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Article: 18609
[Religious]
Date Posted:
10/2/2007
9:40:51 am EDT
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Views: 8,010
RSS: 16,809
Comments: 25
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Religion In The Bible Belt
Author: Daniel Crisman Source: East Tennessean
Title: RELIGION IN THE BIBLE BELT
The Bible Belt. The very phrase sent a cold shiver down my spine at the thought of moving down from Boston. I was a Massachusetts Wiccan going to Jesus Christ's Court, and I was afraid I would not like the judges. But in moving to Tennessee, I did not get what I expected, and I wanted to find out more. The question in my mind as I interviewed five different students with very different views was: Does the Bible Belt hold up the stereotype of being intolerant? What I discovered was certainly noteworthy.
The first interviews were with Jeremy Brooks, a freshman mathematics major, and a Southern Baptist from Harrogate, Tenn., and his twin sister, Lauren Brooks, a biology major, also Southern Baptist. They are both members of the Baptist Collegiate Ministries, and they shared similar ideas about how it affects their lives.
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Community Thoughts: There are 25 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Good Article | Oct 5th. at 2:17:20 am EDT
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nasionnaich (Stanchfield, Minnesota) - Email Me
Nicely written and informative. There is one thing I disagree on, though....
The idea that it is our parents -- or those who act as our parents -- who have the greatest impact on which religious path we will choose in life. My parents were both Lutheran -- my mother is now just a "Christian", and I did follow that path for a time...until I began to learn for myself about Religion and its impact on Human Society.
My parents did not "choose" my religious path, or "steer" me towards theirs, even by way of mere example -- I chose it myself, and it is very much different than theirs.
----nasionnaich
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| I Have Always | Oct 4th. at 8:57:42 am EDT
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Lorelei (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) - Email Me
kept my heathenism to myself. Only other heathens can understand!!!
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| Tennessee | Oct 3rd. at 4:26:19 pm EDT
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PariahsPeace (Annapolis, Tennessee) - Email Me
We've been living in Tennessee for nearly six months, and I do feel it is a very intolerant place. I have to say that I'm looking forward to leaving, and sad that our plans of finally settling down are not going to work out here. This is not a place I want to raise our family. The Christian/right wing agenda is very much alive and well here and they certainly don't make others feel welcome. There are times when you can't get through a conversation without Christianity coming up, or being asked which (Christian, of course) church you attend. I'm not a fan of the disapproval when we say we do not attend. This wasn't what we expected when people spoke of "Southern hospitality."
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| Too Small A Demographic | Oct 3rd. at 1:46:27 pm EDT
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Raven (Winter Park, Florida) - Email Me
The article is decent and all, if you're talking about students at the universities in the deep South and how they feel about Paganism/Wicca. Of course, this generation of college students seems a bit more tolerant regarding those of other faiths (some, not all -- I'll go into that in a moment) , so of course they'll be more willing to be "open-minded." But if you've ever lived in the South, or traveled through it and been open about your faith (even something as small as wearing a pentacle ring, as I do) , be prepared for something much more real than what is in this article.
I was born and raised, and still live, in Florida. I have been all over this state, and have been to most all Bible Belt states you can name. I think South Carolina's the only one I've missed. ;) No matter where I've gone, I've encountered prejudice on an extreme level -- and I wasn't even out to myself yet! They all apparently saw a "devil-worshiper" among a family of practicing Catholics. The first time I ever really experienced extremely negative prejudice was when I was going to college (ironically enough) in Tallahassee, on the border of one of the more Bible Belted states. I wasn't flashy about my faith, and was going about my day at a gas station when some guy saw my ring, asked if I was a devil-worshiper, and spit at me before I could even offer a reply. His friend outside learned about it, and I had pebbles thrown at me and my car as I drove off, silently fuming. (That's my car!)
After that incident, I was sure to be careful about who I wear my Pagan jewelry around, who comes over to visit (so I can hide my altar) , and what I say. I even hide this stuff from my boyfriend's parents, who are Jewish and Catholic, because his mom already asked if I worshiped the devil. (Won't they come up with something new already?) And this is in Orlando, a more liberally-minded city in Florida. It seems that no matter where you go here, or anywhere else in the Bible Belt, you've got to be careful.
I'm glad the person writing this article got an idea of that specific demographic, and I hope that the writer is more tolerant of those she initially cringed at. However, I also wouldn't be surprised if that turned out to be one of the nicer encounters she has.
