I think that's part of the culture of the majority of the United States ... :confused:

Uh...what? LOL. I'm only talking about the southern part of your post.

I love how people look at New York and LA as the North and everything else is the South.

I understand what Alumiyum is trying to say, but the problem is she is ascribing it as a southern stereotype, when it is a US stereotype. Outside of the cities of California religious diversity isn't something that is common. And don't get started on New York vs NYC.

No, not in the way she's speaking of. There's a difference between (for lack of a better term) secular Christianity and practicing Christianity.

There's also a big difference between denominations.

As was I. Specifically this phenomenon: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WugJ4KEbGP...Bible+Belt.png
I am not talking about regions that are homogeneous religion-wise...I'm talking about the virulent southern baptist contingent.

Disclaimer: No offense to baptists (my parents grew up southern baptist, but became methodists after the conservative views expected of them got a little OOC)...it just seems that particular flavor attracts the most vocal element down here.

Did she really post a map? Ha.

Anyway, me thinks Alumiyum (as with many southerners) is adamant about such things being a southern thing and is therefore hellbent on fueling a southern stereotype. :) Even when claiming that she's not trying to fuel a southern stereotype. :) Have at it.

33girl, I know what Alumiyum is talking about and it isn't just a southern thing. This was not just a discussion of regional religious demographics.

That is a horrible map; I can't tell what exactly it is supposed to be showing? Here are some more informative (and labeled!) ones: http://religions.pewforum.org/maps

I suppose if you consider Southern Baptists to be the only Christians who "count" for your purposes, they certainly are concentrated in the South, but I really don't get it ...

:rolleyes:

You prove your point well my friend, that holier than thou certainly isn't limited to local churches. Applause.

I'm not trying to fuel or un-fuel anything. I'm certainly not invested in southern stereotypes as the majority of them don't happen to apply to me. I was just born here. Either you don't understand what I am talking about or you have no experience with it since the southern baptist contingent is what I am referring to (again, no offense to baptists as I realize individuals don't necessarily represent the actual beliefs). I am by no means under the impression that the same phenomenon does not occur in other parts of the country (or in fact in ways not even related to Christianity at all), but the dynamics can certainly be different since the dominant denomination is different.

I had no trouble interpreting it whatsoever. I didn't find it difficult to read the key at all.:confused:

Beat me to it. This map only shows the concentration of one group. Last I checked one group doesn't have the monopoly on closed-mindedness.

Heck being a Protestant going to Catholic School, I'll never forget the nun telling me I was going to hell because I wasn't Catholic....and that was not in the South.

Again it is an American thing, not a Southern thing. I understand what you are saying, but it isn't a Southern Stereotype. Reality I would ascribe it more so to the fact that the South as a block votes red and your "blue states" are only really blue because those states have a large urban center.

Which is why States like Virginia and North Carolina are starting to become more blue because of the growth of Charlotte and the DC metro area which is attracting a more diverse crowd, not because there is a mental shift in philosophy.

Please refer to the above post where I say that I am referring to a different variety of a common phenomenon. Southern Baptist and Catholic might produce the same result, but in different ways, that's for sure.

:) I'm still amused by the posting of maps. We all already know about regional religious demographics.

The point that was supposed to be made is about chapters, of organizations that are not "religious sororities/fraternities," being identified by the religious affiliation (usually Christian) of the majority of its membership. This includes chapters using Bible scriptures and other things to symbolize religion; and the potential for nonChristians to feel uncomfortable and unwanted. That does not just happen in the south.

As you can see, I personally agree completely that general occurrence is in no way regulated to the south. I am, however, referring to a certain flavor of that phenomenon, which is regulated to the south.

That wasn't my point so what are you talking about? Do you even know? You are showing your own bias.

I responded that it isn't just the south and you were adamant about it being a southern thing. You are the one who insists upon the larger point being missed because you want this to be a regional thing.

My bad, it wasn't your point. It's just your behavior.

I am not "insisting upon the larger point being missed because I want this to be a regional thing". As I have said many times now the phenomenon itself is certainly limited to no one region. However it manifests itself differently in different regions.

Again: no one is arguing that it doesn't happen anywhere else.

Good.

If you're talking about the southern Baptist cultural phenomenon of course it would be relegated to the south and to nonsouthern areas in which those who subscribe to southern Baptist culture live.

Is that the only thing you were talking about when discussing religion and Christianity, in general? If so, that's also problematic because what you described happens in GLO chapters outside of the southern Baptist cultural phenomenon. But at least you have now clarified.