Are you out?

[Garnet]

Seeing the discussion of putting out campaign buttons on here has caused me to wonder if atheists and agnostics on here are out in real life.

I'm not. After the garbage I went through in Alabama, I'm very leery of letting it be known that I'm an atheist. I typically avoid religious discussions, particularly at work.

What about you?

[His Noodly Appendage]

Out and proud - it's not an issue here in .au, to the point that nobody *bothers* mentioning it.

[Arctish]

I'm out to my family but not at work. Less hassle both ways.

[Christina]

I'm out, but no one here cares here either. It doesn't come up in conversation a lot, but it's considered rude and in poor taste to wave your religious beliefs around. If they don't bus people in to protest in front of Planned Parenthood it ends up being one old lady and this weird homeless guy that reads the bible.

[Quizalufagus]

I don't think I've ever thought of it in those terms before, but it's pretty well known that I'm an atheist. It's not at all a controversial thing around here, either.

[ravenscape]

I'm out as both a non-theist and a pagan. It's a non-issue here, except sometimes in discussions with a few parents of my son's friends. Though, I think they were more ticked off about my agreeing to be the parent-sponsor of the high school Gay Straight alliance than about whether I am Christian.

[KnightWhoSaysNi]

I find this to be an interesting aspect of American culture. I didn't answer the poll because I would find it rather awkward to do so.

In Canada, religious matters are usually considered to be private or personal, and being nonreligious isn't all that much of a big deal. The Canadian cultural ethos is mostly about respect for diversity rather than cultural assimilation so it's probably a greater negative stigma to identify oneself as a "fundamentalist" or "religious conservative". For me, the poll is kind of like asking me "Toronto Maple Leafs fan - Out" or "Not Out"? Except for some sports fanatics, it's not an identity or label that most people really care about that much, as are religious identities. Most people I've known probably aren't aware that I'm an agnostic, and those that are don't really care. Overall, my nonbelief isn't something that I go about advertising about myself, but most people (despite their background) don't go about advertising their religious beliefs to people anyway.

With that said, however, I can only imagine what the culture shock would be like if I decided to live in the US South for a while. The overwhelming presence and influence of religion in American culture is something unparalleled by other western countries. If I was an American, I can understand why the poll above would have a great deal of personal relevance.

[JamesBannon]

Meh... I don't really give a shit! If people dislike me for being an unbeliever then that's their problem, not mine.

[Garnet]

Eh James, I agree with your sentiment, in theory. But in some parts of the US, being out as an atheist can cause some real harm. Harassment in the workplace is never fun and is very difficult to fight.

[JamesBannon]

I understand it's different for you there Garnet and if I was in your position I'd probably do the same and keep my mouth shut. mind you, I have a very big mouth :D

[Garnet]

I understand it's different for you there Garnet and if I was in your position I'd probably do the same and keep my mouth shut. mind you, I have a very big mouth :D

*laughs* So do I....and oh boy...did it get me in trouble in the South.

[Dlx2]

I'm out about it. I'm about as tactless as one can be, so it's not like I have a choice.

[Jimmy_Mack]

I'm out but that doesn't mean much here in the NYC LI burbs. Haven't tried wearing any signs or anything. I have a Jesus fish with the words "Blow Me" inside but my car is to nice and spiffy to risk gettting keyed or something. So, everyone can just blow me in spirit. :p

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a242/RareBird0/E-BlowMe.gif

[Ana H]

I am out, I do not give a rats ass what others around here think, and I live in Arkansas 6 months out of the year where everyone thumps a bible! people do not bother me, maybe they think I am a bitch for telling them to mind their own business, but I really do not have time to listen to their BS. Life is too short. I was harassed at work once, 100 years ago, until I hired a lawyer. I like my lawyer! We shoot potato guns off on our property, if you happen to be walking onto our posted property with bible in hand, and you accidentally get hit, I can not and will not be held liable.

[BWE]

I live in Portland, Oregon. We have lotsa topless bars and not so many churches.

Hmmm.

[Quizalufagus]

Portland is nice that way. I lived there for several years. :)

[Goldie]

Out to whom?
My family and friends know, but I'm not "out" in my community. I worry about how it might affect our work situation and / or our situation with "Bumpy."

I don't hide it. If someone asks I will say so. But, I don't run around broadcasting it either.
I didn't vote because I am not sure how to answer. I am out to those that matter to me.

[Thalia Thinks]

I am out. I have no qualms talking about my lack of belief with anyone but my old grandparents.

I had the Reality Bites fish eating the christian fish on my truck but it was on a magnet and I lost it in the car wash. My daughter had the Evolution fish humping the christian fish on her car until last week when someone ripped it off and threw it in the driveway. She is going to put it on a magnet and take it off at night.

I think I will get a window sticker made that goes on the inside of truck so that it won't get damaged.

[Garnet]

Good question, Goldie.

I'm out to some of my family. But I don't consider myself totally out because I will go to some pretty great lengths to avoid letting people know I'm an atheist unless I have some kind of trust in them.

[The 800# Gorilla]

Wants blow me fish.

[Christina]

My mom has had one stock answer that she's used since I was 8. "Of course you believe in God. Don't be ridiculous'. She told me that she was going to pray for me about 10 times in one conversation today. I just try to ignore it.

[Hedwig]

I'm out to my family and about half of my co-workers, including my supervisor. I'm honest to anyone who asks, but so far only a couple of people have asked, and they were more curious than horrified. And it's not something that I'd bother to discuss with customers because it's none of their damn business. I'm here to take your money and assist you in your purchases, not discuss religion with you.

I do have a "Come the Rapture, can I have your car?" sticker on my car, though. It's really not hard to guess. ;)

[VoxRat]

Are you out?

Yeah, since pretty much my entire family is atheist, it's not a particularly difficult thing to do.

But we recently moved to a rural community - into a sort of "compound" with extended family who have been there for a long time. They urged us to remove this bumper sticker
http://www.darwinfish.com/images/Nchips%20large.jpeg

from our car, because some of the kids' parents are fundies.

I had no problem going along with that;
I figure the kids' friendships are more important than my right to make snide observations on piety.

[Goldie]

It took Arlene (my jewish - hippie-woo friend) a year to believe me.
"You are NOT an atheist!" She'd laugh.
Then she told me how arrogant it was of me NOT to belive in a god.
I told her how arrogant it was to believe that an all powerful being would give a shit about her petty grievences.

We got drunk at a fund raiser and argued about it and laughed as we walked home, dropping and breaking things along the way.
:)
Now, she'll say... "I know YOU don't believe in it...BUT.... bla-bla woo-woo bla!"

It was tough when her daughter, Ruby, came to me, with her first broken heart.... (All of her sisters and her mom were in Europe) and I couldn't give her pat answers like, "Well then, I guess it wasn't meant to be." I actually had to work at it and be original.
Both she and her mother thanked me later for being so frank and honest with her. Had I left it in "God's hands" Ruby may have lost it. Instead, I spent 4 days just concentrating on her... and her "new beginning."

[Goldie]

Are you out?

Yeah, since pretty much my entire family is atheist, it's not a particularly difficult thing to do.

But we recently moved to a rural community - into a sort of "compound" with extended family who have been there for a long time. They urged us to remove this bumper sticker
http://www.darwinfish.com/images/Nchips%20large.jpeg

from our car, because some of the kids' parents are fundies.

I had no problem going along with that;
I figure the kids' friendships are more important than my right to make snide observations on piety.

Very good attitude!:)
Sometime you have to pick and choose when it is appropriate to take a stand.

[Pavlov's Dog]

I don't like the phrase out, because I was never in. But I don't hide anything. Discussions of religion just don't really come up that much. My mother is an atheist, but I didn't find out until I was probably 18. It just didn't come up. I was raised without religion or church. I was never baptized. Nobody in my immediate or extended family ever prayed before eating.

[VoxRat]

I don't like the phrase out, because I was never in. But I don't hide anything. Discussions of religion just don't really come up that much.I was never "in" really, either. And I don't think I have to hide anything.

And where and when and to the extent that discussions of religion come up (and they rarely do, except with my extant family, where discussions of the pernicious role of religion in public life often do come up) it's not a problem.

But I specify "extant" because my father was quite pious. A frank discussion of his kids' views of religion would have been - let's just say unwelcome. The last time I was in a church was for his funeral. (Not counting churches as concert halls, and turisto-ing around European cathedrals.)

[Jimmy_Mack]

I don't know what to do to "come out" any further. Do I put a little sign in my front yard saying "god's a crock"? I mean, where's the manual?

[His Noodly Appendage]

http://blogs.nimblebrain.net/media/blogs/dena/IXNAY.gif

[Quizalufagus]

I don't know what to do to "come out" any further. Do I put a little sign in my front yard saying "god's a crock"? I mean, where's the manual?

Standard operating procedure is some kind of debutante ball I believe. :)

[Jimmy_Mack]

I don't know what to do to "come out" any further. Do I put a little sign in my front yard saying "god's a crock"? I mean, where's the manual?

Standard operating procedure is some kind of debutante ball I believe. :)


:D:D:D

[Thalia Thinks]

I don't know what to do to "come out" any further. Do I put a little sign in my front yard saying "god's a crock"? I mean, where's the manual?


You start with inviting all your neighbors over for a kitten and baby roast. :D

[Ray Moscow]

Basically I'm "out" as a major skeptic rather than "atheist", but yeah. But since I tend to attack and demolish any religious arguments that come up, it's not that hard to figure out.

