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Yeah, these are the same kinds of people I see all over my town all weekend. I live in Fayetteville, AR and we have a little place called Dickson Street just off the UofA campus that is the cultural and nightlife center of the town (and really Arkansas in general. I will be so bold as to say it!). They stand on the street corners every weekend with signs and such. People always start arguing with them, especially when after 11 after some liquoring up. It's funny.
I noticed as soon as I started driving through the south all the cult activity. The huge crosses and commercial churches, and some dude at a gas station gave us flyers. It's scary being an atheist in the south, you might get eaten.
Post by Bob Noxious on Jun 22, 2008 20:46:49 GMT -5
The South is not the "Cult" land. We just have a lot of fundamentalist/conservative Christians which are 99% harmless. Try the North West, Southwest for cults. Besides...what IS a cult?
Don't be afraid down here. People are mostly good.
Yeah, these are the same kinds of people I see all over my town all weekend. I live in Fayetteville, AR and we have a little place called Dickson Street just off the UofA campus that is the cultural and nightlife center of the town (and really Arkansas in general. I will be so bold as to say it!). They stand on the street corners every weekend with signs and such. People always start arguing with them, especially when after 11 after some liquoring up. It's funny.
I'm from Fayettenam too! I really try my best to ignore those people on the corner of West and Dickson. But the people that upset me even more are the people that waste their time and breath by trying to sway these fundamentalists minds. IT WILL NOT WORK!! They have beliefs, however misguided, just as you and I do, but trying to REASON with that type of person is futile.
HOLLA!
Moses is really cool when he isn't being a "Hey, you! Guess what?! You goin' to HAYELLL!" type of person. I was once on the bus with him and he was being quite friendly to people. We had a conversation about the geography of Northwest Arkansas. He got on the bus with some girl and she said that Fayetteville couldn't have more than 18,000 people! HA! It's that small if you never leave campus, which apparently she never had.
Oh yeah. And a cult, in general, has two meanings (That I'm aware of. I'm sure there are little sub-factions of cults, but these are the broader definitions):
1.) The original meaning was basically ritualistic behaviour within the religion usually in connection with shrines, altars, and whatnot. This was mostly in reference to more Pagan religions, but in Christianity you see it more in conjunction with Catholicism and relating to the worship of saints.
2.) Cults are used to describe groups of people who practice a particular religion that is psychologically (I suppose) destructive to the people within it and is considered a threat to the society at large. I don't think there really is a cohesive definition of it, but it usually always involves a group of individuals that worship a religion that the greater bit of the community sees as a negative influence.
Yeah. I haven't studied this shit at all, have I? Strangely enough my study of Anthropology and Art History included the cult in both instances. lol
Last Edit: Jun 22, 2008 21:44:00 GMT -5 by DNA - Back to Top
Post by Bob Noxious on Jun 23, 2008 1:52:29 GMT -5
Your definitions are a bit broad, though I suppose they will do in the vernacular.
I was wondering how the OED might define "cult."
Anyway, to reply to an earlier post. Down here we are not particularly plentiful with cults.
To the Jewish lady. Most people have heard of anti Semitism, mostly from movies and stereotypes...but, there are so few Jews in the rural south for anyone to really have any ill feelings towards them. The reality is that one, upon meeting a Jew, would likely have more of a curiosity for them. I don't know any anti Semites or really anyone who makes Jokes about the Jews. People will say wrong and off color things about blacks, mostly about Mexicans though, but nobody ever jokes about the Jews. Jews are sort of an intangible, out of the stream of thought, except when studying the Holocaust or maybe some lesson from the old testament.
Trinity Broadcasting Network (cult) frequently air shows that promote protection of the holy land and jews.
It seems so odd to me that people think we might be anti semitic down here. The SBC (Southern Baptist Convention) occassionaly feels the need to convert a few but generally, most Baptists and more fundamemtal denominations believe that Jews are Gods people and are to be protected.
