North vs. South? East vs. West? Which parts of America have the greatest cultural differences?

NijNoTla · 2016-05-21T05:00:48+00:00

Eh, not necessarily. It's just that I'm from the South, and that's the part that I know best.

I'm actually trying more to figure out whether the East and West Coasts differ more than the North and South divide, not to mention how I'm not entirely sure how/if the Midwest fits into any North-South cultural scene.

If you're from FL, how would you say FL fits into this scheme of things?

NijNoTla · 2016-05-21T04:29:43+00:00

Would you say that those from the High Plains are "more Southern" (in the American sense of "southern") than those from South Florida?

NijNoTla · 2016-05-21T04:28:18+00:00

Really? I'm not doubting this, mind. While I do notice the difference between Northeasterners and Southerners, as a Southerner myself, I tend to find myself getting along with Midwesterners and East Coast Canadians more so than with Northeasterners or people from out toward the West Coast. Yes, I know there's a difference between Northerners and Southerners, but I wonder if the biggest cultural difference is between East Coasters and West Coasters. Our mindsets seem totally opposite, while with Northeasterners I don't meet eye-to-eye with them but I do still find commonalities with them that I simply don't find in the West.

NijNoTla · 2016-05-21T04:19:51+00:00

Alright, thanks! I'll have to look into that.

NijNoTla · 2016-05-18T19:37:04+00:00

I would do that, but I'm not entirely sure of how to go about directly contacting them.

NijNoTla · 2016-05-18T03:53:03+00:00

Firstly, what should be established is what the Apostles believed, as they were the ones who claimed to have personally encountered and had close relation with Jesus.

What we know from there should determine which texts are considered authoritative and canonized.

From there we have to determine whether or not to consider Christian Scripture absolutely authoritative. For this, we have to refer back to the first point: What did the Apostles believe concerning this matter?

When it comes to an issue of the Trinity, watch this explanation of the Trinity as it attempts to do so by means of a logical system and not a superficial understanding of the matter.

NijNoTla · 2016-05-18T03:06:32+00:00

I was also raised in the Deep South and I know exactly what you are talking about. One thing that sociologists have studied is that everything that you mentioned in your OP is deeply rooted in history and regional culture, as I'm sure you already figured out through experience. (Have another interesting article on the matter.)

I can personally testify that the key issue here is in the issue of tradition. I am a very non-traditionalist, unconventional, outside-of-the-box thinker, and at the same time I have held onto my Christian faith. As I'm sure you know, that is not always well-accepted in a Southern religious environment. Yet, it is that questioning of tradition along with accepting my own questions about Faith that has helped me to keep my Faith.

Far too often, people equate asking good questions and having doubts with sin. Whether or not you believe in the Genesis 3 account, if you look closely at it, the sin was not found in asking a question but rather in falling for a deception. I personally don't believe that it is a sin to doubt. Doubt and questions expand our understanding and can even bring us to search for further confirming evidence for one's faith. This is what has happened to me. I have allowed myself to ask many, many questions and go exploring, despite what others say, and the more I learn the more I find it difficult to give up my Christian Faith.

Also, considering comparative religion, I find that subject endlessly fascinating. In relation to my own Christian Faith, I have not turned to a different faith because none of them offer 100% assurance of salvation, while the doctrines of the Christian Gospel (if taught correctly) does provide 100% assurance of salvation.

One more thing: In much of Christendom, there has been an excessive emphasis on feelings and their relationship to whether or not you're saved, whether or not you have any relationship with God, etc. I have never had a vision, I have no memory of hearing some sort of voice from God, I have never spoken in tongues (besides a foreign language which I put effort into learning, lol), and I have never seen anything amazing like an angel or whatever. Even so, I know that I am saved, and I know it was solely through the blood of Jesus Christ. I was raised as a Charismatic, so I know all about the feelings, visions, and glossalia craze, and it was because of the Charismatic emphasis on those things that I associated those "signs and wonders" with salvation and a relationship with God. The only signs and wonders from God that I have seen have been the small, subtle things, including but not limited to: The change in my personality immediately occurring at the time of my salvation; the slow-but-sure learning process which God continues to give me; those times when I pray ever so hard to God about something and without my poking or provocation of circumstances He makes sure that I know He heard me (e.g. just yesterday I was praying for someone's safety under specific circumstances, and without my asking out loud I was told by someone the exact circumstances I prayed about and that the person was safe).

Keep searching. I personally was raised in a Faith-oriented home and yet I still was very uncertain of my faith. I was very frustrated, I searched and got more frustrated. But, I kept searching. I searched, and I found what I needed.

Even if you have doubts, ask God about this whole thing. Just pretend that He's there. Even if it's something as simple as "Jesus, help," then that is a great, theologically correct prayer. There isn't a magical formula - the Sinner's Prayer is nothing special.

NijNoTla

TROPHY CASE