[Lanakila]

I have a flying spaghetti monster emblem on my car not worrying that anyone who doesn't believe in it knows what it is. I'm sorta out but voted sarcastically. I'll call myself an agnostic for the most part because it's less offensive for some damn reason. In a discussion about a year ago with a co-worker who asked I admitted my atheism to his shock. Just last week he asked again: so are you an atheist or agnostic or what? I said I'm not afraid of the word atheist, that I do not believe in God but I do not know that he can't exist.

[Monad]

As a Brit I'm finding it incredibly hard to understand what it must be like feeling unable to articulate being an atheist - the whole question of being "out" seems such a strange one to have to ask in supposedly "advanced" and "democratic" countries like the states - Saudi Arabia perhaps but when I hear about people talking about this in the sort of terms even gay/bi people rarely use in the UK these days it makes me shudder. To me it's just a non issue - taken for granted - the default position even.

[Barbarian]

I am out, have always been. I am not advertising it much, but that is because around here it is considered rude and aggressive to attempt to talk about religion unless you know that all your interlocutors share your beliefs (and this was tacitly extended to include " ... or the lack thereof"). I do my best to enforce that rule, making believers regret bringing up the topic. But this is extremely rare; I find myself in a discussion touching religion about twice a year, on average.

[Jimmy_Mack]

Honk if you think god's a crock

[Matty]

I'm out, openly and unapologetically so to boot.
But like HNA said I'm neither from nor live in America which seems a different world all together.

[Garnet]

A lot depends on where you live in the US. In Alabama, being out as an atheist can lead to all kinds of nonsense. Here in Michigan, not so much. I'm just leery of making too much noise about my beliefs because...well...I'm paranoid. I feel like I never know where some religious nutjob might be lurking.

[Notta_skeptic]

I'm only "out" as an atheist to my immediate family (hubby & kids). I'm not "out" at all to my extremely religious family (and almost all extended family members - which almost number 100). I'm not "out" at work because I live in Pennsyltucky.

Until I moved back here, I WAS "out" at work because it was such a non-issue. Around here, prayer before large meetings is normal, everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) has a Christmas tree in a main office, and Easter is a huge holiday.

Even my new neighbors asked me what church I belonged to, and I lied and said my old one (I've relocated to my former town), because I didn't want to get into the whole round of church invitations and uninvited pastors dropping by.

I drive by FIVE churches (1 catholic, 4 protestant) on my 2.2 mile route to work. Yowzah!

[Plognark]

I guess I'm "out" but I don't advertise or bring it up unless someone asks.

[SteveF]

As a Brit I'm finding it incredibly hard to understand what it must be like feeling unable to articulate being an atheist - the whole question of being "out" seems such a strange one to have to ask in supposedly "advanced" and "democratic" countries like the states - Saudi Arabia perhaps but when I hear about people talking about this in the sort of terms even gay/bi people rarely use in the UK these days it makes me shudder. To me it's just a non issue - taken for granted - the default position even.

Yeah.

I find the whole "out", big "A" thing bizzare. I hardly even know any theists. It's so weird to imagine that there are places and situations in the western world where this is an issue.

[Plognark]

As a Brit I'm finding it incredibly hard to understand what it must be like feeling unable to articulate being an atheist - the whole question of being "out" seems such a strange one to have to ask in supposedly "advanced" and "democratic" countries like the states - Saudi Arabia perhaps but when I hear about people talking about this in the sort of terms even gay/bi people rarely use in the UK these days it makes me shudder. To me it's just a non issue - taken for granted - the default position even.

Yeah.

I find the whole "out", big "A" thing bizzare. I hardly even know any theists. It's so weird to imagine that there are places and situations in the western world where this is an issue.

I grew up with it and it's still fucking weird.

I really enjoy being in casual conversation when someone mentions how evil and hateful and selfish atheists are. Makes me feel awesome.

[SteveF]

I really enjoy being in casual conversation when someone mentions how evil and hateful and selfish atheists are. Makes me feel awesome.

In my entire (offline) life, I have never heard the whole atheists can't be moral, eeeeeevil thing. I'm sorry you have to put up with such drivel.

[Pavlov's Dog]

In my entire (offline) life, I have never heard the whole atheists can't be moral, eeeeeevil thing. I'm sorry you have to put up with such drivel.

Me too. Except on TV.

[Dreadnought]

I'm "out", but like many others I find the whole in/out thing foreign to my thinking. Being an atheist/agnostic is almost the default position here in Norway, but being outspokenly "out" about it is generally frowned upon. Underneath that attitude there's quite a lot of sympathy for christianity of the "churches are beautiful and the service was so colourful"-type, priests are considered "wise and nice" and church/state separation is almost a non-issue and pushed more by fundamentalists than atheists.

[Plognark]

I really enjoy being in casual conversation when someone mentions how evil and hateful and selfish atheists are. Makes me feel awesome.

In my entire (offline) life, I have never heard the whole atheists can't be moral, eeeeeevil thing. I'm sorry you have to put up with such drivel.

I think a lot of people assume I'm religious or at least not an atheist. I look pretty clean cut and caucasian, maybe even slightly conservative, and I drive an Ford Truck. and like I said, I don't wear my lack of religion on my sleeve.

They'll open up to me with their prejudices against jews, blacks, hispanics, atheists, muslims, faggoty liberals, and pretty much any non wasp group.

[Garnet]

Atheists are frequently demonized here in the US, particularly by the conservative crowd. We have no moral compass without God, don'cha know.

[Christina]

Everyone just assumed that I was a theist when I started the homeless center and since I wanted to raise money from churches I just kept it to myself around them. When I left they threw me this huge party and after everyone got done making their speeches about all of the work I did for god, I made my speech and at the end I said 'And by the way, I'm an atheist and I don't believe in passing the buck" and stood there grinning while their mouths dropped open in shock and the rest of the room burst out laughing and clapping. It was fun.

[slideyfoot]

As a Brit I'm finding it incredibly hard to understand what it must be like feeling unable to articulate being an atheist - the whole question of being "out" seems such a strange one to have to ask in supposedly "advanced" and "democratic" countries like the states

Same here: one of the big reasons I'd probably find it hard to live in the US would be the oppressive religious atmosphere that's implied by the idea of atheists being 'out' or not.

In the UK, from my experience, things are generally the other way round: its unusual to be overtly religious, as apathy towards religion is the default setting.

[The 800# Gorilla]

I made my speech and at the end I said 'And by the way, I'm an atheist and I don't believe in passing the buck" and stood there grinning while their mouths dropped open in shock and the rest of the room burst out laughing and clapping. It was fun.You are a twisted person. :notworthy:

[Christina]

I made my speech and at the end I said 'And by the way, I'm an atheist and I don't believe in passing the buck" and stood there grinning while their mouths dropped open in shock and the rest of the room burst out laughing and clapping. It was fun.You are a twisted person. :notworthy:

I put up with those people patting me on the head and talking about how saintly I was for 10 freaking years without blasting any of them. When they would make comments about how I was doing it for Jesus or doing the lord's work the worst I would do was mumble something under my breath about 'only if he's on the dinner line' or 'then why isn't he paying me?". I sat through dozens and dozens of interminably long sermons because it was rude to just show up at the end and hit them up for money. I earned the right to make one smartass comment.

[Goldie]

Yes. So often I hear that "How do you know right from wrong?" argument...
I ask, "Why do you need a fictional charactor to tell / show you right from wrong?"

I know that we would be discriminated against, as owners of a small business, if we broadcasted our beliefs. They wouldn't tell us why... they'd just find a reason not to do business with us.

It's wrong... but it's true.

I love it, however, when I do finally tell someone... and they say... "But, you're so nice... and you give to charity... and you are so family oriented and so loving."

And... I get to change their minds about what it means to be an atheist.

Sometimes I use the word "agnostic" to get people to drop the whole church thing... and to keep them from envisioning me as a satan worshipper.:rolleyes:
Many people think Agnostic is just some other christian religion. lol

[Pavlov's Dog]

Same here: one of the big reasons I'd probably find it hard to live in the US would be the oppressive religious atmosphere that's implied by the idea of atheists being 'out' or not.

The US is a big place. Huge.

[Quizalufagus]

Everyone just assumed that I was a theist when I started the homeless center and since I wanted to raise money from churches I just kept it to myself around them. When I left they threw me this huge party and after everyone got done making their speeches about all of the work I did for god, I made my speech and at the end I said 'And by the way, I'm an atheist and I don't believe in passing the buck" and stood there grinning while their mouths dropped open in shock and the rest of the room burst out laughing and clapping. It was fun.

Freaking awesome.

[Goldie]

Same here: one of the big reasons I'd probably find it hard to live in the US would be the oppressive religious atmosphere that's implied by the idea of atheists being 'out' or not.

The US is a big place. Huge.

Yes. It has a LOT to do with WHERE you are in the US.

[slideyfoot]

The US is a big place. Huge.

Yes. It has a LOT to do with WHERE you are in the US.

Good point: I think people in the UK have a tendency to forget the diversity in the same way that Americans refer to 'Europe'. How is Boston? As a big Lowell fan, that's always tempted me. Although I'd most likely plump for Canada if I was going to live anywhere but the UK, or New Zealand. Loved both of those when I visited (though to be fair, haven't yet made it to the US, so maybe I'd be swayed by its awesomeness?).

[Christina]

Everyone just assumed that I was a theist when I started the homeless center and since I wanted to raise money from churches I just kept it to myself around them. When I left they threw me this huge party and after everyone got done making their speeches about all of the work I did for god, I made my speech and at the end I said 'And by the way, I'm an atheist and I don't believe in passing the buck" and stood there grinning while their mouths dropped open in shock and the rest of the room burst out laughing and clapping. It was fun.

