No religion too.

[ariadne0614]

It appears that Backlash is a two-way street.

“The number of Americans identifying as atheists is increasing — and recent social science research suggests that the Christian Right is playing a key role in making that happen.”

https://www.alternet.org/2019/09/evangelical-christian-conservatives-are-causing-an-allergic-reaction-to-religion-among-americans-researchers/?utm_source=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1497&recip_id=3738&list_id=2

[RKP5637]

1. ... can't understand any decent person wanting to be associated with their hateful lying religion.

[Hortensis]

2. Most of those religions have a lot to do with being loving and kind,

being good husbands and wives, parents, neighbors, etc.

And not feeling they have a duty to take care of the whole world means that the altruism of conservatives tends to be lavished on their own people. Where a liberal like me might pay my taxes ungrudgingly and wish the faceless 3 million people of their urban "community" well, our conservative neighbor are far more likely to be driving over to check on mom before spending the day with friends fixing up an elderly neighbor's house and yard.

They're far from perfect, even among themselves, but church communities have a way of organizing people to help those in need that is admirable. While highly tribal types do tend to believe "we need to take care of our own" and "those people need to take care of their own," it's important to realize that a lot of people really do live good principles within their small worlds.

After all, they're not paper cutouts, they're people with many facets just like you. I'm sure you wouldn't want people believing your post told them all there was to you. I'd say most aren't half as hateful as you imagine, even when looking at those outside their tribe and wondering in their ignorance how on earth Democrats can belong to that awful hateful party.

[RKP5637]

4. Interesting post! Thank you! n/t

[Hortensis]

6. We moved to GA from CA some time ago, RKP.

I've noticed I can often tell people who live the precepts of their religion, close to God as some think of it, by their serene, generally happy demeanors and genuine good manners. I'd be happier too if my conscience was usually squeaky clean and my home and affairs, secular and spiritual, habitually kept in good order. Those who do it that well are a minority but not uncommon.

Then there are the church types at the other end of the godliness spectrum. Their faces and manners, no matter how Southern-charmy the overlay, eventually reveal them also.

[RKP5637]

7. ...

[eShirl]

3. me neither

[CDerekGo]

5. While I certainly appreciate

Those Americans who go out of their way, checking on their neighbors, painting houses in their localities, and generally just being a great neighbor, being a christian isn't always part of the above description.

While watching Jim Bakker, and those other 'evangelical leaders' spout off their hatred of others, I seriously question religion. Local Churches, god bless 'em. These 'tv preachers', I sure wish there was a way we'd never have to see or hear from them ever again. Of course, I HAVE. I no longer OWN A TELEVISION.

[elocs]

8. I am an atheist because I don't believe in a god or gods or any entity controlling the universe.

I am not an angry atheist and neither does being an atheist define me as a person.
The number of atheists may be increasing but it will never be very large because, frankly, most people seem to have a need to believe in something greater than themselves like a god.

Here's a secret: Not all atheists are good people. In fact there have been atheistic nations that have done horrible things.

Not so secret: Not all believers in god are good people either.
There have been religious nations that have done horrible things.

It's not so important what you do as an atheist or even a believer in a god--what's important is what you do as a person.