Hopefully I'll be moving from England to California at some point...culturally it's very different, lots of very strong views on issues such as politics and religion.
I'm Atheist (Pagan-Atheist to be specific), I'm 100% pro-religion but formal religion is just not for me - in England we're a Christian nation but most aren't practicing Christians, where as in California Christianity seems to represent the majority. Even when looking at fairly run-of-the-mill Christians here there's still an idea that Christianity is the norm, as you go down the spectrum of Christian folks you then get those who insist their god is the only god* and who get overly sensitive about anything outside of their faith, that's also not even counting those who are fundamentalist or who use their faith to hate others.
* When I think of such people these are the situations that come to mind;
Online a company posted an image that included the words 'God damn' which was met with an angry customer complaining about using the lords name in vain, I replied pointing out that HER god may have a problem with it but not all gods do...the response was of course that there was only one god, absolutely no acknowledgement that her belief was her own and not the absolute truth. When sitting in the future step-kids gym class the conversations from 'soccer moms' are creepy, one conversation I overheard once involved a mom complaining that her kids school was teaching about Greek mythology and did an activity where the kids draw themselves as gods...'god of football'...'god of computer games'...'goddess of my little pony'...etc. but this fun silly little activity warranted the mom to act with such disgust that she was making a complaint to the school and talking about moving the kids school. These are the normal run-of-the-mill soccer mom types, not even the fundamentalists....god help me if I have to deal with a fundamentalist.
I don't have to tell anyone I'm atheist - but I don't much like the idea that in some situations I may have to hide my beliefs, which are important to me, and if someone assumes I'm Christian I worry about the potential response if I correct them, also if someone uses their faith as a means of controlling or judging others am I supposed to keep my mouth shut? If anyone where I live in England was to assume others follow Christianity or use their faith to act with prejudice towards others everyone would rip into them, where I come from that's just not accepted - but I have a feeling that in certain groups here it is accepted.
I also worry about how I talk and my sense of humor - I don't make any particularly anti-religious jokes in my day-to-day life but who knows what may offend someone, if I make a 'naughty' joke (Americans seem far more prudish, especially if also Christian), if I use the word 'god' or 'lord' when I talk, if I talk about my religion or forget that Christianity is the default setting here...that could cause problems, at least in terms of getting on socially with people. On top of all the other cultural differences, adding the issue of religion adds to the potential problems in that area. Does anyone know what I mean?
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Bloodheart
Good-looking girls break hearts, and goodhearted girls mend them.