Freaking awesome.

Anything that anyone did to help was great and they did walk their talk when it came to caring for the poor which was cool. Their attitude was so weird, though. I couldn't get why they couldn't just do it for the people that they were doing it for instead of bringing god into it. I guess that homeless people aren't that likable most of the time and it was weirder that I liked being around them than it was that they didn't.

[A Dead Relative]

At least one of my brothers knows I'm atheist, he seems to be having doubts, himself. If the other brother has looked at my Facebook profile, he knows too. I hinted at it, to my biological mom, but I don't think she completely got it, and my dad, mom, stepmom, and sisters have no clue. I'm pretty sure most of my friends and quite a few of my co-workers also know, because I've had more than my fair share of conversations on the topic, with a few of them. One of my old co-workers was completely in shock, when he found out. He was so old fashioned, it wasn't funny. He was mentioning something about Jesus and I said, something to the effect of, "Nope, I don't believe in that stuff." If I would have been thinking, I wouldn't have said a thing to him, because he was quite the opinionated one.
Everyone just assumed that I was a theist when I started the homeless center and since I wanted to raise money from churches I just kept it to myself around them. When I left they threw me this huge party and after everyone got done making their speeches about all of the work I did for god, I made my speech and at the end I said 'And by the way, I'm an atheist and I don't believe in passing the buck" and stood there grinning while their mouths dropped open in shock and the rest of the room burst out laughing and clapping. It was fun.That is awesome! I may have to try that one, sometime. :notworthy:

[Christina]

I wouldn't suggest it if you don't live in a place where atheists and new agers far outnumber the theists. They have to have a sense of humor here.

[A Dead Relative]

My stepmom and dad will probably never know, unless someone else tells them, because they are very religious, and I don't want to hear it, from them. I'm sure they would accept it, eventually, but I would get a major lecture.
I wouldn't suggest it if you don't live in a place where atheists and new agers far outnumber the theists. They have to have a sense of humor here.Yeah, it won't be happening any time soon.

[crazyfingers]

I'm out, to the extent that the opportunity to repeat it ever comes up.

I've never been a theist. My dad's an atheist and my mom is a pantheist but I didn't even know that until I was in my 40's and actually asked them. That just says how much religion I had growing up.

Got the FSM, Evolve Fish and Humanist H on my car. I'll happily tell anyone that I don't believe in any god or gods or any religion if the opportunity ever comes up.

But it almost never does. People in my life just don't talk about religion. Religion never comes up at work and among the people in my community, it's something that people regard as private.

[Pavlov's Dog]

I've never been a theist. My dad's an atheist and my mom is a pantheist but I didn't even know that until I was in my 40's and actually asked them. That just says how much religion I had growing up.

Basically the same thing with me, although I think I was only about 18-20 when I found out my mother was an atheist. It just never came up.

But it almost never does. People in my life just don't talk about religion. Religion never comes up at work and among the people in my community, it's something that people regard as private.

Yep.

[Gaga]

I'm out, to the extent that the opportunity to repeat it ever comes up.
[...] I'll happily tell anyone that I don't believe in any god or gods or any religion if the opportunity ever comes up.

But it almost never does. People in my life just don't talk about religion. Religion never comes up at work and among the people in my community, it's something that people regard as private.
^this, with the slight difference that most people in my life usually speak of the major organized religion in rather derogatory terms when the argument pops up (i.e. maybe twice a year)

[Plognark]

I'm out, to the extent that the opportunity to repeat it ever comes up.

I've never been a theist. My dad's an atheist and my mom is a pantheist but I didn't even know that until I was in my 40's and actually asked them. That just says how much religion I had growing up.

Got the FSM, Evolve Fish and Humanist H on my car. I'll happily tell anyone that I don't believe in any god or gods or any religion if the opportunity ever comes up.

But it almost never does. People in my life just don't talk about religion. Religion never comes up at work and among the people in my community, it's something that people regard as private.

Generally speaking, being another New Englander, this is true. I seem to have the fortune of attracting assholes and bigots.

...

Mother in law: "Oh no, you're not an atheist, you're nice and kind and a decent person!"

Mother, regarding my grandfather's compulsive hoarding disorder after his funeral: "He was such a selfish, greedy materialistis pig. I guess that's what you get with a non-christian."

Friend: "Wait, why the fuck would someone like you care about murdering someone? You don't believe in an afterlife."

Other Friend: "You're an atheist? But all atheists are miserable nihilists. It's the only conclusion you can reach."

Another friend: "You've got to at least believe in something to be a decent person. I don't care if you're a hindu or muslim or buddhist or whatever, but you've got to believe in something..."

Former Art Instructor: "You've got to believe in god or else you're just going to be a miserable failure for your entire life."

Acquaintance: "You're an atheist? But you're so nice..."

...

And that's just off the top of my head. I didn't even include the racist stuff, that's just atheist specific.

I've developed a very poor opinion of my own cultural ethnicity. These statements almost universally come from middle class white conservatives.

[Ray Moscow]

I've developed a very poor opinion of my own cultural ethnicity. These statements almost universally come from middle class white conservatives.

Dumbassness cuts across all ethnicities. :(

[Plognark]

I've developed a very poor opinion of my own cultural ethnicity. These statements almost universally come from middle class white conservatives.

Dumbassness cuts across all ethnicities. :(

Agreed. It's only the white conservatives that enjoy opening up to me, for some stupid reason, so that's the bullshit I hear the most. :yuck:

[Thalia Thinks]

I live in South Georgia and I run into little problems personally. I have come out to my neighbors, who are all pretty religious. One set of them treated me differently for a little while (maybe, it could have been they were just busy and didn't have time for chatting) but it didn't last long and they treat us the same as ever now.

My daughter has more problems in school though. She actually has one teacher who was making childish comments to her after finding out she was an atheist and allowed the other students to make fun of her. I called the school and they counseled the teacher even though they didn't believe my daughter. Since then the teacher has been finding other ways to get to Rockstar, she actually has detention for doing something she didn't really do. I told the school that I would let it slide this time but if it happens again they will be removing her from that class and putting her with another teacher.

[Notta_skeptic]

My uncle lived in Texas most of his life. Even though 2 of his 4 sons were YECs, belonging to small, independent churches, he was an agnostic. The week before he died, he "accepted Jesus" after being pressured by his religious sons and told repeatedly he was going to end up in hell. At the funeral (which was held, against his wishes, in one of the small fundy churches), a neighbor came up to my aunt and said, "If I had known he was a Christian, I would have been nicer to him!"

My one brother asked me why I bothered going to my father's funeral in our hometown church if I didn't believe in god. He couldn't understand why I even cared to go to a religious service. My husband has told me I wouldn't grieve over my parent's deaths if I were still a Christian. And a long-time colleague told me that "atheists are all murderers and can be cannibals - they have no morals since they don't believe in god."

I'd rather be GAY AND OUT than ATHEIST AND OUT in my community! At least gay people aren't classified as murderers and cannibals.

[Ray Moscow]

I'd rather be GAY AND OUT than ATHEIST AND OUT in my community! At least gay people aren't classified as murderers and cannibals.

I don't think our friends in saner parts of the world realise what it means to be a public "atheist" in the rural US Bible belt.

Yes, there are good reasons why we're mad about this religious shit.

[Matty]

Friend: "Wait, why the fuck would someone like you care about murdering someone? You don't believe in an afterlife."

Other Friend: "You're an atheist? But all atheists are miserable nihilists. It's the only conclusion you can reach."

Another friend: "You've got to at least believe in something to be a decent person. I don't care if you're a hindu or muslim or Buddhist or whatever, but you've got to believe in something..."

Youre really friends with these assholes?

[Garnet]

If one does not make friends with Christians in the US, one will have very few friends.


I have very few friends.

[SteveF]

My daughter has more problems in school though. She actually has one teacher who was making childish comments to her after finding out she was an atheist and allowed the other students to make fun of her. I called the school and they counseled the teacher even though they didn't believe my daughter. Since then the teacher has been finding other ways to get to Rockstar, she actually has detention for doing something she didn't really do. I told the school that I would let it slide this time but if it happens again they will be removing her from that class and putting her with another teacher.

You have a daughter called Rockstar!?

[Goldie]

Yes... that is her internet name. They have 4 generations on the internet...
Thalia has a daughter, "Rockstar"... her mother is "Puck" and her grandmother is "CreekAnnie"

It's kinda cool, really.

CreekAnnie
^
Puck
^
Thalia
^
Rockstar
:)

[Plognark]

Friend: "Wait, why the fuck would someone like you care about murdering someone? You don't believe in an afterlife."

Other Friend: "You're an atheist? But all atheists are miserable nihilists. It's the only conclusion you can reach."

Another friend: "You've got to at least believe in something to be a decent person. I don't care if you're a hindu or muslim or Buddhist or whatever, but you've got to believe in something..."

Youre really friends with these assholes?

To be honest no, not really. Not anymore. Except for the top one, who I explained that it would be a tragic fucking waste if the only reason people gave a shit about that sort of thing was fear of punishment after they died. She got the point, fortunately. Which is good, because I married her four or five years later :D

The others I've fallen out of contact with. Kind of a bummer, but they're hardcore home-schooling baby-manufacturing fundamentalist catholics and I'm... me. We have almost no common ground for friendship anymore.

[Plognark]

Yes... that is her internet name. They have 4 generations on the internet...
Thalia has a daughter, "Rockstar"... her mother is "Puck" and her grandmother is "CreekAnnie"

It's kinda cool, really.

CreekAnnie
^
Puck
^
Thalia
^
Rockstar
:)

Wait, Puck is your mom?

