Have you ever lied about your religious beliefs for personal gain?

[Anonymous]

I am jewish.. Back when I was in college I was on a long bus ride coming home because my father had just had a heart attack. I don't remember how it came up, but the person sitting next to me found out I was not christian. She, and three other people, started pressuring me about christianity - about how it would save me, and help my father. After about a hour of this badgering, I gasped, looked up, and stated "Praise the Lord, I've been saved". Then they left me alone.

Does that count?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I'm discrete about being an atheist.

This. I don't out myself for just anyone. It goes double when I meet with religious blacks, since I am black.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am jewish.. Back when I was in college I was on a long bus ride coming home because my father had just had a heart attack. I don't remember how it came up, but the person sitting next to me found out I was not christian. She, and three other people, started pressuring me about christianity - about how it would save me, and help my father. After about a hour of this badgering, I gasped, looked up, and stated "Praise the Lord, I've been saved". Then they left me alone.

Does that count?

Yes -- excellent example

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I'm discrete about being an atheist.

This. I don't out myself for just anyone. It goes double when I meet with religious blacks, since I am black.

Unless you decide to take the opportunity to show them that a nice black person like you can be an atheist. Otherwise, the stereotype continues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I'm discrete about being an atheist.

This. I don't out myself for just anyone. It goes double when I meet with religious blacks, since I am black.

Unless you decide to take the opportunity to show them that a nice black person like you can be an atheist. Otherwise, the stereotype continues.

I do when possible. But I have become unwelcome in certain black businesses that I would use (like a hair salon) in the past when it came out I did not go to church. If people get to know me first then my lack of faith isn't really an issue, if it is revealed.

[Anonymous]

Sure. My family of origin thinks I am still Catholic and believe the tenents of the Catholic faith (father son holy ghost, virgin mary, heaven, prayer). They believe this because I lead them to believe this by lying through omission. I am actually an atheist for the last 10 years.

My personal "gain" is keeping the peace and serenity when we are together in my home city 2-3 times a year. Family harmony is my gain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I ever visit family in the Middle East, I will lie and pretend I am a non-practicing Muslim instead of letting people know that I am Catholic. The chances that I will set foot in the Middle East is very slim though.

Huh? Were you originally Muslim?

And why would you think Muslims in the Middle East can't handle having a Christian around? There are actually Christians in the Middle East and they have to live there, I'm sure you can survive visiting.

-Middle Eastern Christian

New poster here. I have a hard time believing your post. It's not about simply being a Christian. It's about being an apostate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Catholic, and occasionally downplay it in social situations. Sometimes I'm just not in the mood for the eye rolls and negative comments. But I would never outright deny my Catholicism. If it directly comes up, I am sincere, even if there might be negative consequences.

I can't stand when politicians pretend to be more religious than they are. Be who you are.

+1 to the downplaying Catholicism part. Sometimes, depending on the social setting, I might say I'm still hanging on by a fingernail. But the fact of the matter is, I'm Catholic, and even though I've thought a lot about other religions, I can't imagine ever being anything but Catholic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I ever visit family in the Middle East, I will lie and pretend I am a non-practicing Muslim instead of letting people know that I am Catholic. The chances that I will set foot in the Middle East is very slim though.

Huh? Were you originally Muslim?

And why would you think Muslims in the Middle East can't handle having a Christian around? There are actually Christians in the Middle East and they have to live there, I'm sure you can survive visiting.

-Middle Eastern Christian

New poster here. I have a hard time believing your post. It's not about simply being a Christian. It's about being an apostate.

I'm guessing it's more about the poster's family and not wanting to deal with their reactions--not just being Christian in the Middle East.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I'm discrete about being an atheist.

This. I don't out myself for just anyone. It goes double when I meet with religious blacks, since I am black.

Unless you decide to take the opportunity to show them that a nice black person like you can be an atheist. Otherwise, the stereotype continues.

Leading with atheism isn't the way to do it in most cases. I generally wait until people know me well. It's still taboo for many and I don't people to assume I'm judging them
Based on their faith (because I'm not)

[Anonymous]

I had a job a decade ago that required constant air travel. It seemed I'd always get seated next to an evangelical Christian. My pat answer to the oft-posed question, "are you a Christian?" was always an enthusiastic, "Yes! Roman Catholic!" and then a blissful return to silence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't done so, but have suspected other people. For instance, I worked with a guy who seemed to pretend to be Jew to get days off. He told me he didn't go to a synagogue, didn't wear a yarmulke and ate everything without caring whether it was kosher.

He's probably Jewish and not practicing.

My aunt by marriage literally does nothing with her faith except identify as Jewish and I totally don't get it.

There are many cultural Jews, who identify with a shared past, stories, traditions and foods who don't practice a religion (many are atheists)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't done so, but have suspected other people. For instance, I worked with a guy who seemed to pretend to be Jew to get days off. He told me he didn't go to a synagogue, didn't wear a yarmulke and ate everything without caring whether it was kosher.

He's probably Jewish and not practicing.

My aunt by marriage literally does nothing with her faith except identify as Jewish and I totally don't get it.

There are many cultural Jews, who identify with a shared past, stories, traditions and foods who don't practice a religion (many are atheists)

Yup, my husband is at most agnostic, but he still celebrates the high holidays out of respect for his heritage and all the relatives who were lost in the holocaust.

[Anonymous]

I know someone who is very involved with a church for purely social (climbing) reasons.

[Anonymous]

I know someone who has essentially started her own religion in order to make her feel better about the fact she cites a religious objection on school forms to getting her child vaccinated. I'm horrified.