The Bible Belt

[puppyshoes]

The south was settled by people from different parts of the United Kingdom. The poor dirt farmers were from Scotland and were called Scotch red necks,later the "Scotch" was dropped. A number of wealthier people in the south were Scotch too. The settlers brought their church with them. Only 1 to 1.5% of the people of the old south owned slaves. My former husband has a French name but my people were English,Scotch Irish and Scotch, on my mother's side My father was English and French. My mother could trace her people back to Jamestown. My father was old New York. My point is, you know where we came from, our ideas are British Isles. Most people in America are middle of the road when it comes to politics. Many American feel we have a duty to be the world's policemen. We right all wrongs, we stand for justice. Believe it or not I grew up being taught this in school. I was never taught religion in school, nor were any crosses on our wall. many European countries can't say that. Most European countries have a national church, your tax money goes to pay for that church, even if you don't believe or attend that denomination. Scotland is Presbyterian, England is Church of England. The list goes on, Americans would never stand for our tax money going to pay for any religion. The Bible belt is a myth, I grew up down there and here in NY state. I really don't see ant difference.

[DistantCelt]

The bible belt is most definately not a myth from my experience. I've been to the outskirts of the Pennsylvania bible belt and the BC-Alberta bible belt. I've felt a distinct change in attitudes. The bible belt,like borders, are arbitary-they exist but change areas throughout time.

[Polwarth]

OP
Your generalisations and lack of knowledge are outstanding. You have obviously researched the history of Scottish/Irish/English emigration in great depth. I wish I had your level of knowledge.

[ANDY-J3]

Private sectarian education is provided by many states so yes Americans do in fact pay taxes for religion and there are many Americans who want to go a step further and allot federal revenues to funding religious (which of course means Christian fundamentalist) schools. As regards America being the world's policeman, well you had your chance. You ceased to be the leader of the free world when your troops set foot in Iraq-let's see if the next global superpower, whether it's the EU or China does any better.

[kathyv]

The Bible Belt is a bazaar phenomena. My daughter, having grown up in Oregon, has lived in the so called Bible Belt for 2 years now and she can hardly believe her eyes and ears!

For example, it's OK for apparently Christian kids, adolescents, to tank up and become as drunk as they like as long as they do it at someone's home, generally around the pool, IF they go to church on Sunday regardless of hangover affects! Biblical interpretations are so wild that they become non-Biblical!

You know it must be weird when your minister is a card carrying member of the KKK. ugh!

[southern]

I know this is an old post...but I had to say something... I am a southern women...born and raised...never have I heard that the term “red neck” was from Scottish descent! Most of the people referred to as red neck would not be able to tell you where Scotland was on a map! As far as everyone being mostly of European decent..we all are descendants from somewhere unless you are of native American descent..(which I have a couple generations removed). The Bible belt is a fact in America...we just move a slower pace and tend to be a bit friendly. As for our tax money going to pay for religious organization I’ve never heard that....any qualifying non- profit organization receive tax credits...as for allowing the citizen to have a tax credit for private education...religious or not...I hope they will pass the bill one day...being that we have a horrible public school system and we have to pay taxes for it and they do not provide well enough for the children. We do have a lovely Scottish Presbyterian Church in Charleston, SC.

[kathyv]

southern, I wouldn't put a lot of stock into anything puppyshoes says, it's just so much ranting. I think redneck is a modern, rather derogative description of those with a sunburn on the back of their neck. puppyshoes might not have taken the lack of a great deal of sunshine in Scotland and the presence of MUCH sun in the southern USA when making that statement! ps has also generalized poor dirt farmers, having apparently not researched the affects of the Civil War upon those living in the South in the late 1860's. And I bet those who are descendant from Africa or Cuba or Germany or Scandinavia or Asia would be fascinated to know their ideals are actually British! So much malarkey! Luckily, most Europeans are intelligent enough to know BS when they read it! And most US residence know themselves well enough to snort at these generalizations when they read them. . .

Are you in Charleston? I was born in Sumter.