[Christina]

No, Puck is Thalia's mom.

[Plognark]

No, Puck is Thalia's mom.

I'm so confused. Someone bring me more coffee.

Ok, who the heck is Goldie and how does she fit into this family tree?

[Christina]

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g132/KGpictures/coffee.gif

[Goldie]

I don't. I never said I did.

I know them from other forums and was just explaining how they were all connected.


I said :

Yes... that is her internet name. They have 4 generations on the internet...
Thalia has a daughter, "Rockstar"... her mother is "Puck" and her grandmother is "CreekAnnie"

It's kinda cool, really.
CreekAnnie
^
Puck
^
Thalia
^
Rockstar

[Plognark]

I don't. I never said I did.

I know them from other forums and was just explaining how they were all connected.


I said :

Yes... that is her internet name. They have 4 generations on the internet...
Thalia has a daughter, "Rockstar"... her mother is "Puck" and her grandmother is "CreekAnnie"

It's kinda cool, really.
CreekAnnie
^
Puck
^
Thalia
^
Rockstar

Ok...that mostly makes sense, now that I have caffeine again.

*makes love to coffee cup*

[Garnet]

*swats Plog with a newspaper*

[Plognark]

*swats Plog with a newspaper*

Where I come from that's considered foreplay.

[Goldie]

I don't. I never said I did.

I know them from other forums and was just explaining how they were all connected.


I said :

Yes... that is her internet name. They have 4 generations on the internet...
Thalia has a daughter, "Rockstar"... her mother is "Puck" and her grandmother is "CreekAnnie"

It's kinda cool, really.
CreekAnnie
^
Puck
^
Thalia
^
Rockstar

Ok...that mostly makes sense, now that I have caffeine again.
*makes love to coffee cup*

lol
Shall I put it in Biblical terms?
CreekAnnie begat Puck, Puck begat Thalia and Thalia begat Rockstar... Thus 4 generations of cool and far out women were loosed onto the internet. Amen.:p

[Ab_Normal]

I'm quietly out -- I'll defend my ethical system if it comes up, but I won't open the topic unless asked.

Kid A is an out atheist at a catholic high school. She's way braver than I was at her age...

[Garnet]

*swats Plog with a newspaper*

Where I come from that's considered foreplay.

*grins and swats Plog again*

[Magdlyn]

Out? Oh, as an atheist? Wrong thread. :wave:

[Thalia Thinks]

Yup, Puck is my Mum. There were 4 generations of us on HH and then we all left. Now we are all at KnK. (http://kithandkin.forumotion.com/index.htm)

Aren't I the luckiest daughter around?:D

Those of you who know Puck know why it's so easy for me and Rockstar (who's real name is Gabby but I've taken to calling her RS on the internet) to "out".

Actually, that is Puck and me in my AV.

[Goldie]

Yup, Puck is my Mum. There were 4 generations of us on HH and then we all left. Now we are all at KnK. (http://kithandkin.forumotion.com/index.htm)

Aren't I the luckiest daughter around?:D

Those of you who know Puck know why it's so easy for me and Rockstar (who's real name is Gabby but I've taken to calling her RS on the internet) to "out".

Actually, that is Puck and me in my AV.

*best Cartman voice*
I love you guys.

[David B]

I'm out and pretty outspoken.

Not a problem here, though.

Being out as a Christian, other than a nominal one, would be more likely to attract ridicule.

In my circles, anyway.

David B

[Arctish]

Moving this thread to the new Secular Issues forum where it should flourish.

Arctish
GD moderator

[DMB]

As a Brit I'm finding it incredibly hard to understand what it must be like feeling unable to articulate being an atheist - the whole question of being "out" seems such a strange one to have to ask in supposedly "advanced" and "democratic" countries like the states - Saudi Arabia perhaps but when I hear about people talking about this in the sort of terms even gay/bi people rarely use in the UK these days it makes me shudder. To me it's just a non issue - taken for granted - the default position even.

Well I'm a Brit too, but a generation older than you, and that makes a difference. I went to school during the 1940s and 1950s. My last school was a grammar school of 800 girls. I was the only atheist and was in consequence treated as a freak by many of my contemporaries and to some extent victimised by staff. When I was growing up, a majority of people I knew went to church. There was a convention, still largely maintained, that one did not discuss controversial religious issues. Most people just didn't seem to question religion. I don't think that most were deeply or fanatically pious, but they just took religion for granted in an unquestioning way.

So I have seen a huge change in public attitudes in my lifetime. Many friends of my generation have given up their earlier beliefs. And that social chnage is not confined to the UK. It has been most striking in traditionally RC countries in Western Europe such as Spain and Ireland. France, of course, has a long-lasting commitment to secularism, enshrined in the Law of 1905.

I have been "out" since the age of 14, but more publically so since I became involved in organised Humanism.

[AthenaAwakened]

Depends on who you ask.

Some know, some dont

The funny thing is, the majority of those people in my family who know, don't believe that I don't believe.

I SOOOOO love being black in the south. It's a HOOT! I highly recommend it.

[ravenscape]

Depends on who you ask.

Some know, some dont

The funny thing is, the majority of those people in my family who know, don't believe that I don't believe.

I SOOOOO love being black in the south. It's a HOOT! I highly recommend it.
I discovered that most of my family are OSAS, at least where other family members are concerned during a recent visit to the South.

As my mother put it, she knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that my "born again" experience was real. Therefore I'm saved. And any straying I do twixt getting born again and the grave is inconsequential - I'll eventually remember and know that I knew all along.

Theologically, it's pretty shaky ground. And living on the inside of my skin, I view my experience of being "born again" as 80% peer pressure and 20% autohypnosis/wishful thinking.

[AthenaAwakened]

Is your family Baptist?

[ravenscape]

Yes they are. Old style Southern Baptist. A little out of step with the church these days.

[AthenaAwakened]

I knew it.

So is my family

It's like arguing with a sack of hammers.

[ravenscape]

Yeah, pretty much.

I kind of prefer it this way, with 3000 miles between us.

[Garnet]

May I join in the commiseration? My sisters, who live in Oklahoma, are Southern Baptists.
My atheism has definitely driven a wedge between me and my eldest sister.

[Matty]

I had one of my first fun experiences with some Mormon missionaries at the weekend. I was on the way back from the second hand book store with my little guy and was approached by some young un with a LDS badge and a book so thought i'd have a chat for a bit seeing as it was a nice day.

Conversation paraphrased as follows.

God Squad Dude: Hi there. On a beautiful day like today doesnt it make you glad to be alive?
Me: Hello. It most certainly does, a very privileged state of affairs indeed.
GSD: Indeed. And dont you feel that we should be more active in thanking God for such a beautiful day?
Me: Ah God eh?. Sorry, i should have realised. Which sect are you? Lets have a closer look at the badge. Oh, Latter Day Saints, you're those lot? I see.
GSD:If you dont mind me asking, what do you mean by that as there are a lot of untruths told about the CLDS?
Me: Really? thats horrible. I mean i heard that Joeseph Smith invented a bunch of stories about holy aliens and all that in order to rationalise his innate racism and the fact that he wanted to bang as many young chicks as possible so included the polygamy aspect.
GSD(looking decidely more flustered by this point). Well i have heard such things before but they are most certainly not true.
Me:Really? Really which bits?
GSD" There is no racism in the CLDS. All are welcome.
ME. Really, maybe i misread but i thought that the blacks and Native Americans as well as aboriginal people of all nations were the descendants of the "lesser aliens" that disagreed with god in the olden days and were exiled and marked as punishment. Isnt that what your teachings say or am i mixing you up with the Joviees, i cant keep you all straight all the time i'm afraid ? Isnt it Mormonism that has a god living on some planet along with his privileged chosen few, Joeseph Smith of course at the right hand?
GSD: Ah i see where the mix up is. Well the idea of Kolob as a planet doesnt have to be taken literally as we mostly use it as a Mormon specific term for Heaven.
Me. :Hmm, not so sure about that, surely if god and his chosen few come from some specified planet then they are by definition extraterrestrials and so the claims of aliens in your belief systems are true. no? However i'm glad you mentioned literalism. Do you guys believe the bible is totally inerrant?
GDS:I'm sorry?
Me. The bible is it all true?
GDS: Oh yes the bible is the word of god and although transcribed by special human authors, was directly taken from their communications with god.
Me. I see, so there shouldn't be anything in the way of contradiction then?
GSD: Well there might be slight difference in the perspective of the person telling the version of events but all the facts should be much the same.
Me(having waited for a couple years to use this one) : really? so according to your bible how many people were at Jesus' tomb on Easter Monday?
GSD. I'm sorry?
Me. People, Jesus tomb on one of the most important days in the Christian calendar, how many spectators were there according to the bible?
GSD: Well i'm not sure exactly, i know some of apostles were there but i'd really have to look...
Me. Let me stop you right here. If my memory is correct, and it is, i seem to remember that each of the four Gospels say a different amount and it varies from 1 to "a multitude."
GSD:Well i wouldnt know he exact versions.
Me. Maybe you should but anyway it doesnt matter what the specific claims are, you can look them up later, what matters is that all four are very much different. How can each of those be simply a different perspective of the same event? More to the point they vary enough that if one of them is right the other three are decidedly wrong, so the bible is in no way inerrant? They simply cant all be right at the same time which means that the bible is not all correct. Wouldnt you say?
GSD: I'm afraid I'm not that familiar with those passages that well.
Me: But isnt that the exact sort of question you should expect to come up against going door to door? It would seem a pretty important fact to me to know if your holy book is all true, some bits are mostly right or if it is all spurious nonsense so why wouldnt you be up to speed on it?
GSD: Our evangelism is more about spreading the good word of ....
Me:Sorry to cut you off again but all the good words in the world arent going to do you any good of its that easy to shoot holes in their claims to truth, now is it?
GSD: Well i believe that the teachings of CLDS are true and the only path to salvation.
Me: Of course you do, what are you 17?
GSD: I'm actually 18.
Me: And for how many of those 18years have you have told that this is the only way to think, that there is no other way to be? You my little friend have been brainwashed your whole life and you are now wondering why those if us who havent, dont think the same as you. If i told my son here everyday from birth till he was 15 that the sun rises at night and that 1+1=5 then i'm sure he'd have no option but to believe it, that wouldnt however make it any more right though eh?
GSD: I'm afraid i find that quite insulting, the teachings of................
Me: Look dude. You are the one that stopped me to talk, dont get all insulted just because you cant answer my questions. Feel free to walk way at any point.
GSD: I think you have been told some very inaccurate stories
Me (holding up Sam' latest purchase, a kids encyclopaedia of dinosaurs) : Strange i think exactly same of you. So whats your guys take on these things then? Did dinosaurs exist 6000years ago and Adam rode them around before they were wiped out by the flood, or are they just trick fossils put in the rocks to confuse the ungoldy and test their faith? Or, and here is a good one, did they exist 65million years ago before probably being made extinct by a cometary impact?
GSD. We are taught that all the dinosaurs were wiped out in the flood.
Me. Were they. Now before i start to completely take apart the whole flood story, and believe me i will if you like, would you like to continue or should i let you go on your way?
GSD: i'm supposed to meet my colleague in a......
Me. No worries. I have other things to be doing anyway, Well i hope if nothing else you learned something. Not everyone knows less about the claims abut your belief system than you do. And some of we atheists come armed with a half decent array of arguments that you really need to be able to say something other than "I dunno" or "Goddidit" to. I'm sorry if i made you uncomfortable, but much of what you say is simply not true nor could it ever be and more people than you realise know that and are willing to call you on it. Did i offend you?
GSD: not offend sir its just that you seem to have some different perspectives to the normal responses. very well informed.
Me (smiling): I'm glad to hear you say that, thank you. I have nothing against you personally but i'm afraid i have no respect for any religion whatsoever, yours included. You seem like a nice kid though so i wont carry on baiting you, much as i am enjoying this. Have a good day eh.
GSD: Yes sir, i will.
Me(smirking and unable to resist a last poke) : better luck next time eh? By the way are you wearing that funky underwear that you guys are supposed to be into?
GSD (sorta uncomfortably laughing and walking off at a fair pace): Thank you sir. Good bye sir.