The reality is, in a really rural, really f***cked up area, if you really did wander in to the last outpost of weirdness and Deliverance, the native is going to see you as "White" first and never really consider your Judaism.
I know there are some skinheads in Birmingham, Atlanta....esp, Miami, maybe N.O but in general you will not have trouble in the rural,small town areas of the South....you may even be considered a celebrity, if you run into sweet enough people.
I have heard that some people are against Catholicism, but in my 42 years down here, nobody has ever even jested about it with me. I think one day one of my freinds asked me if we worshiped The Virgin Mary and I told him that yes we did but it was a catholic secret. My dad is a Mason (cult) and the father of 5 catholic children. We had a really messed up priest in the town next over. He was catholic, ex baptist, educated (lawyer), and (God forbid) he was black. Now this father packed the pews. Very devout, very passionate. And the parishioners weren't white. He was a good ole priest but he is gone.
If you are Mexican,, Black, Homosexual (open), and Asian Indian, you miiiiiiiiigggggghhhttt hear some ugly comments but it isn't going to be to your face. People generally prefer to be discreet and opportunistic (Sneaky) with their racist comments.
Jews are safe....people think they are white....skin color is the thing that "Jerks" look for first.
Your definitions are a bit broad, though I suppose they will do in the vernacular.
The definitions of cults in both senses are, indeed, broad because there are so many religions. You can't have a really specific definition when you're dealing with so many cultures. What's true for one group might not be true for another, but they are still both "cults." I guess, it's more of a family of behavior than a species, if that makes sense.
To the Jewish lady. Most people have heard of anti Semitism, mostly from movies and stereotypes...but, there are so few Jews in the rural south for anyone to really have any ill feelings towards them. The reality is that one, upon meeting a Jew, would likely have more of a curiosity for them. I don't know any anti Semites or really anyone who makes Jokes about the Jews. People will say wrong and off color things about blacks, mostly about Mexicans though, but nobody ever jokes about the Jews. Jews are sort of an intangible, out of the stream of thought, except when studying the Holocaust or maybe some lesson from the old testament.
I am not sure which South you are from but in Mississippi we have a rather large Jewish community. The oldest Jewish temple in Mississippi was built in 1842 in Natchez, Mississippi. And there are jewish communities is most parts of the state.
I also found this quote from "Jewish Roots in Southern Soil: A New History"
Jews have long been a presence in the American South, first arriving in the late seventeenth century as part of exploratory voyages from Europe to the New World. Two of the Nation's earliest jewish communities were founded in Savannah in 1733 and Charleston in 1749. By 1800, more Jews lived in Charleston then in New York City.
Post by Bob Noxious on Jun 23, 2008 22:10:17 GMT -5
Yes of course, of course. I remember hearing a story on NPR about some large Jewish communities scattered about the South. As a rule there just aren't that many in the RURAL South though. I live in middle TN about 10 miles from Bonnaroo in Tullahoma. There are very few Jews here but I know there are many in Memphis and in Knoxville. Certainly here, I could never imagine anyone mistreating a Jewish person. Regional Trivia: The most famous Jew from this part of TN is Dinah Shore. Dinah Shore was from Winchester, about 20 miles from Manchester/Bonnaroo. The main drag in Winchester is even named after her.
The only religious group I saw was at W. 3rd and 8th Ave. They were standing outside the porto's handing out antibacterial wipes. I got a wipe and the dude gave me a Bible. I started walking away and he was like, "HEY! LADY! COME BACK HERE!" and I just was like, "Yo! Thanks for the Bible!"
I'm assuming there was probably going to be a sermon served my way. I just wanted an antibacterial wipe.
Post by tentseasurfer on Jun 24, 2008 20:14:36 GMT -5
Last year there were some super mellow Hare Krishnas walking around...didn't see them this year, but I saw one of the books they hand out at a campsite so I know they were there. The guy last year was super cool...no pressure, just showing his spirituality through his demeanor and calm disposition...I like that. He walked up and says " "So what's the deal...are you guys like undercover rock stars or something?" That was my favorite thing heard last year. ;D