If it comes up I will say I'm an atheist- I don't advertise it. Not for any reason, it would just be weird to say "BTW, I don't believe in god" out of nowhere. |
It seems by saying that you were raised Catholic that you're actively deflecting the issue of your current non-religious status. Why do that unless you're trying to hide it? |
My feeling is that concerns about your soul or morality is their problem and you should not try to save them from it. |
Would you wear some kind of an atheist emblem (like Christians wear a cross) if they existed? |
No, a negative as in "proving a negative." An absence. People don't wear T shirts announcing the things they don't believe, or don't care about, or don't feel are worth mentioning. |
DP, but I would not. My identity isn't tied up in not believing. |
PP. No, but I would I suppose. Never occurred to me. I generally don't wear clothing to express my thoughtful positions. That's what forums and personal conversations are for. |
It is more about my desire to save myself from a pointless and dull conversation with well-meaning relatives. |
Yes, I hide it.
This may be "DC urban" but if you go just a little ways away, broadcasting your non-belief is likely to result in confrontation from the ignorant. Or, if you want to stay local, see what happens if you let a MAGAt know. |
I say I'm not religious if asked directly, but don't volunteer that info. Same way as I don't announce 'I don't follow football', unless the discussion is about the teams people support.
Of course, this topic ever only comes up in company of believers, usually in context of churches people attend. Not once has our common not-believing-in-god been a topic of discussion with other atheists. |
As an atheist, I don't see it as a negative, either. But there is no doubt that there are certain circumstances where we keep that private because of OTHER people's perceptions that being an atheist is equivalent to being evil. I had a friend of my daughter tell me (we've never ever discussed religion or beliefs around her and she told us she attended a baptist church) that she doesn't believe in god, thinks he's evil. Then she said "but I am not an atheist. I hate atheists...they are bad people". Because she is young, and because she is not my child, I just nodded my head and changed the subject, but this is how atheists are viewed by a lot of people. Not just that we don't believe in their god, which in and of itself is also confrontational to some believers. |
I'm not religious, and usually don't bring it up. But if asked, I explain that I have trouble believing in God. Which is probably a mistake because a believer (a friend) who has my best interests at heart then invariably tries to "save my soul"!
Oh, and then I must be terribly confusing when [because I have a penchant for being silly] I say stuff like "Jesus loves me" as a joke when I hit a freakishly lucky shot in pickleball! I feel I should apologize to everyone for that -- believers and non-believers! |
Similarly, I think a lot of believers' identities are not tied up in believing, but the society encourages the wearing of religious symbols and mentioning church the way people would mention any other place. Also, society discourages mentioning lack of belief. Maybe that should change |
I understand, but really think it's too bad, particularly because it's an opportunity to normalize atheism. |
Maybe you should just stop saying it. |