@ Kurtni
== "Another missourian, it really is horribly restrictive and antiprogressive." ==
I'm sorry? Another Missourian? Why do you say that? Are you implying you are one or that I am one? I can not tell based how you wrote that.
== "You don't have to take it at my experience, just look at the disgusting, bigoted laws in bible belt states." ==
Again, I have lived there. I know the laws of some of the places. But this statement worries me based on what you say below. Yes, some have bad laws, but they are not as bad as many people make it. That does not mean they are not bad, but I have seen people who are anti-theist WAY over exaggerate the state of the situation they where in.
And I am talking about the people who see a ten commandment plague in the city hall or whatever, and make a statue of another religion knowing it will make the others mad, just to prove a point instead of using their money for more productive things. This does not imply that it is not bad there in anyway, obviously it is and has its issues. Have you seen Jesus Camp? I greatly dislike the movie. The movie makes itself look really bad to the Christian religion because how it goes down. But, they are not my kids, but I don't really think ti is as bad as what others have sometimes told me.
"Just because you personally haven't experienced prejudice doesn't mean its "not that bad"."
funny, because you stated above that I do not have to take your experience, yet you think I am wrong because I simply have not experienced it, but you have, so it really is that bad. All I have to do is look at the laws.
However, this is where you greatly are wrong. I have not experienced what you have, but this does not disprove my point. I lived in Texas, mainly in Dallas and Northern Texas, been to Oklahoma many times and can say, while they have bad parts, it is not nearly as bad as it is painted to be.
An example of this would be Christopher Hitchans. While I dislike religion, I wont go so far as to say it poisons everything like Hitchans did. He has his experience and I have mine. Based on what I have seen in my lifetime, I can say it does not poison everything, but has major issues in its history and into day's world. But claiming based on his history that it does poison everything is a strong point I think is too much.
In this case, this would be my experience vs yours it seems. You think I am wrong because I have no experienced anything? Wrong. I have dealt with things, but I can also look at it rationally and ask myself... Is it REALLY that bad? No, I can walk outside and I will not be harmed. I might be ridiculed, but better then having my head chopped off in Saudi Arabia.
Trust me, I have felt the pressure, I have had to also deal with being in the state Rick Parry is. Have you seen this guy? He makes Texas look bad because of how he is. Shoot, look up his campaign video. Most disliked YouTube video in the world I believe.
Yes, the Bible Belt has it's bad parts, but from claims people make, that does not mean it is literally a bad place. Take for example the Westboro Baptist church. Yea... They do things I disagree with, but you can also try to ignore it. People have their idea there is no good there and or it is always bad because you hear others experiences, but, like theirs, I am always saying mine.
It is bad, but you can live there and be fine. Religion was never shoved in my face unless I was dumb enough to walk by a church. In which case many of the people there were OK with me being me, they told me I should be saved or I will learn later, but that doesn't bother me. They are just words to me. When I hear of many stories of murder, people being jumped/beat up, raped, mugged, etc for BEING an atheist or whatever, THEN I will agree. But if it is just "I will pray for you" You are lost." "You where raped as a child." "You are simply possessed." "It is a phase." "You secular scum." etc, I will state again, it is not as bad as people make it too seem. Many atheist I know live in the bible belt, even outside of Texas and are completely fine, you just hear of the ones that are not.
People complain, learn to deal with it or ignore it. It is what I did and it never bothered me.
I once sat down with a religious person and told them I was an atheist and I knew what they where doing was out of good faith and that they really wanted me to be saved. They understood when I asked them to leave me alone with the religion stuff and they where fine.
Heck, I am even a member of the 700 club. I just don't pay.
I even let the guys pray for me as I knew it was for good reason, even if I thought was BS. I don't agree with Pat, but does not mean I don't use them as a means to keep up with what current religious orgs. are up too.
Think of me as a double agent. 00A.
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Bible_Belt
In short, my point still stands and I disbelieve in ones opinion of the law and how they where treated to completely debunk my comment on it not being bad simply because they claim nothing ever happened too me. I simply will fly to to my house, take you to my father's parents house and let you see for yourself how I am treated.
As I said before, -- " It can be bad, but people tend to over do it based on their experience." --