Me and yes

Texas ,but I seldom discuss religions with friends or neighbors .

I’m not sure there’s such a thing as the Bible Belt. Pew polls show the South to be only a few percentage points more religious than the country as a whole, and about on par with the Midwest.

I live in a rural part of Alabama and no one ever bothers me about religion. None of my closest acquaintances are believers. I don’t call myself an atheist however, just not a follower of traditional religion.

I live near Huntsville, Alabama. Never in my adult life have I believed in Biblical literalism, and I've not had any greater problems from that than from any of the millions of other differences between human beings.

I'm not in the closet but I don't try to advertise it either. I frequently work at a kitchen for homeless people,; it's run by a Southern Baptist Church and each night I listen to bigoted preachers. I stay in the back of the room reading books like "Atheism: The Case Against Christ" iin full view of the preacher. I never get in trouble because they know I'll expose their hypocrisy. (And I know I cannot easily be replaced. My boss knows I'm smarter than him. Plus, I think he's a closeted gay man and is a bit afraid of me.) I simply (or not so simply) don't bring it up. Hate it though because I so want to call out this hate speech. But this isn't the right time or place.

I've decided I will not let anyone shame me for being honest with myself. If anyone attempts to proselytize me, he/she better be prepared to defend what he's saying. Until then I don't give a damn and I'm never going back in the closet.

Socially, I'm ostracized by neighbors and coworkers. It's frustrating...

I live in Georgia but no, I'm not treated differently. I'm open, but I don't introduce myself as Steve the Atheist. It's not something people generally know first meeting me. And once they do, they usually avoid the topic, which is probably the best choice if they're religious.

I’m not sure if Cincinnati is in the Bible Belt and I’m less sure what it means exactly to be an open athiest. I don’t hide the fact that I don’t believe, but it so rarely comes up that it hardly even matters.

Hi, western Kentucky here. Define "openly."

I'm quiet. If a friend asks, I'll tell them. Some don't care, others care but not a lot. Few have cut me out or anything. In general though? I don't advertise. When I get asked what church I go to I just say I don't, not that I don't believe. People will default assume you're just a non-practicing Christian and that's a-OK with me.

Atheist in Tennessee. Yes, my experience is In will be treated differently at work. I tend to not let people know I am an atheist. Surprisingly large number of kids out here are atheist.

In mid Missouri I am treated somewhat differently but I don't really care. I do care enough to keep it toned down at my workplace though because that bunch is highly religious. You know, like they even gave us $15 extra for Easter. What a biggie!

I am openly Atheist in NC which is super conservative and uber religious. I am not usually treated different, but from time to time I meet a bigot that starts trying ostracize me. However I usually push their buttons by countering their bible verses with actual facts or tear into their hypocritical logic. I then expose their cherry picking the convenient parts of their bible while disregarding the other parts. It is quite fun actually.

Depending on whose chart you are using, Nebraska is apparently part of the Bible Belt. I don't believe I have ever been adversely effected by being an atheist, but the subject seldom comes up. When approached by proselytizers, I simply tell them I am an atheist, I don't have time for their beliefs, and to have a nice day. My sister is the only one who persistently reminds me that I am going to hell, but I let that slide because she's my sister. Other than that, anyone whose opinion I care about doesn't seem to care what my beliefs are.

They are in hiding from evangelical Christians to avoid being burned at the stake as heretics. Lol

I don't think Southern Ohio is "bible-belt" country.
In my quiet neighborhood, 5 of the seven households on our cul-de-sac attend church and are believers. I'm openly "heathen/agnostic" and we all get along just fine. The disturbing thing for me was my time spent working at the USAF base here. AF officers are apparently rabid Christians, as are the majority of DoD civil servants. While they tolerated me and I've numerous friends in this population, there was always that level of discomfort.

I don't live in the bible belt, but I do live in a very rural, highly conservative area. Most people here believe in God, but despite the rural nature of this area there's a fair amount of diversity in the degree of religious devotion. I don't hide my views on religion, but neither do I generally volunteer such information without good reason. It rarely comes up in casual conversation. Even when it does come up, e.g., with people I know well enough to have longer conversations, I'm able to hold my own and effectively express my justification for non-belief without difficulty. I get the most resistance from within my own family — an aunt, an uncle, a few cousins, cousins' spouses. I'm a big boy, though, and I hold my own. But atheism isn't a hobby for me, so I'm happy to discuss other things and rarely do I bring up any criticism of religious belief unprompted. I think I've gained a great deal of wisdom over time, and my temperament has evened out; when I was younger I was more on edge about religion, but now I have a more laissez-faire attitude about it. Regardless, those who know what my views are generally accept that I'm not ignorant or don't assume I haven't considered their reasons for believing, and I don't have serious conflicts. Even if I were in the bible belt, I don't think I'd have many problems. The devout may have stronger opinions, but there is a sizable percentage in even the most religious states that's nonreligious. I think more may keep it to themselves just because it's a more religiously charged environment, but it's not impossible to make friends with like-minded people.

I don't hide it. It just seldom comes up.

Once in a while someone will ask if I go to church. I tell them no I'm a heathen. I'm pretty much in the closet regarding atheism, it just seems to be easier this way. If folks want to go to church, that's fine by me, I could care less what others do, but it works both ways, don't worry about if I go to church or believe and everything will be good.

interesting comments. but how does religious affiliation crop up so frequently? i've never run into this. No one has ever asked me about my beliefs and i've never questioned anyone. Why have others been hounded, harassed or head-butted over religion?

I'm in Arizona, and surprising, not many ask. The Southwest has more viewpoints than people think.

I had more persecution in NYC.

I am, and no, not particularly, albeit, on occasion, yes. I kinda think that most people's X-tianity is just kind of, they want to be covered, just in case it turns out there actually is a God. And for others its just kind of a Church on Sunday lifestyle kind of thing. All of which shields the real problem of the manipulation of Christendom by the Zionists to support and fight their wars of world domination. Iran is currently in their cross hairs.

I'm actually told what a good Christian I am...with the, "yeah, I know what you say but...." opening.

We are still far away from judgment free environment. If you go about screaming to the world that you are an atheist then you will end up ostrasized and probably jobless...... it's common sense, at least to me anyway. No one needs to know but myself.

Why would anybody be openly atheist in the bible belt? And what kind of question is that, my good man? Are you TRYING to provoke a response? If so, well done!

Once in a while someone will ask if I go to church. I tell them no I'm a heathen.