Organized atheism? Tell me again how atheism isn't treated like it's own religion....complete with evangelicals.
Eh, there's no real organization; not on the same level as organized religion. Think "hippie commune" rather than "Baptist church." I, for example, am a member of the American Humanist group, which is just a bunch of people, from different belief systems, who believe that humans should look out for one another, and take care of one another. There are also Unitarian churches, but those also involve groups of religions as well, so it's not really a dedicated organization for atheists, in that respect. As for people like Dawkins, and such, they are loud, which means they are noticed.
Churches range from the hyper-organized catholic cathedrals to backroom one room buildings. There is no set level of organization for religion. What if someone is religious and doesn't go to church at all?
Oh, God! That explains it, then. I had a school trip in Branson my junior year and drove the whole five hours there from the St. Louis airport. I saw no less than five billboards proclaiming porn was evil....including one a hundred feet from an adult bookstore. Interesting enough, it was also the first time most of us had seen an out and proud standalone adult store. There are such stores in California, but usually subdued in advertisement.
I get what you're saying, but there really is no contest when it comes to organized religion vs. organized atheism. My example was simply to illustrate that the most organized atheist group doesn't even touch the level of organization that religion has as part of its makeup. That's not to say there aren't organized groups of atheists seeking a common goal, because I'm sure there are, just that in terms of complex social structure, they can't compete with religion. An atheist starts with the basic notion that there is likely to be no god or gods. From that point forward, the field is wide open. One can be an atheist, and still be a spiritual person, just as one can be religious, but have no official organized religion. It's not really an apt comparison when you pit atheism and organized religion together, because the comparison doesn't really work because they come from two totally different schools of thought.
St Louis and it's 'burbs aren't too bad, much like any other blue collar city. It's when you get out of those areas, especially north, that things get hinky.
This is something I've never understood about the bible belt. There is evidently enough people willing to proudly enter such a place that there is no need for shadows and back allies. Is Satan actively duking it out with Jesus in these towns where the mega church stands a mile down the road from the porn emporium?
Yes - as a matter of fact they are "duking it out." Jesus "Superstar" Christ is taking on Lou "The Wonder From Down-under" Cifer in a NO HOLDS BARRED steel cage match at Veterans Memorial Colosseum this weekend. The last time they fought it was PANDEMONIUM! Lou Cifer was throwing pitchforks into the crowd, and breaking the air conditioning so it was hot as hell. Jesus was flinging his bloody crown of thorns at the referee like it was a Frisbee and turning beer and hotdogs into bread and fish. Some people think it's all fake, but I tell them to get nailed to a cross or cast out of heaven and tell me it's fake!
