38 +0000

I find the comments of the catholics, especially those who live in majority catholic communities, and the catholics who have move to the bible belt, interesting. They seem to separate their version of christianity from the traditional bible-belt baptist version. As a southerner who was raised catholic and started on the road to atheism at the age of twelve, and has identified as an atheist since my tour in Viet Nam a few years later, now almost forty years ago, I can only tell you that, unlike James Joyce’s wonderful character Stephen Dedalus, I don’t see much difference in catholicism and southern protestantism. As some atheist commentators have said, all believers are atheists when it come to other religion’s god claims. Atheists just go one step farther. I live now on the MS Gulf Coast, where catholicism is almost as strong as the protestant sects. They are all equally destructive of our social fabric.

By: George Aliwa

George Aliwa — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:32:45 +0000

I have been impressed by the articles which i have read and this also puts me on the same spot as am a victim of those who have been victimised on not believing in god.I was sacked from my employment recently on 29.10.10 because 2 clients of the company withdrew from the company because they saw my postings on the fb of me saying am godless and that forced my directors to sack me and i had a loan still pending to clear.The letter of my sacking is posted in my fb album,its harder in kenya and am seeking for any material support from you,for am very much frustated,i hope of quick positive response.Kind regards.George Aliwa.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:02:10 +0000

Funny how we always want others to agree with us, no matter if we believe or not we (humans) feel better in groups.

By: Dandre

Dandre — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:13:19 +0000

I understand where the police officer in the article was coming from. I am black, and atheist. And rejection has been a very hard pill to swallow. But I can’t change a personal conviction based on other people’s opinions or lack of acceptance. That would be completely missing the point.

By: Marc Rodes

Marc Rodes — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:14:18 +0000

Anthony, that was a nice, balanced article that presented many points of view.

I try to base my beliefs on evidence, and, while the scarcity of evidence for the existence of God is suggestive, I have to admit that a supreme being beyond all laws can’t be disproved. Considering this, I would call myself an agnostic, conditionally disbelieving in God based on the lack of evidence. Of course, this conditional disbelief also extends to the Flying Spaghetti Monster of the Pastafarians, though I could swear that I saw an image of it in my dinner at Olive Garden.

I would like to address Mr. Patrick about the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas. As I understand his ontological proof, it is akin to the statement that “the idea of a unicorn is so great that humans could not possibly have come up with it, therefore, unicorns are real”. Another interpretation is “unicorns are perfect in every way, something that is perfect can’t not exist, therefore, unicorns exist”. The first is based on a conjecture, the second is a tautology. Neither are proofs.

By: mustardseed

mustardseed — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:55:59 +0000

CowboyZZ, If having an atheist tag makes Mr. Scott an exhibitionist, how would you describe all those people in the south who have a fish symbol on their rear fenders, bumper stickers that say ‘Jesus Saves’ or ‘GOD bless America’?

By: Lorna Dee

Lorna Dee — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:51:43 +0000

Seems like many people here are equating these people with all atheists, shame.

And Mr. Rose, I could easily (and truthfully) say that some of the most closed-minded people I’ve met are Catholics and some of the most open-minded have been atheists but then that would be speaking too generally and I’m not a fan of that.

By: CowboyZZ

CowboyZZ — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:21:55 +0000

It seems to me that Free Thinking is not so free, these guys are obsessed with what other people may think about them… too much exhibitionism, for example his plates.

By: Max Lindenman

Max Lindenman — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:11:32 +0000

Laura: A Brooklyn-born friend of mine, who has relocated to the South, swears that his religious statues protect his happy home from evangelists. As he puts it, “Missionaries come up the walkway. They see my Blessed Mother statue. Then they see my St. Francis statue. Then they look at each other and hurry away.”

Of course, statues like that would probably scare me away from any Brooklyn house, but only because I’d be afraid the owner had a few bodies buried in the backyard.

By: laura

laura — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:35:24 +0000

As a NY Catholic that has recently relocated to the deep south, I was amused and appalled by my baptist neighbor’s comment to me “even though we do not believe in the same God…” Huh? What God does she believe in I wondered. I have never met such ignorance and bigotry towards religion in my entire life. My kids are subjected to it in school and I get it on a daily basis with the question “where y’all go to church?” with my answer being one that invokes rolled – eyes and stump speaches to switch to the “true belief”. I’ve even had cable repair guys and pest control people testify to me in my own kitchen when they were supposed to be working. Obviously they did not care for my crucifix, palms, and blessed Mother statue. Live and learn I say. The South does not understand nor believe Catholics are Christians. It makes me hold onto my faith even more strongly. If this is the reaction a “good Catholic family” recieves in a moderately progressive southern city I can just imagine what the Atheists go through!

