[email protected]

NC is definetly in the Bible Belt. I remember.. probably one of very few
social studies lessons that I "retained" from elementary school... being told
( proudly) that we lived in the Bible Belt. It may have been in 2nd grade..
We were shown a map of the Bible Belt region.. I looked for that map online,
but cant find it. I did find several interesting articles ( as others have
mentioned) This one is particularly "enlightening"

<A HREF="http://www.freeinquirynetwork.com/BibleBelt.html">http://www.freeinquirynetwork.com/BibleBelt.html</A>

At the risk of "commenting on every little thing" ( which I have
successfully avoided for several days). I will add that living in the Bible
Belt is not as restrictive/pressurized/suffocating.. as some seem to convey.
Yeah, there are some fundamentalists around here. And yeah, some
conservative Christians.. Lots of churchs.. all kinds of demoninations,
beliefs, approaches, etc. But I dont feel like I am made to feel like I
should conform or adapt to anyones beliefs to be "accepted". Maybe it does
go back to what someone else commented ( cant remember who).. that it takes a
certain type of personality to "fall victim" to that type of brainwashing.
If someone tries to convince me that something is the right thing to do just
because THEY (or "God", or some author, or leader, etc) thinks it is.. I am
not gonna buy it at face value. I trust my own instincts and I have faith in
myself and my children enough to know when something feels wrong. I feel
for those that do end up relying on others to tell them how to raise thier
children.

Teresa


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

Maybe a test of whether or not you're in the Bible belt is this:
When strangers meet you, what do they say to be friendly?

"Where do you live?"
or
"What do you do?"
or
"What church do you go to?"

Nobody in Albuquerque asks that last question of strangers.
They might, after a bit, ask IF you go to church, or "Where do you go to
church" if religion comes up, but in the absence of religious discussion,
they're way more likely to ask where you grew up or what your kids like to
do. Or if you ski.

Sandra

[email protected]

In a message dated 1/25/03 12:22:07 AM Eastern Standard Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:

> "Where do you live?"
> or
> "What do you do?"
> or
> "What church do you go to?

That is so funny and so true. When we moved here that was always the first
question everyone asked, without exception, LOL. "What Church do all y'all
go to."
Pam G.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

kayb85 <[email protected]>

--- In [email protected], SandraDodd@a... wrote:
> Maybe a test of whether or not you're in the Bible belt is this:
> When strangers meet you, what do they say to be friendly?
>
> "Where do you live?"
> or
> "What do you do?"
> or
> "What church do you go to?"

Strangers in the coal region usually just don't talk to you much at
all! lol
Sheila

Shyrley

genant2@... wrote:

> In a message dated 1/25/03 12:22:07 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> SandraDodd@... writes:
>
> > "Where do you live?"
> > or
> > "What do you do?"
> > or
> > "What church do you go to?
>
> That is so funny and so true. When we moved here that was always the first
> question everyone asked, without exception, LOL. "What Church do all y'all
> go to."
> Pam G.
>

I got the church question when we moved to Virginia. And people offering to take us to their church as we were 'new' and people asking if we'd met Jesus yet. Coming from a country where I didn't know
anyone who actually went to church unless they were over 60 it was astounding and somewhat worrying. It still worries me. The only good thing is cycling on a sunday mornng is a dream cos all the SUV's
are parked in churches :-)

Shyrley

[email protected]

In a message dated 1/25/03 9:18:21 AM, shyrley.williams@... writes:

<< and people asking if we'd met Jesus yet >>

I'm guessing they asked if you KNOW Jesus, not if you'd "met" him.
But that's close enough for a heathen foreigner, Shyrley. <g>

Sandra

[email protected]

In a message dated 1/25/03 9:25:46 AM, sheran@... writes:

<< > or
> "What church do you go to?"

Strangers in the coal region usually just don't talk to you much at
all! lol >>

Well asking what church people go to is not only sizing them up as potential
friends, but it is "witnessing," THE requirement of evangelical churches.

Sandra

Shyrley

SandraDodd@... wrote:

> In a message dated 1/25/03 9:18:21 AM, shyrley.williams@... writes:
>
> << and people asking if we'd met Jesus yet >>
>
> I'm guessing they asked if you KNOW Jesus, not if you'd "met" him.
> But that's close enough for a heathen foreigner, Shyrley. <g>
>
> Sandra

Some of 'em have asked if I've 'found Jesus' to which the reply is, 'oh, did you lose him, hang on I'll get my coat and help you look. You got a description?'

;-)

Shyrley

[email protected]

In a message dated 1/25/03 2:06:47 PM, shyrley.williams@... writes:

<< Some of 'em have asked if I've 'found Jesus' to which the reply is, 'oh,
did you lose him, hang on I'll get my coat and help you look. You got a
description?' >>

I'd insist on a recent photo!!!!

<bwg>
BIG wide grin.


Sandra

Shyrley

SandraDodd@... wrote:

> In a message dated 1/25/03 2:06:47 PM, shyrley.williams@... writes:
>
> << Some of 'em have asked if I've 'found Jesus' to which the reply is, 'oh,
> did you lose him, hang on I'll get my coat and help you look. You got a
> description?' >>
>
> I'd insist on a recent photo!!!!
>
> <bwg>
> BIG wide grin.
>
> Sandra
>

heehee. One day I'm gonna be tarred n feathered and run out of town!! This is Virginia ya know! They're still sore about the civil war.

Shyrley

[email protected]

In a message dated 1/25/2003 4:23:28 PM Eastern Standard Time,
shyrley.williams@... writes:


> This is Virginia ya know! They're still sore about the civil war.
>
>

Just WAIT! South Carolina STARTED IT! <G>

~Kelly


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Shyrley

kbcdlovejo@... wrote:

> In a message dated 1/25/2003 4:23:28 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> shyrley.williams@... writes:
>
> > This is Virginia ya know! They're still sore about the civil war.
> >
> >
>
> Just WAIT! South Carolina STARTED IT! <G>
>
> ~Kelly
>

I didn't know anything about the US civil war before I moved here (aprt from watching the North and South mini-series cos Patrick Swayze was in it) but this area is stuffed with battlefiled sites and
re-enactments. We're been too a few and they still talk about them damm yankees and grumble about how Virginia was at the forefront of the war and didn't get enough support from the states further
south.
I usually back away...

Shyrley