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| Just Some Thoughts | Oct 3rd. at 1:33:00 pm EDT
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Ravenowl (Amboy, Oklahoma) - Email Me
Well in my experiences, its becoming more and more rare for people to confront me on my religious choice. Thats probably because I fight back. There is not one single aspect of Christianity that isnt mirrored in Paganism. From the fish to the cross. Dont get me wrong, the religion is fine as long as they dont shove it down my throat, which in my experiences doesnt happen very often. Those that scream im going to hell or something like that, become speachless when I tell them that hell is just another name for Hades, which in fact is Egyption, and that its just a place for the dead, not those that have "sinned." The fact that are really Pagans themselves, amoung other things, tends to leave them speachless. The next time someone tells you that your going to hell just tell them, "well thank you Captain Obvious." Trust me, it baffles them. As long as you generally show a completely apathetic or are laughing when you say it.
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| She Obviously Didnt Live Where I Lived | Oct 3rd. at 12:53:47 pm EDT
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ladynoogs (lowell, Ohio) - Email Me
She obviously (and luckily) doent live wehre i did in SE TN
Granted.. i was a fundie when i lived in Cleveland Tn and was attending Lee University (about an hour south of knoxville) . lee is a fundi school... where i found out i wasnt a Christian.
beleive me its the most INTOLERANT town in the state as far as i'm concerned.. the same people who are on teh Church of God board of Directors are on the town council who makes the decsions.. and its been that way since my parents attended lee in the 70's.
There are over 80 fundie churches in the town and not one bar and not bookstore that sold new age books.. the waldentbooks in the mall didnt stay in buisness long because they refused to not sell certain books. .. everyone just bocotted them.
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| Minor Brushes With Intolerance | Oct 3rd. at 10:43:00 am EDT
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Ixacacau (Moore, Oklahoma) - Email Me
I live in Central Oklahoma and have never been screamed at for being Pagan. I'm out of the broom closet but not flashy about it, although I do have a pent tattooed on the back of my neck and I have short hair, so it's visible.
The only comment I had about the tat was when one of my customers looked at me sadly and asked why I had a "pentagon" tattoo. I laughed and told her it was a petagram and explained what it represented. She never metioned it again.
My favorite encounter was with two older teenage boys who were door-knocking. The conversation went like this:
Them: (when I opened the door) We're from xxx church. Do you have a couple of minutes?
Me: Sure (with a nice smile)
Them: Do you have a church home?
Me: No. I'm Pagan.
Them: (puzzled) Is that like Wicca?
Me; Sort of.
Them: (thinking hard) ...So...why do you believe that?
Me: Huh?
Them: (thinking harder) ...What do you like about it best?
Me: (thinking hard) ...hmmm...the personal responsibility.
Them: (surprised) You don't think Christians have personal responsibilty?
Me: (shrugging) We don't have a devil to blame things on.
Them: (speechless)
Me: I'm very happy with my faith and I wish you a happy walk in yours.
Them: Thanks
...and they left.
Cleverness, kindness and humor are my best defense against fundies.
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| .... | Oct 3rd. at 10:12:31 am EDT
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Sparrow (Chicago, Mississippi) - Email Me
Well, I'm glad to know that there are areas down here that are imporving. It gives me hope that my town will one day grow to the point where when people find out you're Pagan they don't automatically reach for their crosses as if they have to worry that you're going to corrupt them. In some parts of the Bible Belt things are as bad as stereotypes have made them. Some friends and I were talking about Reiki one night at a resturaunt and our waiter overheard us. While standing only a few feet away, he asked if he could switch tables with someone because he didn't want to serve us because we were "devil worshippers". The girl that came over apologized about the sudden change and proceeded to do her job and do it well. So, as is our habit when we get good service, we left a really good tip and on the way out the guy was giving us an ugly look.
So there really are people that live by the fundamental, extreme Christianity (I've told the story before about my friend who was very out of the broom closet and had rocks thrown at him as he walked home one day) . But, I can honestly say that there are those here who are accepting. Unfortunately, for the most part, they are the minority. They still pray at my old high school, where my brother now goes, before football games.
