Im due to move to Indiana at the end of this month and I am really looking forward to going. Where I am off to has a high christian population. I am neither a christian or an aetheist. I just dont care one way or another, but... Do American christians care? Am I likely to be cold shouldered?
Are there any Indiana residents that could give me advice?
Many thanks.
2007-03-19 04:49:41 · 27 answers · asked by andy2kbaker 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am feeling better already.. thanks to all of you. I dont know why but I had a feeling I would be confronted on the issue and I didnt really know what to say.
Thanks again.
2007-03-19 05:01:46 · update #1
you will be fine dont worry about it .
2007-03-19 04:52:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I went to college in Western Michigan, so I have some idea what it's likein that part of the country. You will probably find a lot of very nice people, many of whom will place a very high value on their own faith. Some might cold-shoulder you, but I'm sure you will be fine. Here are a few of the more bizaare things I experienced in the midwest:
A friend cried for HOURS because I, as a non-Christian, would not be going to heaven.
A girl chose to write a short story about the mafia shooting up a wedding, but refused to use swear words because of her own religious faith, resulting in a mob boss saying "what the heck is goin' on?!" while hiding under the table staring at his bloodied daughter in her wedding dress.
Lots of antiquated beliefs about women, their bodies, and their rights - or lack thereof.
Generally, though, most of these things only came up when arguing about deep topics. I had planty of good friends out there.
Good luck to you!!!
2007-03-19 12:01:31 · answer #2 · answered by ZombieTrix 2012 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can be anything you want to be. Why do you care about what other people think?
There are all kinds of people everywhere, so if you look around I'm sure you will find a group of people where you will fit right in. There are going to be different people around you. Sure, some are going to try to win you over to what they believe is the right way, but most likely they're not doing that because they want to increase their numbers or because they want to dominate the world. In the case of christians, they are doing that because they honestly believe that there is life after death and it is their job to tell you the what you need to do to avoid an eternity in hell. They are simply doing their job, just like if you saw a blind person starting to walk accross a busy street, you would (hopefully) warn them and try to do everything in your power to keep that person from getting run over by a car ( at least I would hope you would do that). Anyways, yes, christians care. They're not all perfect, some of them are pretty messed up, but then that's part of life.
2007-03-19 12:04:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in Indiana and attend law school at a Lutheran institution in Indiana. I am agnostic, and lean towards Buddhism. One of my friends here is a grad student who is a Syrian Muslim.
Is it the same as the widely diverse college where I attended undergrad? I won't kid you, it's different. By and large, my friends are Christian, mainly Lutheran.
However, they are rational, intelligent people who are valuable as friends, and as a result they are accepting of our difference in faith and have never proselytized to me. They live their life as good Christians and do not draw attention to my beliefs (minus one slip-up when one friend introduced me as "my agnostic friend, Kate" which the others were kind of horrified at).
You may be cold-shouldered by the idiots, but the true Christians and, more importantly, the true, genuine people worthy of friendship will look past that and see you for a good person, so you haven't got anything to worry about.
(If you are moving to the Valparaiso area, the only thing around besides Christian churches is the Unitarian Universalist chapel in Hammond.)
2007-03-19 11:57:32 · answer #4 · answered by Kate S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most people don't really take their religion seriously and the fundamentalists who do, are really very few in number. A few fundamentalists and ultra conservatives may bother you but my advice is just to agree with them quickly but don't actually go to their church unless you really want to.
I think you'll be okay and shouldn't worry about it too much. People may be knocking on your door to convert you to this or that but just either agree with them quickly or tell them that you have your religious convictions already and consider them very personal and don't care to discuss it. Tell them to have a nice day as you close the door.
Religious fanatics are everywhere, not just in Indiana. There are fewer fundamentalist fanatics/extremeists in The Bible Belt of the Southern States than there are in Indiana and I've lived in the Bible Belt for some time.
2007-03-19 11:56:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the area. I live in a small town in Indiana, and it's like there's a church on every corner. Almost literally.
Personally, I'm not christian or really anything else, but I don't really associate with many people here, so....
It's probably best not really to bring up the subject of spirituality in really small towns.
2007-03-19 12:00:10 · answer #6 · answered by Rowan 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My sister in law just moved out of Indiana because the murder rate was so high. How did you come up with Indiana?
2007-03-19 11:54:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Currently, one can be 'non religious' in any country. Which part of Indiana are you moving to soon?
Current Indiana resident.
2007-03-19 12:05:50 · answer #8 · answered by jefferyspringer57@sbcglobal.net 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No most people are not sure what they feel about religion. Good luck to you.
Although you should check out religion for yourself and see what you believe. I'm a christian and if you have any questions about Christianity i would be honored to answer them. Congrats.
2007-03-19 11:53:40 · answer #9 · answered by Hawk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless you are walking around shouting what you believe (or don't believe) no one will know or care. The only time people ask is if they are already someone who you are getting to know or someone trying to spread their faith (someone who I wouldn't want to be around anyway). So unless you plan on running for office (those without belief have been shown to be the least trusted group in the US w.r.t. electability) it won't matter at all.
2007-03-19 11:55:14 · answer #10 · answered by Tim 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It'll be fine as long as you steer clear of religious and philosophical conversations. But if you happen to be at work or in a group of friends and these types of topics come up, prepared to ganged up on and vilified.
2007-03-19 12:15:40 · answer #11 · answered by Subconsciousless 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