Thanks for voicing here so I can read about others who have these issues. I value your post.

Boy do I ever "bump heads" with the locals now that I'm living in the "Twilight Zone" here in the Bible Belt, and don't they think I'm insane because they don't/can't comprehend how someone can be intelligent enough to be a former Mensa member yet be nonreligious, actually anti-religious, AND politically liberal. Many have taken what appears to me as a "peer pressure" dislike to me, in fact. LOL! The city I live in is a small city populated by approximately 75,000 people comprised primarily of small town, country, rural, and mountain folks who moved to the "big city" for employment and socialization opportunities, located in a county with an illiteracy rate of 2/3rds of the county population (about 95,000 folks total), with a recent growing sprinkling of out-of-state transplants.

I've encountered kids here who made the honor rolls in their schools, and their parents brag about them, yet some of them are unable to spell worth a shit for their age, or do simple math in their heads, and talk incessantly to themselves. Do I fault the kids?! Hell no, I fault the adults running the state, county, and city governments for their especially "low standards" for too much to include academics. As a Yankee who relocated here from San Francisco and originally from southern New England, I obviously have few select compatible friends and social activities here because I'm not one to conceal my authenticity, "live a lie to get by," or lower my standards that much.

I certainly get fed up with being asked by total strangers if I have a church home as if my personal business is any of their business or as if they have a right to know mine if not volunteered. How damn fucking rude of southerners! Yet, they claim to have "good manners" and to have been "raised well" by their mamas! LOL!

I found once I fully let go of religion people don't ask for my view anymore. The people close to me know how i feel about religion so they don't ask me about it anymore because I make to much sense when I speak on it. Ive studied up in it more than the average person so they can't really keep up with me in a conversation. I believe they're scared im going to shake their faith. At work I am kind of ambivalent about it. If some one says god is good or something like that I just don't respond and then move the conversation forward. If someone asks me flat out I would tell them Im not a believer, but that never really happens

I am fairly vocal but I do try to keep out of political and religious debates on social media part of the reason being keeping my job. I grew up (and have moved back to) a very rural conservative christian area. While I love being closer to my family, I definitely feel like a fish out of water here sometimes!

I'm rather blunt about it. Everyone is aware of my opinion on 'ridiculous religious rituals'.

I am in business, so yes I do keep one foot in the closet for now, but I will retire soon, and then.

It all depends on whether you enjoy arguing with people.

Now that my deeply religious mother has passed, l don't mind declaring my agnosticism to everyone else. Sometimes you have to (or perhaps just should) pick your battles when it comes to this.. Still living in the deeply religious South East, I find most of the time it's just not worth the effort, but sometimes it is. All depends on the time and place, and the person of course.

I'm fairly blunt and have been surprised by the reaction "you too"