The Atheists Come to SC

A rather interesting article, about the growing population of openly athiest, or at least non-religious, individuals appears in the New York Times today.  What really caught my attention about the article is that, of all places, it focuses heavily on South Carolina (albeit the low country more than the upstate Greenville region).

After nearly two years of living in SC, I am still in the mindset that this is a pretty heavily “God fairing” place (which it definitely is).  But what this article seems to point out is that even in traditionally strongly religious communities there is a growing openness of non-believers.  I think this is a good thing in that just as people have the right to express their beliefs they need to have the equal right and comfort to express their non-beliefs.

I think  one of the hardest things that non-believers experience is the potential lack of a strong knit community, like that which can be found in a church.  As such I can reasonably understand the attraction of a group like the Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry.  We’re social creatures, and even if we do not believe in “God” we still like to feel involved in something greater than ourselves, which an organized group can definitely provide.

Anyways just interesting.

Also, just have to mention that I love the Pastafarian plug in the article.

~ by Nathaniel on April 27, 2009.