What’s Life Like For Atheists And Non-christians In The Southern Usa?

I am an atheist living in North Carolina. I teach at a PUBLIC high school, where the principal is a Baptist preacher. We get staff emails that ask us to pray for someone/someone’s family who is sick, dying, etc. There is a bulletin board in the hall with Bible verses on it. My students were talking about how the Beetles ‘suck’ b/c they said they were better than Jesus. One boy told me that he is better than me because the Bible says men are superior to women. I get invited to church by my coworkers (because I am new to the area), and when I turn them down, they seem shocked. Being Christian seems to be an expectation. It is just mainstream. That annoys me, but whatever.
Here is the thing: my students talk about this girl who is an ‘atheist’. According to them, she is a devil worshiper, weird, evil, suicidal. She happens to be very nice.
Atheists are no more persecuted than any other religion though. If you happen to be Muslim here, watch out.
My mother tells me that I am just being an atheist to get attention/to be weird.
I wish I could tell you more. Basically, I have friend/ coworkers who would not speak to me if they knew that I don’t worship like they do. People are afraid of what they don’t understand.

Usually a pain in my area since most Christians around here are very judgmental (not everyone, just a large majority). I’m not saying that every town in the southern U.S. is this way, it’s just certain areas that are either predominantly religious (ones without a college in their town and usually has individuals that get into your business) or a little bit flexible. Some are not open about being an atheist or non-Christian due to persecution which was the way with me for about two years until I came out in the open (mostly because some asshole told about me being an atheist).

I have managed to find a little niche for myself here, and although I am surrounded by all sorts of xian churches I am not necessarily affected on a daily basis the way I was when I lived in in another southern state. I live in a fairly liberal city now though. If I was to relocate to the countryside, that would be a different story. Plus, I’m not attempting to run for office or anything, but if I were I’d be forbidden to do so because it’s illegal for an atheist to hold public office here. I do see ads for companies who only will hire or rent to other xians in the paper all the time. I have a lot of fun sending their contact info to the ACLU! About once a week I get junk mail from the different conversion and indoctrination centers, and about every other week I have the “I don’t go to church because…” conversation with someone. They usually leave me alone after wards. Usually, not always.

People are move vocal about their beliefs here and do tend to be a bit surprised when they find out that someone is not part of that. They do try to share what they believe with you, just as they do in other parts of the country. Most are respectful of others. There are a select few that aren’t, but that was just as true living in the north as it is for here.

i go to a catholic high school–most of my friends are really open-minded (and a few are agnostic/atheist) and don’t really mind. but i’m definitely not telling my family anytime soon! we’re asian, but my family’s catholic faith is just as ingrained as anyone else from the south…

Atheists cannot even hold governmental positions in several states (including my home state of North Carolina)
TEH DEADLY KITTEH HAZ SPOKANE!