I’ll admit, sometimes I get a bit bashful about the atheist bus ads and the atheist billboards. Maybe, I think sometimes, it would be better if we just stayed quiet and kept our personal beliefs to ourselves. There’s no need to get up in people’s faces about it. Nobody’s pushing religion in my face every day… right?
And then I remember, and I’m shocked that I ever could have forgotten. I want to put this out there so others can read it, because I think it’s really important for us all to remember.
I live in a metropolitan area in a rather politically liberal region of the United States. I do not live in the Bible Belt. But on my radio, I get four Christian FM radio stations. There are four frequencies here devoted to spreading the word of Jesus Christ 24 hours a day. They air many recordings of preachers, as well as discussions of Bible passages and call-in shows where people can get supposedly Christian advice. They have mind-numbing children’s programs, in the vein of VeggieTales, cutesy stories designed to hit you over the head with sterilized versions of Bible stories and basic moral lessons attributed to the Bible for no clear reason. Of course, they also play “family-friendly” music, either gospel choirs or Christian rock, songs in both genres mostly consisting of hypnotic, arguably cultlike repetitions of short phrases of praise toward God and/or Jesus.
Yes, there are four distinct Christian radio stations on my FM dial that I’m aware of. (Christian rock does often sound like love songs that turn out to be directed at Jesus, so I may have missed something.) Needless to say, this is ridiculous in proportion to the total number of stations I can get, and when compared to the number of stations of other kinds. I haven’t carefully counted all different types, but I know it is one more than the number of news stations, for example.
I have a relatively short commute, but I easily pass plenty of religious advertisements every day. These are billboards, ads in and on buses and in bus stop shelters, and proclamations from the streetside marquees of the eight or so churches I go by. They tell me that I can find happiness and fulfillment by attending that church or the other one, they tell me to visit such-and-such website to read about divine revelations, they tell me that Jesus loves me.
I pass people on the street with clipboards and pamphlets who want to know if I’ve accepted Jesus Christ as my savior. They stop me and argue with me about why I should be a Christian, and they want me to read their pamphlet and come to their fellowship meeting to learn more. No matter how educated I demonstrate myself to be on the claims and tenets of their faith, they assure me I can get all my questions answered if I just come to their meeting and talk to someone above them in the hierarchy — a pastor, a preacher, a teacher of some kind. The people I talk to always admit they don’t know the answers to the questions I am asking, but they are always sure that somebody somewhere has figured out the answer.
Every time I take money out of my wallet, I am reminded that my country expects me to be placing my trust in a made-up, self-contradictory, and probably (were he to exist as he is usually described) malevolent deity. Not trusting in this deity means not being part of the “we,” the embodiment of this great nation. My country so deeply believes me to be an outsider that it emblazons this statement on every single piece of legal tender that is printed or minted, and has been doing so since 1938.
Every time somebody sneezes, somebody else says, “God bless you.” If I find out somebody is sick, I know the appropriate response is, “I’ll pray for you,” and I’m the one who feels awkward if I don’t say that and have to come up with something to replace it with. I know several people who often wear religiously-themed clothing — on the one extreme, the ceremonial trappings of their religion (head coverings, pendants, etc.) and on the other extreme, T-shirts advertising religious camps or their former youth groups or their alma mater’s campus ministry of choice. Neither of these extremes is considered remarkable. Meanwhile, I would stick out like a sore thumb if I were to wear clothing proclaiming my atheism.
Every day I swim through a sea of references to religion, some just reminding me of its existence (in the same vein as “Don’t believe in God? You are not alone.”) and others actively advocating their particular religious brand (usually much more vehemently than “There’s probably no God”). Sometimes I forget they are there, because they are so pervasive. They fade into the background. But the reason they fade is because the presumption of religion is so strong. Being religious is the default, the norm. In particular, in the US, the default is to be Christian. We are surrounded by this. That’s why it’s so important to make noise, to be seen and noticed by society at large.