:D:D Score.

So, having waited for a couple years for such an eventuality, i fucking enjoyed that almost as much as i expected. I wish i could remember more Mormon specific stuff, as I'm never sure if I'm mixing up the mythology of them and the JW's and I felt a bit unfair, albeit briefly, for picking on some poor 18yr old schmuck they just let loose but still, i wonder if it did any good. I doubt it but you never know, hopefully it at least made him think for a few minutes. Anyway thank you to all the posters i learnt such things from over the last couple years, and ebonbmusings religion 101 test (http://www.ebonmusings.org/atheism/guestessays/religion101.html) for that snippet of trivia about all four gospels contradicting each other which has been logged waiting for an opportunity to use in anger for ages.

Being out as a Christian, other than a nominal one, would be more likely to attract ridicule.
I've thought that before. Can you imagine the response to a Fred Phelps type protest in the UK? There would be so much in the way of flour and eggs flying that you could make the worlds biggest pastry gay Jesus tableau. The fact that wankers like that are actively protected by the police whilst they spew their bile cracks me up too.

Let them say it by all means, let them parade with God Hates Fags (in fact most deities are anti smoking as far as i know) but let people rebut their points via the medium of flying objects and verbal abuse.

I even know what the very first line would be

"Oi Phelps you WANKER" . Very loudly and in group chorus with synchronised hand actions.

[AthenaAwakened]

Well my family reunion is in July. Should I go, I wll be surrounded be many ministers (my family has discovered the clergy to be the last refuge of the scoundrel and when you lose your day job you can always pick up the word and hear the call.) Last one I went to, I spent the day hanging out at the trunk of my cousin Jack's car, drinking Hennesey and listening to the Chi-lites and the Delfonics.

Not a bad reunion that one.

[shipload]

I've never been "in".

Oh, and I consider myself an agnostic atheist. I don't know, but I strongly suspect; enough to live my life without.

I spent a few years as a faux pagan, only to find it interesting that my christian friends found it easier to accept that I worshiped hundreds of minor nature gods than none at all.

[AthenaAwakened]

I've never been "in".

Oh, and I consider myself an agnostic atheist. I don't know, but I strongly suspect; enough to live my life without.

I spent a few years as a faux pagan, only to find it interesting that my christian friends found it easier to accept that I worshiped hundreds of minor nature gods than none at all.

Religion is all about practicing belief. What you believe in isn't as important as THAT you believe. Belief is the hard part, that's the part that needs reinforcing, that's the part that weakens if challenged.

[Matty]

I spent the day hanging out at the trunk of my cousin Jack's car, drinking Hennesey and listening to the Chi-lites and the Delfonics.

Not a bad reunion that one. Throw a doob into that mix and i'd probably have a fine afternoon.:)

[ravenscape]

Make it Grand Marnier and I'll keep you company :D

[Dlx2]

I live in Pennsyltucky.

I'm sorry.

[Matty]

ooh is Pennsylvania Bible belt proper ?
I'm going to Exton in July, i have a new darwin fish for the car and everything.

[Flying Buttress]

I neither wear it on my sleeve nor hide it. When I feel religion is being rammed down my throat, I will spit it back.

[Worldtraveller]

I neither wear it on my sleeve nor hide it. When I feel religion is being rammed down my throat, I will spit it back.

Spit, swallow, doesn't matter. Oh wait, wrong thread. ;)

I'm out with my side of the family. My wife has asked that I not make it an issue with her side of the family.

I'm very out in the community, and wear my 'Freindly Neighborhood Atheist' shirts out a lot. :D

[jess]

I'm not out in the community, nor to all family, but to most friends.

[Alethias]

I'm out in my community, Colorado Springs, CO, home of Focus on the Family and about a 100 other international christian ministries. I'm out to my immediate family, and some of my extended family. I haven't talked about it with my wife's family, but they obviously know since they carefully avoid any dangerous subjects around me. I assume she has told them what she deems best. Works for me.

[ruki]

I'm exactly the opposite of most people in that I'm out among my community and friends and strangers who are rude enough to ask and I'm not out to my immediate family (except for my husband). This is mostly because I have a hard time being anything other than bluntly honest and so it usually comes out in conversations. I don't go out of my way to mention it though. Because I see my family only once per year and because they assume that I still hold to all the religious stuff, we rarely have reason to talk about it. And I probably would find a weasely way to avoid telling them if they started skirting around the issue. They do know that I don't go to church, but I stopped going while I was still a believer, so I had to explain that away a while ago. Mostly, I don't want my mom to worry constantly and to tell me that she's praying for me all the time. The bonus to coming all the way out is that I suspect that my dad is an atheist and it would be interesting to have that confirmed (or not).

[Dlx2]

Colorado Springs, CO,

I'm sorry.

[Dlx2]

ooh is Pennsylvania Bible belt proper ?
I'm going to Exton in July, i have a new darwin fish for the car and everything.

No, it's mostly Rust Belt, but it has a big Appalachia flavor in the Western part of the state (except Pittsburgh and the outlying suburbs/towns).

[Old Woman in Purple]

Like others, I don't advertise my atheism, but don't hide it if&when it comes up in conversation.

[Alethias]

Colorado Springs, CO,

I'm sorry.Makes for interesting conversations sometimes.

I remember telling a lady that i really didn't love jesus all that much. She was floored and gasping for breath, and I had to help her into a chair. She said she'd never heard of such a thing. She seemed just way over-wrought that anyone would say that.

She was really cute, too. She was engaged at the time, but it didn't work out. She ended up spending time chatting with me when her engagement failed. She felt like she could talk to me and not get judged. Interesting that she felt like she could be more open to the token atheist than she could all of her fellow christians.

[Vampyroteuthis]

I live in Portland, Oregon. We have lotsa topless bars and not so many churches.

Hmmm.

Dude, what is your avatar doing?!

[ninewands]

I'm out and about 6.85 on the Dawkins scale.

The back of my lily-livered pinko tree-huggin' environmentally-friendly "Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle" Prius (50 mpg ... YAY!) proudly sports this:

http://www.evolvefish.com/fish/media/E-Evolve.gif

just to let the fundies know what I think of their "cross-eyed fish stickers."

[Garrett]

I don't go out of my way to advertise my secularism. I don't hide it either. But I deal with a lot of people day to day, and I allow that they can believe what they want, and I don't allow their beliefs to affect my opinion of them.

Their behaviors, otoh, are another story. Worship doesn't bother me; unreasoning intolerance does.

Love all the fish-variants, btw. I'd be happy to own and show all of them.

[Bartender]

I've been out since I was 16. Broke my mom's heart knowing that I'm gonna roast in hell forever but she got over it..

[Dlx2]

Colorado Springs, CO,

I'm sorry.Makes for interesting conversations sometimes.

I remember telling a lady that i really didn't love jesus all that much. She was floored and gasping for breath, and I had to help her into a chair. She said she'd never heard of such a thing. She seemed just way over-wrought that anyone would say that.

