I am a black, 28-year-old spiritualist living in the bible belt. I have a discrepancy with the Christian belief. the fact that I chose to follow more than a book written by man over hundreds of years ago make everyone I associate with very edgy around me. I do believe in a god but at the same time without proof and with everything that I have experienced in my life, I question the relationship between science, religion and the basis of faith. I've traveled the United States for 9 years backpacking and hitchhiking and the one thing that I can say for certain is that religion is one of the things that a great many will try and force feed you religion even if you kindly ask for advice on a seperate subject.

Do you believe that you have to be religious (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, etc.) to be a good person? I consider myself an extremely compassionate person but also an atheist. What's wrong with that.

Here in Australia we have what is called the stolen generation. These were the children of black indigenes Australians who were forcibly removed from their parents and handed to religious organisations to raise as domestic servants and farm labourers. The "christian" values that were hammered into them have resulted in many of them being unable to re-integrate with their own people even when they have been given the chance, and most have been relegated to the bottom of the social strata for life.

I've SEEN what you're saying. My female in-laws are african-american, and they're totally christianified! And many of the men too. It makes me scared to go to my spouses reunions.

I feel for you.

Yes, I can relate. I came from a white fundamentalist Baptist background. You have to balance the value of relationships you have with others vs. how open you want to be about your lack of faith. In my case, I have a background in science so everyone knows I am not a fundamentalist, and that is very upsetting to some of my relatives and friends that I grew up with.

I just don't engage in religious conversation most of the time unless I know they can handle it. I'm a preacher's kid and in the closet with my dad. When he talks about religion I don't admit disbelief. I just say things like, "gay people are born that way." He disagrees but respects my opinion on the subject. Now if I told him I'm atheist all HELL would break loose.

Again, if the person can handle discussion without feeling the need to try converting me into thinking just like them, I'll let them in. If not, I don't engage. No reason to get anyone's blood pressure up over a difference in belief.

I'm a 40 something atheist Cuban American living in Miami so I feel your pain.

Are we twins separated at birth?! I'm 66, which is a scary time to leave my community of friends at church. You sound braver than me, but I'm on the same road....there IS a road here, right?