Once, on a long road trip, I passed one of the COR billboards. That’s the only time I’ve ever seen one in person. One of my friends in the car was Catholic, and he spoke up to say he thought “those ads are stupid.” I played devil’s advocate (ha) and he backed off a little, but I could have gone a lot farther in arguing with him and didn’t. These are decisions we make when we’re stuck in a car for hours either way, I suppose, but I still regret my decision. Even more, I regret the second thoughts I had about the billboard campaign over the next few days. The atheist ads that have been put up so far are just a tiny drop in that sea of religion, and we should be doing more, not backing off.
TaiChi on 
aerie
/ May 6, 2010 at 7:47 pmYou said: “I live in a metropolitan area in a rather politically liberal region of the United States. I do not live in the Bible Belt.”
So, imagine this overkill at maybe 10 fold in the South, even in the more liberal cities (they do exist!). Christian billboards are heavily dotted on ALL interstates, highways, roads, backroads, even dirt roads have plenty of homemade “jesus saves” on barn sides/roofs & other run down structures.
We have whole TV networks, local & national dedicated to evangelizing. Time Warner cable provides a community info channel that is overtaken w/ religious posts from “Bro” Smith or “Evangelist Rev” Wayne, etc & never-ending church announcements. Btw, the average Baptist minister in many of these churches does not have any seminary training, religious degree, or taken a college sociology course.
The number of church “display” signs I see daily would make you blow a lobe. Mostly used to elicit guilt & fear from the “unchurched” or send out warnings of hell to backsliders & unbelievers. They contain idiotic misspellings, odd punctuation or none at all. ALL are trite, condescending, condemning, judgemental, untruthful, cliche, self-righteous, etc. The one I saw today said: “Taste and see that the Lord is good”. WTF? How is this possible? Is this ‘cuz jesus likes good ol’ southern cookin’? Does jesus want to kiss me?
I’ve had friends who’ve had their anti-religion (Darwin, etc) car decals & bumper stickers ripped off, cars keyed/damaged, verbal threats, notes & harassment, even fired when a Christian reported to the boss after seeing her anti-religion car decals in the emp parking lot.
It’s considered “normal” to ask relative strangers what church they attend. I find this offensive & intrusive. You pegged it: it’s the presumption of religion. Even Southerners who aren’t “religious” or have never set foot in a church will shout “god & country” & react neg to non-believers, b/c it’s the “fabric” of our culture/society down here. It’s complete societal, family & community indoctrination & it isn’t going anywhere. The mainstream churches are full & even the fundy, tongue-speaking churches pack ‘em in every Sunday & new ones crop up weekly it seems. We have one that meets in our local movie theatre & one in an out-bldg behind the BP gas station. You may have heard of the notorious, unconscionable behavior & tipping habits of Christian church-goers after Sunday lunch at restaurants, if not, then google “christians don’t tip”. It’s common to hear them condemn working on a Sunday. They consistently refuse to tip, and/or leave a religious tract (commonly disguised as paper-money). It’s a sickness; greed & stinginess, lack of empathy & “i got mine, f*ck the rest” attitude. This is why most right-wing, tea-partiers, & conservatives rail against “socialism”, health care reform, while supporting out of control capitalism, they’re anti-union, anti-worker, refuse help for the needy that might cost a tax-dollar for them. They are driven by greed & selfishness while playing the “persecuted for christ” card. For all the good done by churches, it is really based on condition that the “need” accept their beliefs. I’ve heard of Christian hunger relief groups making starving people sit thru a sermon & altar call before serving them food. Or promising clean water on the condition of “help” by natives in building a church in a foreign country. If that’s not evil, then it doesn’t exist. They are the ultimate hypocrites.