She was really cute, too. She was engaged at the time, but it didn't work out. She ended up spending time chatting with me when her engagement failed. She felt like she could talk to me and not get judged. Interesting that she felt like she could be more open to the token atheist than she could all of her fellow christians.

Every time I go to the Springs, I am extremely intimidated by the megachurches, especially the strip-mall churches and the shopping-mall churches.

[tjakey]

I'm out and I want to see all religion die, the Pope and his cardinals jailed for running a criminal enterprise, all tax breaks for all religions rescinded, and Islam defamed at every turn for the murdering death cult that is has become...

Because, as you can see, I am a "live and let live" sort of guy.

[epepke]

I'm out. And I'm in Alabama. It doesn't seem to cause problems.

[Garnet]

Lucky you. Being outed in Alabama cost me my job. But then, I lived in Montgomery.

[epepke]

Lucky you. Being outed in Alabama cost me my job. But then, I lived in Montgomery.

I have a different attitude toward such things. I find it hard to get jobs anyway and have suffered long periods of unemployment (up to 4 years). Nevertheless, I remain alive. I have no fear of losing my job, and I don't expect to lose it. I probably won't, because I don't fear it.

I think that when people hide aspects of themselves because they fear repercussions they identify themselves as easy targets. Social controllers, particularly the religious, do it in order to make people squirm, so that they can enjoy the feeling of power over others. I can't see that putting on a sign that says, "Kick me! I'll squirm!" serves any purpose other than maximizing the times that someone will attack you, and I can't see any reason to do this other than a desire to be attacked more.

Whenever I say this, some people get mad at me, and then they talk about all the stuff that they "need," which I don't understand, because I don't see how it's possible really to "need" anything, other than things at the base of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, and only then to support the idea that one needs life. I don't see that at all, because I don't have any reason to believe that I get to keep life forever. Or they say, "How would you feel if thus-and-such," and I think back to my life and say "Probably about the same, but I've felt worse, and I didn't die."

Most of what happens to me that is bad, I usually don't think I can control or make any better or less risky by avoidance. So I don't avoid, and I find that feels a lot better. To my constant surprise, when I do this, the bad things seem to go down in both frequency and intensity. I think as aforementioned I have a pretty good handle on why this happens, but whatever the reason, I enjoy it.

[Garnet]

Again, epepke, good for you. That's not how things work for me.

[earljail]

I'm in between "in" and "out". To me, that means I don't pretend to believe, go to church for other people, pray at meals, etc.

But if somebody asks, I'm honest about it.

[Farhat]

Seeing the discussion of putting out campaign buttons on here has caused me to wonder if atheists and agnostics on here are out in real life.

I'm not. After the garbage I went through in Alabama, I'm very leery of letting it be known that I'm an atheist. I typically avoid religious discussions, particularly at work.

What about you?

I am out and have been for a while. It occasionally causes unpleasantness but pretending otherwise causes a whole lot more.

[Febble]

What an interesting thread.

In the UK, in my experience, people tend to assume non-churchgoing unless there is evidence to the contrary, and even when there is, assume that you go so you can get you kid in to a church school.

Which is not to say that most people are atheists. I think it's more that most people aren't that interested, and if they think about it at all (at funerals, for instance) think in terms of a vaguely happy afterlife with the people you loved. I suspect the percentage of people who believe in Hell is tiny (even among church-goers) - or, if they do, assume it's only for the truly evil.

[Garnet]

What an interesting thread.

In the UK, in my experience, people tend to assume non-churchgoing unless there is evidence to the contrary, and even when there is, assume that you go so you can get you kid in to a church school.

Which is not to say that most people are atheists. I think it's more that most people aren't that interested, and if they think about it at all (at funerals, for instance) think in terms of a vaguely happy afterlife with the people you loved. I suspect the percentage of people who believe in Hell is tiny (even among church-goers) - or, if they do, assume it's only for the truly evil.

You've pretty much described my beliefs for about the first half of my life. I had some vague, warm fuzzy notions about God, the afterlife and all but really didn't think about it very much. That is, until I had an emotional conversion experience. It's embarassing now when I think about it.

If I had not had the conversion experience I doubt seriously that I'd be an atheist now. I probably would have continuned on through life with my warm fuzzy notions.

[leccy]

What an interesting thread.

In the UK, in my experience, people tend to assume non-churchgoing unless there is evidence to the contrary, and even when there is, assume that you go so you can get you kid in to a church school.

Which is not to say that most people are atheists. I think it's more that most people aren't that interested, and if they think about it at all (at funerals, for instance) think in terms of a vaguely happy afterlife with the people you loved. I suspect the percentage of people who believe in Hell is tiny (even among church-goers) - or, if they do, assume it's only for the truly evil.


Yep - that pretty much sums it up.

We live in what on the whole would be deemed a pretty religious little village, in that there are two active chapels and a parish church. One chapel in particular really do push the evangelising, with regular "On Fire" events and weekly leaflet drops. I suppose compared to the average place there would be a higher number of god-botherers per 100 people and we do know, vaguely, quite a few villagers who are regular church-goers. I assume that they count those who don't attend as being the default "not religious". It's never been anything approaching an issue for me.

Even in that environment though, the majority of people could probably best be described as "can't be arsed". The population of the village is a few thousand and the churches individually don't hold more than a few hundred. They do get better attendances than three grannies and a tin of spam but I'd be surprised if it were more than a couple of hundred on a Sunday though.

On the one occasion that we've been into one - my boy was performing there with the school band - it was all this modern "please turn round and offer your neighbour the sign of peace" (or "tin of peas" as my boy thought they said). Pretty grim and not at all English. Blech. Even Dominus Vobiscum is prefereable to that.

[violet]

im agnostic on the side of atheism and out there lol my husband is strong atheist. we live in the country so the community when we getogether is small and most dont care what the other is :)

[spikepipsqueak]

I have a mate who lived in Maryland for a while.

She said that if they had visitors on a Sunday in the USA, you just naturally took them to church.

If you have visitors on Sunday in Aust. you just naturally stay home. The focus on religion is just less strong.

[Miracle Storm]

I'm out to all except two people in my family.
Oh and my three youngest kids..

[lurky]

I'm out to everybody and I live in the Bible Belt.

[Garnet]

Does it cause you any trouble, lurky?

[lurky]

Not really. I'm not employed right now (I stay home with the kids, although I do some writing and also have a couple other side lines I'm trying to get going) but it was never an issue when I was. I have a hard time holding down a job for unrelated reasons.

It doesn't really come up much in daily life, anyways. I did have a bus driver make a stupid joking comment about how I must not love my kids. It's probably fortunate for his continued employment that I don't fit the stereotype of the amoral, hateful atheist.

My mom's family is rather sad about it, but we're still close. It's just a weird perspective shift when I'm at family gatherings, because nobody else I'm close to believes in the Bible as literal fact or any of the other nonsense. I made one of my uncles mad when I made an offhanded comment about how ridiculous it is to disbelieve evolution at this point.

In fairness, I do live in an area that's something of a blue island in a mostly-red state.

[Garnet]

Well, that's good! I keep hoping that experiences like the ones I had in Montgomery were an aberration.

[general_koffi]

I'm "out", as far as being an atheist is concerned.

In the social circles I usually frequent, it takes more courage to admit that you're religious.

[perplext]

Out atheist, not an issue.

[Godless Dave]

I'm not out at work only because it never comes up. Discussions with my coworkers mostly involve work, gossip about other coworkers, and alcohol.

A few people at my company (two that I've noticed) have religiously themed email signature lines, but that's the only overt religiosity I've seen here.

[reddhedd]

Provisionally out. DH, kids, some friends and neighbors know. Co-workers/bosses, certain neighbors, and most family members assume I must be christian, because they are and I'm "such a nice person."

I imagine some folks suspect, but don't ask...I think they are afraid of the answer. ;)

[My Winter Storm]

I'm an Athiest, and I don't think there is a single person I know who doesn't know that - I'm always forthcoming with my beliefs, although I don't offend anyone - at least, I try not to.

[Pavlov's Dog]

It is difficult to be an out atheist. I am not the type that runs around screaming it at the top of my lungs. My family does not go to church, pray before meals, etc. so it is never an issue with them. They all know my views on god and religion, so there is no issue. I was raised without religion, never baptized or anything like that. My mother is pretty much an atheist, but I didn't find this out until I was an adult. The topic just never came up.

Also, there were no issues of creationism in my science classes at school. We learned about evolution. We learned that dinosaurs were millions of years old. I don't remember hearing one dissenting opinion. I never really knew there was any debate about it until I found the internet.

I get American's United for Separation of Church and State stuff sent to my work address. None of my coworkers have ever asked me about it. They are all fairly liberal (some might even be atheist or agnostic) and I am confident it wouldn't be an issue. My atheism has never really been an issue, but I do understand how it could easily become one in today's religious climate.

[Oolon Colluphid]

Me, in my frequent attire:

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v169/63/90/810342855/n810342855_247488_1665.jpg

So yeah, I'm sooo out, baby!

I'm about to have another t-shirt made with this:

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/1293/tshirtthormv6.jpg

The only problem is that, here in England -- much like Canada -- One Simply Does Not Usually Talk About These Things. So while few people are (or seem to be ;)) actually offended by my t-shirt, I think many are made uncomfortable by it, just as anything more ostentatious than a simple crucifix as jewellery makes them.

But then I think, so fucking what? Plenty of people do drive around with Jesusfishes on their cars, with burkhas on (mainly in bigger cities, admittedly), and with crucifixes, so if someone's bothered that's their problem.

I call it Faith-head Bothering.

