The Bible Belt. The very phrase sent a cold shiver down my spine at the thought of moving down from Boston. I was a Massachusetts Wiccan going to Jesus Christ’s Court, and I was afraid I would not like the judges. But in moving to Tennessee, I did not get what I expected, and I wanted to find out more. The question in my mind as I interviewed five different students with very different views was: Does the Bible Belt hold up the stereotype of being intolerant? What I discovered was certainly noteworthy.
The first interviews were with Jeremy Brooks, a freshman mathematics major, and a Southern Baptist from Harrogate, Tenn., and his twin sister, Lauren Brooks, a biology major, also Southern Baptist. They are both members of the Baptist Collegiate Ministries, and they shared similar ideas about how it affects their lives.
Jeremy said, “It makes me stop and think that Christ died for me to save me from my sins, and that makes me want to live a better life.” Lauren made a similar comment, “It is my life. He [Christ] laid down his life for me. I as a Christian should lay down my life for Him.” Jeremy said his raising did not affect his choice of religion. Lauren said that they were raised Southern Baptist, but she chose willingly to follow the path.
I asked the others how their religions affected their lives as well. Wesley Surber, a freshman from Maynorville, Tenn., and also a math major, talked to me about his belief in an unnamed god. “I believe there is a god,” he said, “But in a specific sect, I can’t believe in it.” He went on to say, “I base my life on helping people and helping myself. I believe you can’t lead a good life without helping others.” That sentiment seemed to be a common theme among all those interviewed.
Niko Ramsey is a Wiccan from West Chester, Ohio. She is a freshman English major, and when asked why she chose Wicca, she said, “It seemed right” – an outlook I could perfectly relate to. She went on to say, “My relatives, except my parents, are all Christians. My parents didn’t raise me as anything specific, but my grandparents tried to push me into that path.” So it would seem that parents do have an effect on their child’s religion, and this could be the reason for predominate Christianity in the South. When I asked her about how being a Pagan had an effect on her life, she said, “I follow the Wiccan Rede.” The Rede states “An’ it harm none, do what ye will.” “I’m very in tune with nature. I love nature,” she added.
I believe it is noteworthy to mention that this interview took place sitting on the grass against a tree.
Yet despite harming none and being in tune with nature, she says she still encounters some prejudice, more in Tennessee than home in Ohio. “I definitely get a lot more stares. I get a lot more negativity down here. I’ve been told so many times that I’m going to hell.”
So it does seem that discrimination among alternate religions is more common in the Bible Belt, but is it possible that this is just due to the larger number of Christians, who may share the same view as Jeremy. He said, “I believe that Christ is our way into heaven.” Lauren had the same view, saying, “God gave us all free will, but I believe you can only get to heaven through Jesus.”
Niko was not so keen on this philosophy. She said, “There are a lot of Christians down here, but personally I don’t believe in it. But I believe what I believe, so that’s cool.” She has a more open-minded view of other religions, and believes that many paths are valid.
My final interview brought about even yet another point of view. Dylan Cole is an atheist from right here in Johnson City, he is also a freshman. “I wasn’t brought up with any specific beliefs, and when I thought about it, I couldn’t see any reason to worship any sort of god that there is no proof for,” he said. “People don’t seem to believe that you can’t believe in anything.” He went on to say that it didn’t affect his life. “I’m the way I am because of my experiences and the things I’ve done.”
Throughout the interviews, I did not see any stereotypes created, or any truly broken, either. But I did gain insight to the similarities and differences between people, no matter their beliefs. And I think that is the truth we should all hold onto.

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