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Permalink Reply by scLovely on February 20, 2011 at 12:09am

It's very beautiful! I love the bridge! I will definitely consider a trip there. I plan on doing a lot of traveling once my hubby fixes his plane. He has a lot of work to do, so I am guessing that will take years at the rate he has been going.

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Permalink Reply by Cecilia on February 20, 2011 at 6:22pm

I live in Northern Virginia.  Virginia gives out open carry permits.  Today, for the first time, I saw some dude with a gun.  I went down to Charlottesville (where U. of Virginia is) to have lunch with my son and there was a guy in the restaurant with a gun.  OMG!  Anyway, the restaurant we went to was in the touristy "downtown mall" area of Charlottesville - and, really, I can't imagine a place that is safer, especially during Sunday brunch time!!  My son had to keep "shushing" me every time I got too loud making fun of the guy!!  Not to stereotype, but, aw heck, I will - the guy with the gun looked like an insecure, d-bag who needed to strap on a gun to compensate for...well, you know...

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Permalink Reply by Cecilia on February 20, 2011 at 6:17pm

My son wants to do a semester abroad at the University of Brisbane - sounds like I will definitely be visiting him if he does!  I even know to say "Bris-bin" and not rhyme the last syllable with pain!!

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Permalink Reply by scLovely on February 17, 2011 at 1:19am

Thanks for everyone's input! It is really interesting to me to see how different our environments are. I don't get out much, so hearing about them help :D

 

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Permalink Reply by Richard Raymond on February 17, 2011 at 4:27am

We all need you to stay there and fight ignorance.  Look around for a humanist/atheist organization.  That's what I did.  Canada here, Eh!

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Permalink Reply by Steve M on February 17, 2011 at 7:55pm

I agree. We need to stay in these areas and infect the areas like a virus to spread the good news of Atheism and give hope to the free thinkers we encounter.

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Permalink Reply by scLovely on February 20, 2011 at 12:10am

Ugh. But sometimes I get so discouraged. I feel like I am just talking to stop signs when I have a conversation with anyone here about it religion.

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Permalink Reply by Steve M on February 20, 2011 at 5:28pm

South Carolina is a little more hard core and I'm not completely sure I could make it there.  I have been pleasantly surprised at the number of  a-religious people I have encountered here in Charlotte N.C.

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Permalink Reply by Colin Williams on February 17, 2011 at 5:22am

I live in the UK, specifically Wales - and here the nature of people's beliefs is largely irrelevant to everyday life. It is an irony that has been commented on by others that religious belief has taken a grip on the USA, with its secular constitution, whilst Britain (with its established church) pays almost no regard to religion. I suspect that most people over here would still call themselves Christian, but very few actually go to Church. Certainly, declaring yourself an atheist causes no difficulties to anyone. The only people who were ever worried by my atheism were my parents  - and then only because they thought I'd embarrass them in front of the vicar! It seems wholly bizarre to me that the creationism v evolution debate can still rage in America - here it was largely done & dusted in the nineteenth century. This is not to knock the US, or praise the UK (which has many problems of its own) but I am pleased to live in a society where I can discuss the issues openly with anyone without being considered mad, bad or dangerous to know!

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Permalink Reply by Don on February 17, 2011 at 9:40pm

Colin, you'll be interested to see this post today in Jerry Coyne's blog:

http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/british-educatio...

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Permalink Reply by Colin Williams on February 18, 2011 at 1:05am

Thanks Don - that is interesting. There was a similar piece a few days ago about an exam question that featured creationism. Refreshingly, the response of the exam board to the controversy was to say 'we got it wrong & we'll withdraw the question'. I guess I wouldn't have a problem with this material if it were a 'history of science' module. The problem here is the implication that creationism, or Lamarckism for that matter, have any place in serious scientific debate in this day and age. As for the creationist link - urghhhh! My own daughter is about to embark on her GCSE studies and has a particular interest in science, so I can see myself having some interesting discussions with the school if she comes home with anything like that! She learns in the Welsh language, so it won't be the same book, but I will be on my guard. She recently did an essay along these lines, but it was in Religious Education not science - which is firmly where this 'debate' belongs. Thanks for the heads up!

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Permalink Reply by Jarrod Payne on February 17, 2011 at 7:55am

Johannesburg South Africa! 80-90% of the country is religious, mostly christian but a sizeable muslim, hindu and jewish population as well. No atheist groups around (that i have found) but i work at a university so lots of us around, mostly staff and some graduate friends. Large parts of the student body are staunchly religious though.

 

I dont think SA is as bad as the US when it comes to hatred of atheists but it is purely interpersonal and is technically not allowed under our constitution. Good weather, but our crime rate is a touch on the steep side.

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