(Admittedly, my wife doesn't let me go out with her with my t-shirt on, but still... ;))

[umop apisdn w,I]

(Admittedly, my wife doesn't let me go out with her with my t-shirt on, but still... ;))

Tell her that what's good for the goose is good for the gander, and refuse to let her go out with a t-shirt on either...

[Seeker630]

I'm out to most of my friends and immediate relatives, including a couple of older cousins, and a second cousin. It hasn't caused me a problem yet. I work for a family owned busines, where the owners are all Catholics. I was raised Catholic. The young boss I work for most of the time is 28 years old, and hasn't a religious bone in his body. He and I have had a few discussions about it. He hasn't said so outright, but I think I'd classify him as an agnostic at the very least, but most likely a weak atheist.+ He told me his Mom sent him to Sunday school once when he was very young and he told her it was crazy and didn't want to ever go back. End of religious upbringing. I am also out to his MIL, who also works there.

Interesting part is that one of our other part-time employees is the wife of a non-denominational minister. They run a small church here in town. yet she rarely brings up the subject of religion at work, and has never done so with me in particular. But about a year and a half ago an odd thing happened---

She and I usually work in two different areas, and have only casual contact. But on that day she and I were in the same room all day. We discussed different things and then out of the blue she made the comment that "you should read William Lane Craig, he really is the best". We had not discussed anything remotely related to religion.

I have no idea what prompted that sudden blurt. I later asked the other lady who knows I'm an atheist and she claims that she had not said anything about it to her. Go figure.

[Garnet]

Well, I outed myself at work today. Blurted out something being the ultimate minority as an atheist without thinking and....



No one even so much as blinked or even looked at me cross eyed.

Whew.

It's good to be in Michigan.

[reddhedd]

My supervisor's head would burst into flames, I think....and then I'd get the "But you're so good with the kids, you have such a kind heart...it can't be true!"
She really is a nice lady...I think it would hurt her a lot to think I was not christian. She's one of the few who walks the talk.

Now...there are others I work with...if I thought their heads would explode, I'd drive out of my way to tell them...:D

[Zygote]

I tend to assume no religion in everyone I meet, unless told otherwise. Where I live that doesn't usually get me in too much trouble.

It was something of a shock to find, at 13, that some people actually let their behavior be guided by superstitions. Until then, I had assumed that the world had learned enough to come to its senses some time after the dark ages.

I'm out to my fellow teachers. We have a common cause in objecting to religion's unholy sway on government in driving us towards holy wars and hobbling education to create a generation of regurgitating sheeple. I envy the more enlightened countries of the world.

[Bright Life]

All of my good friends and family know I'm an atheist, so I voted "out."

I don't mention it to people unless they ask. If it's at school, I usually say "I don't feel comfortable discussing religion at work." It's usually because they want to invite me to church, and this shuts down the conversation better than telling them I'm an atheist.

Speaking of work, though...I've been accused of "promoting atheism" and "making Christian children uncomfortable" in class, which is a complete lie. One xian parent found my MySpace page and actually called the school and LIED about me, trying to get me fired. As she could not get any witnesses (including her own daughter), there was no formal report. I was warned, however, that I needed to be "more tolerant" and "careful not to offend." I was super-pissed. I told the administrator (deacon in his church) that when students ask me, I say "that's not part of the lesson."

Doesn't matter, though. being an atheist, we can't be believed, y'know. I still think it was part of the reason I was "non-retained." I've since made my MySpace page private.

So I guess I'm "out," but I don't "flaunt" it.

[Seeker630]

Interesting part is that one of our other part-time employees is the wife of a non-denominational minister. They run a small church here in town. yet she rarely brings up the subject of religion at work, and has never done so with me in particular. But about a year and a half ago an odd thing happened---

She and I usually work in two different areas, and have only casual contact. But on that day she and I were in the same room all day. We discussed different things and then out of the blue she made the comment that "you should read William Lane Craig, he really is the best". We had not discussed anything remotely related to religion.

I have no idea what prompted that sudden blurt. I later asked the other lady who knows I'm an atheist and she claims that she had not said anything about it to her. Go figure.

Well I am updating you all------since that post of mine on July 17th, I have outed myself to the woman who is the minister's wife. I knew it had to happen eventually, even if only by accident. The water cooler is in the room she works in most of the time, I had gone in to get a cup of water, and it was just me and her. The day was winding down and I was to be leaving shortly. She just up and asks me what my religious upbringing had been. So I told her Catholic, and then flat out told her I'm an atheist now.

We had a very pleasant conversation, with her assuring me she understood that everyone has the right to their own beliefs. She hasn't brought it up again since and we get along just fine. But then again, we've worked around each other for about 5 years now or more, so she has gotten to know enough about me that she would probably feel comfortable with it anyway.

[Bad Horse]

Out, in more ways than one. But it's not like I walk up to people and say "Hi, i'm an atheist and queer, nice to meet you". If they ask, I have no problem answering though.

Eh James, I agree with your sentiment, in theory. But in some parts of the US, being out as an atheist can cause some real harm. Harassment in the workplace is never fun and is very difficult to fight.

At first I didn't really say anything to anyone except my closest friends, for that reason. Arkansas is not normally a great place to be an atheist.

Then one day at work, during a conversation about religion, a lady I'd known since we were both children blurted out that "atheists need to go back to the country they came from, this is a christian country!". I couldn't resist the opportunity to watch so much egg land on one persons face and calmly told her "Didn't you know I'm an atheist? What country that I'm not from do you suggest I go back to?".

Makes them look like an asshole and most people overlook the fact that you basically just said you think they're as intelligent about reality as the typical child staying up late for Santa.

[Garnet]

Go back to the country they're from?

Gawd.

[JamieG]

They think I'm not really an atheist - they think I just haven't met the right God yet.

[Garnet]

They think I'm not really an atheist - they think I just haven't met the right God yet.

In my experience, that's actually a fairly common response. Either that or I really worship Satan. :p

[Bright Life]

Then one day at work, during a conversation about religion, a lady I'd known since we were both children blurted out that "atheists need to go back to the country they came from, this is a christian country!". I couldn't resist the opportunity to watch so much egg land on one persons face and calmly told her "Didn't you know I'm an atheist? What country that I'm not from do you suggest I go back to?".

Atheisia? I'd sure love to visit!

They think I'm not really an atheist - they think I just haven't met the right God yet.

In my experience, that's actually a fairly common response. Either that or I really worship Satan. :p

Yeah, I used to get the second one a lot.

[Godless Dave]

Whenever I read threads like these I'm thankful that I didn't have to go through any of this. My parents went through it for me.

My dad's mother insisted he go to Sunday school and get baptized. His mother pressured him (and his wife, my mom) to take me to Sunday school and raise me Christian. When he told her he didn't really believe it anymore, he got "I guess I didn't try hard enough when I was raising you."

They put up with the guilt and manipulation from his parents and raised me and my siblings without indoctrinating us. As a result, I haven't had to endure the comments and family crap many of you had.

(Mom's parents were Christian too, but not hardcore about it. Also, her mom was batshit crazy so childhood indoctrination was the least of my mom's problems).

[Rivka]

I'm in and out, but during the last major loss of faith, most people knew. It comes and goes with me, so I've taken to not picking any sides at this point. Only one other person knows for sure.

[Bright Life]

Do you think that fear of the unknown, fear from indoctrination, or some other reason keeps you see-sawing?

[Rivka]

Do you think that fear of the unknown, fear from indoctrination, or some other reason keeps you see-sawing?

Yes. :)

[Protinus]

I'm out...as a progressive Catholic, an opponent of the Christian complex and a transfixed follower of Thomas Merton.

[Loki]

Go back to the country they're from?

Gawd.

I got into an argument with my mom when the Pledge of Allegiance thing was going on. I was arguing for the original wording, and at some point she just blurted out, angrily, "What are you, and Atheist?" and I confirmed I was. Then she just starts saying how sorry she is that her daughter turned out like that, how she failed as a parent, and suggested I move to Iran. She's not really anywhere in the ballpark of what I'd consider rational, so I don't hold it against her anymore.

Half in and out; close friends know me as an atheist, along with parents and a cousin (or two). Irony? Not really an atheist anymore.

If someone I'm not comfortable discussing personal stuff with asks, I deflect with "I was raised Catholic" and leave it at that.

[ioinc]

You don't get much more out than me.
It has been an evolution tho.

When I was younger and it came up the answer was..... "Uh.. um... I was never brought up in religion, so I guess I don't believe."

A few years ago... it was "Yeah... I am an atheist"

Now it's .. "Don't be silly..... of course I am an atheist. You mean you're not? really!?"

[Tenebrae]

Starting to be.

It suprises me, all human beings are suposedly important to the christian god, yet when a person deconverts, walks away what ever, the followers cant even lift a finger and God forbid they should ever gather round the person leaving them and offer them unconditional love and support.


Instead its all this trite bullshit that I would like to tell them to cram it up their collective asses

I think I'm feeling a little stung right now.

[Garnet]

One of the arguments for Christianity that always fails for me is that Christianity is all about love. Horse shit. Christians are no more loving than anyone else. This is truly demonstrated when one "leaves the fold."

[Rivka]

Starting to be.

It suprises me, all human beings are suposedly important to the christian god, yet when a person deconverts, walks away what ever, the followers cant even lift a finger and God forbid they should ever gather round the person leaving them and offer them unconditional love and support.


Instead its all this trite bullshit that I would like to tell them to cram it up their collective asses

I think I'm feeling a little stung right now.

