I think there is, however, a point where it all turns in on itself. This is normally tinged with a hatred of the “outsiders” who have moved into a community, and at this point there is a rise of religious fervour.

Still, there is hope and I strongly feel that education is the key. Stupidity may not be the right word, but poorly educated people are certainly more theistic.

In the states, there’s an interesting spread of people politically. Many people equate conservative republicans as Christians, colored red on a map. Conversely, liberal democrats are considered more open-minded thinkers and sometimes (but not always) free thinking secularists, colored blue on a map.

If you look at this spread on a map of the US, you’ll see the Entire Northeast (think New York, Washington DC, Boston) and West Coast (Think Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle) colored blue. Then there’s a gigantic sea of red painted over the entire middle of the country, much of it farmland.

It is any surprise that you find the free thinkers located around the urban areas, with the ability to talk to others and receive more culture? The country folk located in the red are much more isolated from civilization and other points of view.

I won’t say one area of the country is more educated than another, but exposure to new ideas is probably not the same coast to coast.

I get the impression you guys don’t have as many theists (percentage-size) across the pond. What’s it like?

My mousemat is a satanist.The mouse is a high priest.