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| Good..... | Oct 2nd. at 10:40:42 pm EDT
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Elwin Shadowstrider (Bartlett, Tennessee) - Email Me
...article, however; from experience, it's NOT the demographic. I live here in Tennessee, I can say that it's not what I get to deal with. The Pagans here are few and far between, a somewhat (Not by much) larger number of dabblers. What I personally get here is the stares, the "You're going to hell!", yada, yada,yada........ I am out of the Broom Closet, yes, it's a bit unnerving from time to time, I endure. I am sure that my Pentacle on my necklace doesn't help, the black clothes, and the long hair. Guess what, I gave up caring what they thought some time ago, if the xtians can wear large, tacky crosses on their jewelery, their car, their house, etc.... and think that it's their way or nothing. So I wear my Pentacle with pride, I have one bumper sticker that says, "Let Go! Let Goddess!" and that garners even more silliness. Times have changed and have not changed at the same time. We Pagans are still given the bad reputation from the xtian churches and I doubt it will ever really be overcome here. We endure being somewhat cut off from the "normal" right wing society. Yes, It's difficult, my Path is Peace, being open minded, and looking at the world with intelligence rather than blind faith. How the times have changed is that we are no longer literally burned at the stake, even still, there are other ways to burn us at the stake, and although we no longer die, we are still hurt.
Most are truly unnerved by the intelligence the vast majority of we Pagans possess, I can and do, so very gently, show them that their apologetics are useless, baseless, and nothing more than being narrow minded. Again, the vast majority are unprepared for such gentle debates, yes, they are truly gentle, with Love, and respect, coming from this Wiccan Witch.
Most here will just stare, and give you horrible looks, there are more than a few rabid ones here, and they can make things very trying at times. There have been instances where I was literally screamed at in a grocery store for being Wiccan, and after, oh, five minutes or so of their drivel and screaming is quite enough, thank you. The bible belt is inhospitable for most Pagans, however; the outlying areas aren't so bad. To answer a previous poster here, Fayetteville is ok, most of the time, not all that much different from more Pagan friendly areas in the country. What I have been seeing is that more and more Pagans are moving towards Indy, and Michigan, further north from here. Although, the areas around Chattanooga and Knoxville are more Pagan friendly than other cities here in Tennessee, there seems to be a larger gathering of Wiccans for the most part. I'll shut up now.......
Namaste!
In Light, Love and the Blessings of the Goddess and Her Consort upon all!!
Elwin Shadowstrider ) O (
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| ... | Oct 2nd. at 10:11:47 pm EDT
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Draken (Bronx, New York) - Email Me - Web
This is the Deep South, the heart of the christianist agenda to take over the US. I've been to several small towns down there and they know how to make people feel unwelcome, even people who grew up in a particular area. That's not paranoia talking, that's a cold, hard fact and the fluffy bunnies need to face reality in this.
Not every region is all "love, luck, and lollipops," and not everyone is going to be eager to negotiate. If you want to live in peace with people, you have to show that you're willing to break the noses of the people who want to run you out on a rail.
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| All You Have To Do Is Disagree. | Oct 2nd. at 8:44:00 pm EDT
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bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
Believe me when I say that you don't have to be a Pagan or a Wiccan at all to have xtian fundies after you. But it helps!
And it doesn't take much, even a simple disagreement on any subject close to their hearts-pro or con. Anything different will do as long as it's not within their scope of acceptability.
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| Do You Live Here? | Oct 2nd. at 8:35:21 pm EDT
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Fraoch (Shelby, North Carolina) - Email Me
I like how some put the Bible Belt in quotes. That's cute. Tourists... (We call 'em Yankees even if they're from CA, hell even if they're from England... at least my gran called my ex from Yorkshire a Yankee) .
While NC is an anomaly among Southern states, as some see it's culture more atuned to a Mid-Atlantic state, it's still... where it is. I live in an extremely rural town in the foothills, but have lived in different areas of the state and have traveled to different parts of the South. My conclusion: The South suffers from religious bigotry, and if you say otherwise, you're trying too hard to be nice or are of the other condition.
It isn't Deliverance... It isn't Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and people are actually really intelligent in the South. However, Southern hospitality isn't a staple. The South is as notorious for it's resistance to change as it is for it's intolerance to anything outside of... I shouldn't have to answer that. No danger, just uncomfortable glares, to some questions you might not want to answer, and a heck of a lot more if you do. Then, maybe some comments about those answers...
If folks get wind of Neo Paganism, the Heathen community, or anything Occult, as one poster mentioned, it's on the news, the talk of town, churches pass out warnings. This isn't an embellishment, as I've seen it happen. I grew up in a suburb of Charlotte and a couple of churches were burned. Nearby they found what looked like to be a constructed fire and claimed it was the site of a Satanic ritual. It hit the news, and all hell broke out. Protesters were at the Occult book stores as were the news stations, and Charlotte is no small town either.
I went out to dinner with my mum about two years ago and the hostess was staring at me. It was my mum who noticed that it was my necklace (I don't wear pentacles anymore due to my lack of relating to them, but rather wear the Triskele) . Mum was mad because we got a really terrible seat, and really bad service.