(((((((Tenebrae)))))))

Wow, do I know the feeling. I think a grand total of ONE of the people at my church continued to be my friend after I left the faith. I know how badly it hurts. I hope you know that I'm here for you if you wanna talk, though. :hug:

[Lanakila]

I don't think any of y'all were around when I deconverted but the people at CF lost it. I was the first of quite a few mods to deconvert, and as a fundy that debated against atheists in GA and moderated in News and in a couple of other places that I don't even remember now my deconversion shocked folks and hurt some too I'm afraid. Having had access to the staff forums that were a hotbed of gossip for years (not sure if it's still like that) I'm sure some staff thought I'd start sharing secrets.

In real life I didn't tell my church not so much because I felt I'd be rejected but because I knew that some of the folks in there would be truly hurt by my rejection of the faith.

[RAFH]

Never been in, so I guess I'm out.

It was never much of an issue when I lived in California except with the ex-wife's family and even the is was never a problem. Funnily enough, I've gotten more reaction since I move to Hawaii, which is sort of a spiritual/religious hotbed, just the usual suspects.

There's a lot of Mormons here, and lots of other fundies, plenty of Philippino Catholicism, lots of Budhism, mainly Japanese which includes a lot of animism, and then just about every thing else. It's always been a big target for missionaries. What's not churchy is often woo-woo newage. I make no effort to conceal my lack of belief nor my general contempt for such silliness. Give me a good dose of Monty Python or Firesign anytime. I don't know if it's had any effect on me personally or professionally. I'm not a serious socialite but I seriously self unemployed, at least as seriously as I can be.

It was funny, I only found out about my older brother being an Episcopalian when I was 44. That's about how much religion figured in my family life. Hell, I'm not even sure what an Episcopalian is.

I just don't tend to have beliefs. Working models, yeah, suspicions, some, but not beliefs. I think it's weird people would believe in a reality rather than going out and finding out about the one we exist in.

[Tenebrae]

They think I'm not really an atheist - they think I just haven't met the right God yet.

In my experience, that's actually a fairly common response. Either that or I really worship Satan. :p

You mean you dont worship Santa? :p

[Octavia]

Never been religious, and am definitely out as an atheist.

[Tenebrae]

Never been religious, and am definitely out as an atheist.

Do you get crap as an atheist Octavia. I've heard horror stories of some of the crap non christians and non theists have had to endure in places like the US

[Kpfp]

when I left a fundy church years ago I caught so much hell, and I hadn't even left christianity. If all my family and all the people in my small town knew that I had completely lost my faith....they'd flip their lid! Any advice on how to go about dropping a bomb such as this would be appreciated....or should I just keep my mouth shut?

[Gooch's dad]

I'm lucky to live in a place where religion is mostly considered a private matter. My friends and family all know that I'm an atheist, but I think only one or two of my fellow teachers do--the ones who are also atheists. One of the other track coaches was agnostic or atheist, and he and I griped about the prayer at a Wisconsin track coaches meeting together.

As a public school teacher, I make it a point to NOT let my students know what my views are on religion. I think it should be that way for all teachers, whether they are fundamentalist Christians, or atheists, or anything else. There's nothing I teach that even remotely requires that I reveal what I believe about religious issues, since I teach math and physics.

I guess an exception might be for my Jewish friend who teaches world history--when he covers world religions, I'm sure he talks about what he does as a practicing Jew, but I know that he talks as much or more about what people of other faiths believe.

[Katjo]

Posts like these give me some insight as to why it is so hard for many christians to accept another point of view. If they did then they might start to allow some doubt into their own minds - and look where that could lead.

I think its very courageous of anyone who admits to non-belief in a highly christian family/town/society. This kind of prejudice isn't confined just to christian apostates, it must be worse for muslims.

I'm atheist, out with family, and friends, not at work.
Katjo

[Godless Dave]

I'm not even sure what an Episcopalian is.


<snark>An upper-middle-class agnostic who wants a social club. </snark>

[ravenscape]

when I left a fundy church years ago I caught so much hell, and I hadn't even left christianity. If all my family and all the people in my small town knew that I had completely lost my faith....they'd flip their lid! Any advice on how to go about dropping a bomb such as this would be appreciated....or should I just keep my mouth shut?
This is a great question, and I think you would get a lot of advice if you start a thread asking this question right here in the Secular Issues forum.

I didn't quite get to drop this bomb to my family before they knew on their own. Long story, though, and I do think that though the immediate fall-out was probably much worse (I was royally pissed instead of being sheepish and sorry and stuff), the explosion was over quickly. Now I just endure low grade preachifying and witnessing whenever I'm in earshot of my mother.

[Blueskyboris]

Guys, I'm gay...

[Octavia]

Never been religious, and am definitely out as an atheist.

Do you get crap as an atheist Octavia. I've heard horror stories of some of the crap non christians and non theists have had to endure in places like the US

Never had as much as a single negative comment - even from the religious. I find that here in NZ most people just don't give a damn either way, as long as you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone.

Occasionally at uni some poor young thing trots up to me handing out a church leaflet or some such (from the Christian club at uni), and I very carefully explain, at great, painful length, just what is wrong with their reasoning, but we're all very polite and friendly about it. :D

[Esocyn]

If it's brought up in conversation, I'll talk about it but I'm not obnoxious about it. In fact, it's probably my least favorite subject to 'debate' about. I'm an atheist through my politics for the most part.

[Sugriva]

If it's brought up in conversation, I'll talk about it but I'm not obnoxious about it. In fact, it's probably my least favorite subject to 'debate' about. I'm an atheist through my politics for the most part.
I'm similar but in a flip-flopped way: I enjoy discussing theism and non-theism (as well as skepticism in general) with anyone willing to listen, but tend to hold my tongue when it comes to discussing my socialist political views. I find that most theists are perfectly willing to discuss religion politely with me and are not particularly outraged at my atheism, but mention my admiration of Marx and even self identified "leftists" seem uncomfortable. Maybe it's a California thing, but I've never had any negative reactions to my outspoken atheism.

[Matty]

Guys, I'm gay...

we know. :)

[Esocyn]

If it's brought up in conversation, I'll talk about it but I'm not obnoxious about it. In fact, it's probably my least favorite subject to 'debate' about. I'm an atheist through my politics for the most part.
I'm similar but in a flip-flopped way: I enjoy discussing theism and non-theism (as well as skepticism in general) with anyone willing to listen, but tend to hold my tongue when it comes to discussing my socialist political views. I find that most theists are perfectly willing to discuss religion politely with me and are not particularly outraged at my atheism, but mention my admiration of Marx and even self identified "leftists" seem uncomfortable. Maybe it's a California thing, but I've never had any negative reactions to my outspoken atheism.

I've known a great deal of American anarchists and other socialists who love discussing Marx's ideas -- whether they necessarily agree with the lot of them or not. It's usually social democrats who get all blustered about Marx. But that's probably for a different thread.

"God", as a concept, is useless to me. My view consists of one part Carlin and one part Bakunin:

"Religion has actually convinced people … that there's an invisible man … living in the sky … who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of 10 things he does not want you to do! And if you do any of these 10 things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry, forever and ever, 'til the end of time! … But he loves you! … He loves you. He loves you and he needs money! He always needs money! He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, all-wise, but somehow – just can't handle money!" - GC

That covers the irrationality of religion and "God" to me. This covers the moral and political bases:

"A jealous lover of human liberty, deeming it the absolute condition of all that we admire and respect in humanity, I reverse the phrase of Voltaire, and say that, if God really existed, it would be necessary to abolish him. " - MB

The entire debate of trying to scientifically prove God exists through evidence is completely irrelevant to me.

[Bright Life]

As a public school teacher, I make it a point to NOT let my students know what my views are on religion. I think it should be that way for all teachers, whether they are fundamentalist Christians, or atheists, or anything else. There's nothing I teach that even remotely requires that I reveal what I believe about religious issues, since I teach math and physics.


Me too. My standard answer is that "my personal beliefs are not relevant to the lesson at hand."

[Tawny]

I have the opposite effect from the original question. When some people find out I go to church and am Christian, they look at me as if I am some sort of wierdo. When they then find out I sit on the PCC and am treasurer, they look even more aghast. Round here, the predominant reason for people my age going to church is to get their kids into the C of E Secondary school.

[DMB]

I have the opposite effect from the original question. When some people find out I go to church and am Christian, they look at me as if I am some sort of wierdo. When they then find out I sit on the PCC and am treasurer, they look even more aghast. Round here, the predominant reason for people my age going to church is to get their kids into the C of E Secondary school.

And yet back when I was a child I knew very few atheists. Hell, I hardly knew any catholics or Jews. Nearly everyone seemed to be CofE.

[Tawny]

I have the opposite effect from the original question. When some people find out I go to church and am Christian, they look at me as if I am some sort of wierdo. When they then find out I sit on the PCC and am treasurer, they look even more aghast. Round here, the predominant reason for people my age going to church is to get their kids into the C of E Secondary school.

And yet back when I was a child I knew very few atheists. Hell, I hardly knew any catholics or Jews. Nearly everyone seemed to be CofE. Exactly! My dad and mum used to go to church religously (excuse the pun) but drifted away before they had me, they are strictly Hatch, Match and Dispatch Churchgoers.

Put it this way, my church is in a village with a population of approximately 900 people, we have one service a week, either morning or evening. We average 40 attendees including children choir and clergy for a morning and 30 for an evening.

[Eudaimonist]

Out to family and friends, but not at work.


eudaimonia,

Mark

[Tenebrae]

I'm merging into a combination of Deist with some christian over tones and pagan.



Octavia, glad to hear you have never been hassled. I have to confess I do like challe