By: Phil Fox Rose

Phil Fox Rose — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 03:15:57 +0000

Some believers of any stripe can be obnoxious about it. But as a Catholic who has evangelicals in my family, I tire of stereotypes like this minivan family, offered up by atheists as some kind of proof that they’re in the right. Making fun of your opponent does not prove your correctness. And in my experience, atheists can be just as obnoxious and self-righteous about their beliefs.

The second half of this article and some of the comments speak to the value of doubt. But by definition, atheists are not doubters; rather, they claim to be certain of the non-existence of God. (The doubters are agnostics.) All people of faith have moments of doubt, and most atheists have their moments of doubt too. To equate an atheist stance with this kind of doubt, or to dress it up as scientific skepticism, is not accurate. Some of the most closed-minded people I’ve met are atheists. And in my experience, some people of faith, because of their openness to the mystery of what is beyond human understanding, are the most open-minded and inquisitive people I’ve known.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:05:00 +0000

I’ve often been thankful that I was born and grew up in a primarily Catholic area where the fundamentalists did not even exist in my world until my uncle joined a store front church. It is unlikely I would have believed in the Jesus they preach!

By: Bodi Mayo

Bodi Mayo — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:21:40 +0000

Very good article, Anthony.

If you folks that have commented thus far on this article think it is hard to be an atheist in Alabama, try being a germanic reconstructionist pagan in Georgia. Modern-day Christians might have a hard time understanding or accepting people who don’t believe in any god whatsoever, but they have no problem at all with letting folks like me know that we are evil and against everything they consider themselves to be.

Personally, I could give a rodent’s hindquarters about the religion of another person, and rarely do I worry myself about it. The only time I do is when someone else decides to make it my business, and therein lies the crux of the matter: christians of all stripes are charged by the very tenets of their religion to try and convert the rest of us to it, while the rest of us would love nothing more than to never hear a word of it ever again.

Maybe one day Christianity will remove that most unseemly portion of their doctrine and leave the rest of us in peace.

By: Valentine Chase

Valentine Chase — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:45:19 +0000

Wow that was a wonderful article. I’m telling you it was very well written, balanced¬†and thought provoking. Solid reporting, too.
This is why I like to read Busted Halo. I think what’s important here is that as believers we all have doubts, but doubts are not a bad thing. Doubts make us search more, explore more, reach more. Doubt also gives us the gift of faith. And as we read in the scriptures, faith
is very¬†fundamental for the Christian experience. Christ said, “Blessed are those
who have not seen, but yet believe.” Christ was acknowledging that faith is hard and
that there will be doubts. So, when we look at the atheists, we have to respect their honesty¬†
and see a little bit of ourselves in them. ¬†

By: Max Lindenman

Max Lindenman — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 23:32:52 +0000

Terrific article, Anthony. I don’t think I quite realized how Bible-y the Bible Belt really is. (My only contacts in the region live in a northern suburb of Atlanta that strives to be an oasis of diversity and sophistication.) I used to get annoyed with atheists who declare their unbelief in a provocative way — say, by filing lawsuits to remove religious symbols from public places. Now I’m finding it easier to empathize with them.

By: Cal

Cal — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 08:03:33 +0000

I think atheists just want to say ? Look at Me
?? Stand Out ?? Have No Clue Who zthey Are ?? What They Stand For ?? I’m Not Them ?? Lost Souls With No ??
We Stand For NFL !! Girls !! Greenbay Packers !!
Hooters !!! Stand For Old School Values !!
Stand For Nothing !! Who Care What Religious BS
you Are !!! Just Enjoy Life Every Day , Love,Freedom,Truth,,Beautiful Life, Southern Living

By: Frank Patrick

Frank Patrick — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:56:56 +0000

Great article. Your article showed the confusion that atheists face each day of their lives. They should read about Thomas Aquinas’ proofs of the existence of God. Anyone can deny the existence of gravity, but it continues to exist if you like it or not. I loved the ending of your article suggesting that “Humility” is another reason for the existence of God. We all can learn from that. Your article also tells that we must continue to nourish our faith
everyday, and look to those with faith when we need some answers (like Busted Halo).