I live in Western Kansas and I can relate to the feeling alone with my beliefs.

I live in Central Texas...another Bible Belt.... tough here too.

Welcome. It has to be rough. I simply left NJ when I was 20 and moved to Seattle, Wa. There was freedom to just be myself. It was not because of religion or anything other than a very controlling mom and being a non-conformist.
Is moving even an option?
In any event, just know you've joined a great group at agnostic.com. Everyone is very supportive.

There must be people who also think like you, just afraid to reveal, as I have, I still have, I feel happy to be able to talk to people here, I do not feel so alone.

I grew up in the BB. Went to a Unitarian Church when possible to find like souls and a counterculture. Now live in a rural area of California in a conservative county. Still keeping my thoughts and opinions to myself for the most part; some things never change.

I know I take it for granted that no one gives s shit what I believe or don’t believe. It must be difficult for you. This probably a good place to be able to vent when need be

I'm in the closet in my town too, and I feel like I'm the only one of my kind around... but I know that can't be true. So I get it. That's why I like coming here

As for Seth Andrews, I love him and I love the content of his podcast... but I can't listen to it. I can't stand "radio voice." To me, radio voice is: pregnant pauses, laughing at your own jokes, over-processed audio quality, voice volume theatrics, etc. I prefer a podcast to sound authentic and conversational. I think he's a great person, but his podcast irritates me.

Just be yourself. Most people aren’t that interested in other people’s religious opinions in the first place, but if they shun you for what you think maybe you would be better off without ‘em. If they are family they’ll just have to adapt. Stay the course.

Where I live, there's a church for roughly every 150 people. Sounds about right for the market environment.

I grew up in a small town in northeast Oklahoma where damn near every other building was a church. Tough place to be an atheist. I recommend meetup.com for finding a group with similar beliefs.

I’m on one of the blue islands in the red sea. I see you.

Don't know but you are not alone

Welcome to the community! There are a lot of us in the Bible Belt. Hope you can find some nearby friends. Otherwise we can support you from wherever we are.

I can't believe KY is not on the top of the lists.

These states are ranked as the top most conservatives states in the U.S.
top-conservative-states-in-the-us-3303802

1. Tennessee
2. Louisiana
3. Wyoming
4. South Dakota
5. Texas
6. North Dakota
7. Mississippi

While this site ranks these 10 state are the most conservative states:
[homesnacks.net]

1. Wyoming
2. Alabama
3. Tennessee
4. North Dakota
5. Mississippi
6. Oklahoma
7. Idaho
8. South Dakota
9. South Carolina
10. Missouri

That belt is on old man pants and hiked way up to the international border, all the sheriff cars in my town say "in god we trust" on the bumper.

Welcome to asylum. Enjoy your stay.

I live in Southwest Georgia, it doesn't get much more "bible-y" than here.
I don't hide my atheism. If asked, I'm honest about it. I tend not to bring it
up because I don't want my nephew's family to experience any blowback.
So, I don't bring it up when they're around.
I'm retired, so I don't need to worry about it would effect my employment.
However, if I did, I wouldn't hide it there either. I refuse to be held captive
by other people's delusions, and I won't allow them to bully me into sharing them.
I'm rather defiant, and most people don't try to bully me.

Welcome aboard!