14 April 2011

 

By Raymond Billy
ResonateNews.com

TYLER, Texas — “Friendly” has often been an adjective used by residents and visitors here to describe the culture of this East Texas community. It is the kind of place where newcomers are shocked to find an eager contingent of free labor to help them get unpacked and settled in, some locals say. But for atheists and agnostics in this Christianity-dominated environment, that hospitality ceases to be universal the moment they divulge their religious indifference, some nonbelievers say.

                               Photo By Raymond Billy
JennahRose English says she hasn't attended church in more than a year after her religion skepticism alienated some members of the Sunday school class she attended.Dawn Hatchard, 29, said she feared it would be difficult for her to adjust to life in Tyler when she relocated to the city in June. She assumed that Tyler would be highly conservative — a stark contrast from the environs of Oregon where she was raised — and feared she would struggle to connect with people. She said she was heartened by the initial friendliness of residents here. But, Hatchard said, some residents' welcoming disposition toward her changed when they learned of her non-belief.

“It's definitely a social qualifier in that it's an issue when it shouldn't be,” said Hatchard, a stay-at-home mom whose husband is currently stationed in Germany as a member of the United States Army. “People want to know what church you attend and if you're not religious, they shun you.”

For JennahRose English, Tyler's community of believers once provided the kind of acceptance and support she said was lacking from her family. She moved here in 2006 and later became a member of Green Acres Baptist Church, a “megachurch” with more than 10,000 members located on the east side of the city. English, who is agnostic, said she concealed the depth of her skepticism from her Sunday school classmates — the people with whom she had become close — for years. But, after she began to be more outspoken about her doubts, English said she wasn't met with much sympathy.

“I'm willing to believe, but I want to know why something is true,” said English, 23, a senior literature major at The University of Texas at Tyler. She said some Christians with whom she was formerly friends “couldn't stand the fact that they couldn't force me to believe and they couldn't answer my questions.”

Although she has withdrawn from organized religion, English said she still enjoys discussing spiritual matters with friends and new acquaintances. She said she even takes pride in strengthening people's faith by challenging them, forcing them to come to grips with why they believe in Christ.

Hatchard said living in Tyler has been a “culture shock” because in Oregon, religion is mainly a private matter seldom spoken about publicly. But, she said she doesn't mind discussing the topic so long as the tone of the conversation is respectful — which sometimes isn't the case.

“I've been told that I really should die because of my unbelief,” Hatchard said. “My response is 'Well, thanks. I'm sure Jesus would be proud you said that.”

Another Tylerite, an atheist who asked to be identified only by the name “Kali,” said she would prefer not to hear about people's religious views, no matter how politely they are presented. But, although she is dismayed that religion permeates so many facets of community life here, she said she gets along well with most of the believers in her social circle.

“I am aware that there are those who find me threatening and/or offensive and do make attempts to make my life more difficult. They have yet to succeed as my mostly Christian co-workers do not find me in any way scary or a voice that should be silenced, and serve as a buffer whenever possible,” said Kali, who works as an educator in Tyler.

Tom Hanson, a formerly avowed atheist who lives in Mineola, Texas, said that people who take a militant approach to Christianity don't accurately represent the faith.

“I would say to an atheist in Tyler who has been treated shabbily by a ‘Christian' that there is a difference between a religious person and a true Christian. A religious person lives out his religion for others to see and recognize that he is religious. A true Christian allows Jesus Christ to live through him so that others see Christ in the Christian and be drawn to Jesus” said Hanson, 70, who committed his life to Christ in 1975 after hearing a sermon at Fifth Street Presbyterian Church in Tyler.

Despite their difficulties, each woman described having positive experiences with segments of Tyler's Christian community. Hatchard said although some rank-and-file Christians have been indelicate in their handling of her agnosticism she has had respectful conversations about faith with missionaries in Tyler, a substantial minority in the city. English said most of her closest friends are Christians and two of them were present for the birth of her daughter in January — one having stayed at the hospital with her for 18 hours.

But English, who hasn't been to church in more than a year, said she doesn't want her daughter to have anything to do with organized religion.

“I don't want my daughter to be subjected to the repressive elements of a church culture,” English said. “If she decides on her own she wants to following Jesus, that decision will be pure and not corrupted by religious pressure.”

---