I’ve tried to raise skeptical, critical-thinking kids, teens now, but in elem/middle school they felt weird b/c we didn’t go to church, & yes peers asked them, “where do you go to church?”. One girl’s mom told my kid that democrats don’t believe in god & Obama was evil. One daughter was heavily proselytized by a close friend & admitted she felt pressured to attend his fundy church, he yelled at her after calling her cell & heard a secular rap ring-tone. The nerve of these people! Then she expressed feelings of “sin” & guilt starting to worry her, I was furious & was able to show her their craziness, she begged me not to confront fundy friend. (friend is gay but is marrying while a college soph to avoid “sexual sin”). Then the invites to Vacation Bible School came every summer(manyfriends/churches, many wks of bible teaching, kids are encouraged to invite ‘troubled kids’ or ones they barely know to VBS & the moms take/pickup). This included parent night at the end of the week where the kids do songs/program & show the crafts done that wk. Only the worst mother would refuse to attend such a display of god’s precious children! Then the teen youth group invites/outings/concerts/retreats…it never ends. Unfortunately they are not immune to what they’re told & hear from this spotty exposure to religion. I internally freaked the f*ck out when my daughter asked for a “true love waits” ring. Then there’s the fundy grandparents, arggghhh, I won’t continue.
I have to remind myself not to become overwhelmed w/ hopelessness, frustration & not feel isolated when I’m the only sane-thinking human in a sea of religious expectation, behavior, & sometimes complete religious nuttery. I would have to host my own blog to convey the level of religiosity that exists in the South. Those that staunchly defend the South as “not that bad” & get riled about “picking on southerners” or the Confederate flag means “heritage not hate” are the religious who are comfy w/the status quo & don’t see what the problem is, or they’re lying or don’t get out much.
Hell, I can’t even buy wine before 1:00 or after 5:00 on Sundays, in somes places no alcohol on Sunday, period. Still common in many small southern towns/counties/cities. No, they don’t force or mandate their puritanical beliefs on others at all, do they?
Sorry for the vent/rant. Thanks for reading.
NFQ
/ May 6, 2010 at 8:51 pmaerie: *applause* I read your whole comment aloud to my friend sitting next to me, and now I’m all pumped up! Thanks very much for your stories, you are welcome to vent here anytime! It’s so important to remember that even when things seem temporarily/locally okay, there are still real battles to be fought. I can’t let myself become complacent.
aerie
/ May 7, 2010 at 5:09 pmEnjoyed & bookmarked the site. I’m flattered you read that ridiculously long mess …wow, I went batsh*t crazy mad didn’t I? Well, daughter’s HS graduation is soon & I’m dreading the whole production which will be sick w/ prayer, scripture, & probably a Baptist hymn or two. It’s your whole “presumption of religion” theory again. Thrilled for daughter of course & I’ll be there w/ bells. But I silently scream as I realize I’m alone in a sea of religious insanity. This is when I want to give up & give in, no one’s listening anyway, nothing will every change. Unfortunately, I’m in the atheist closet as far as my jesus-lovin’ family goes. I’m not in a positon to be “out & proud” so I make nice-nice.
Still peeved & wasting time, I created this disease:
“hyper-religiosis” (-osis: suffix meaning an abnormal/diseased state or condition; a pathologic invasion or infestation) Remains a Southern epidemic. No known vaccine at present & education is the best prevention. There is no known cure & symptomatic treatment w/reason, logic & scientific fact is usuallly ineffective & may exacerbate outbursts of “goddidit”. Liberal doses of mockery, sarcasm & big words are indicated for symptoms such as lying4jesus, willful ignorance, fear-mongering, threats of hell, illiteracy, use of tautological arguments. Rational thought processes shut down & selective rationalization becomes automatic. Laboratory findings show highly elevated levels of cognitive dissonance. Note: Rare cases of symptom reversal result in lifetime immunity against relapse. Fear of eternal damnation lingers but death is non-existence, fear of hell & a creepy afterlife subsides. Treatment is long-term & the prognosis is grim.