People will say, "You're paranoid, girlie!" I would be if I were telling of two incidents in my twenty-nine years, but unfortunately for ye who judge as quick as my townsfolk, these are two in a squillion along with tales from people that I know and have met, and NC is probably the tamest state in the South. Besides that, I didn't go into the crap I've gotten from my Southern Baptist family.
As for colleges... I'll completely agree that it's a reprieve unless you're going to Gardner Webb. I went to UNC Greensboro and had a great time. I had the esteemed honor and pleasure of being trained and innitiated into a Hermetic circle. The amazing influences from the uni and surrounding areas was a major influence on my life. Uni is a great experience and the cultural diversity is everflowing. It's the best place for a Neo Pagan, Heathen, and budding or mature Occultist of any flavor.
However, bopping about in the South... You're not going to get dipped in batter and burned at the stake Dixie style. However, people in the South definitely know how to make a person feel unwelcome.
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| Interesting Article | Oct 2nd. at 5:53:20 pm EDT
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Alpha Kilo (St Petersburg, Florida) - Email Me
I read this article with particular interest because I revently purchased some land in TN, wih the intent to live there at some point in time. It is a long story about how and why i came to do this, but at times the thought of living in the bible belt scares me to death. I have found that if you're not in the good ole boy network even simple things can be hard to accomplish when you're new to an area. The land I purchased is just west of Fayetteville, anybody here from that area? I notice how many christian churches there are while diving through town. I am not of the devil and do not want to be thought of that way. I have not met anyone there yet who is not christian of some sort, but I know there are some pagans there from looking at the state site.
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| Humm, Seems To Me That It Was In College | Oct 2nd. at 4:40:29 pm EDT
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Shadowbear (Hillsboro, Oregon) - Email Me
That I first encountered the "campus crusade for christ" otherwise known at my school as the crusader rabbits (you might need to be old to remember the cartoon) . One of them cornered me at the cafeteria and told me - with a straight face - that I could do anything, rape murder, pillage - repeatedly BUT, if I accepted jesus, I would be forgiven and go to heaven with no nasty little trip to hell or purgatory - even if I accepted jesus and THEN went out and did those things. He would not mind, I would still get the free pass to heaven. Part of my youth was spent in catholic school and the concept of some kind of punishment was still strongly in my mind - I had never heard of the free ride - catholics were heavy into purgatory to purify you of your sins - read punish here. The idea that you can do anything without punishment and still make it into heaven would have seriously worried me if I had still been a christian. It seems to me that there must always be consequences for your choices, perhaps that is why I am a pagan where personal responsibility is much more important than in christianity.
I digress - there was no way to shake this girl's story - she believed and would not give an inch - do anything, no problem. Open minded - no way - my way or hell, no variation, no question. Reality check - some minds are open and some have been shut tight. This (around 1970) seems to have been the time period when christianity changed in this country - dumping any personal responsibility and going for absolute salvation through "accepting jesus as your personal savior" with no need to repent or do penance or any such trivial punishments. All others go straight to hell without reference to their actions in life.
I am not sure when the idea that the "others" are an active danger to them came in - seems to have been a bit later. At that point there was more pity for the pagan than anything else.
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| College Is Not The Real World | Oct 2nd. at 4:06:09 pm EDT
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foreverknightfan (Dardanelle, Arkansas) - Email Me
Sadly the author of this article limited the interviews to college students. That was a big error. I've LIVED in the South since 1973 and became a Pagan/Wiccan in 1979. I STILL CANNOT wear my pentagram openly. College students are NOT where our problems come from. The Bible Belt is not as intolerant of Non-Christians as they once was but they still ARE ignorantt of other beliefs and are bigoted against Wiccans and " occultists". The author should have gone to a Christian church, interviewed some ministers about their views of other faiths, and actualy go to online chat rooms. Two weeks ago while at a town fair type event I was looking over a vendor's items where the couple had pentagrams and other jewelry. The guy I spoke with didn't know I was Pagan, as I dress like anyone else, and was nervous as I examined some of the pentagrams. He relaxed when I told him I knew what they really menat ( not satanic) and he told me he and his wofe could NOT sell theri jewelry at some events because of the ignorace.That's the REALITY of living in the Bible Belt, not the college students. Recently in South Carolina a Wiccan, Diane Wyn, was harassed and one of her pets was killled because she had Pagan bumper stickers on her car and got the attention of the locals when she tried to get the town council to help her get some drug dealers off her street.
Try having a haunted house this Halloween but be very careful, If you have anything some fundie deems "occultic" they will complain loudly. That is the REALITY.
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