How old were you when you safely came out of the closet as an atheist?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please. People don't care if you're an atheist.

I take it you're not an atheist?

People care very much, and judge you as devoid of ethics, morals, or values. I have been told this numerous times by faith-believing people.

I was not raised Atheist, but it took me until my early-mid 20's to "come out" to a few people, and later to be more open. Till this day I still feel judged, and sometimes just say that I'm not religious, as opposed to being an atheist. It's still very much frowned down upon even in the US, and in a large metro area.

Same here, although depending on where I am (hello deep south), I'm "not affiliated with a specific church". "Not religious" comes next. Sometimes "agnostic" or "atheist", but mostly I just don't care about it - not sure what that label is.

Apatheist - pronounced APaTHEist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please. People don't care if you're an atheist.

I take it you're not an atheist?

People care very much, and judge you as devoid of ethics, morals, or values. I have been told this numerous times by faith-believing people.

I was not raised Atheist, but it took me until my early-mid 20's to "come out" to a few people, and later to be more open. Till this day I still feel judged, and sometimes just say that I'm not religious, as opposed to being an atheist. It's still very much frowned down upon even in the US, and in a large metro area.

I am the only Christian in my core group of friends (the rest are atheist or agnostic). They have it much easier than I do.

+1

Not this again, OP. Sorry I'm not tuning up the violins for you. I guarantee that you as an atheist have it much easier (in general religious terms) than do those of us who are evangelical Christians living in the heart of NW DC.

Many of us didn't grow up in liberal NW DC. This is also part of the reason I don't want to live in the deep south. I just fit in here better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please. People don't care if you're an atheist.

I take it you're not an atheist?

People care very much, and judge you as devoid of ethics, morals, or values. I have been told this numerous times by faith-believing people.

I was not raised Atheist, but it took me until my early-mid 20's to "come out" to a few people, and later to be more open. Till this day I still feel judged, and sometimes just say that I'm not religious, as opposed to being an atheist. It's still very much frowned down upon even in the US, and in a large metro area.

Same here, although depending on where I am (hello deep south), I'm "not affiliated with a specific church". "Not religious" comes next. Sometimes "agnostic" or "atheist", but mostly I just don't care about it - not sure what that label is.

Apatheist - pronounced APaTHEist

LOL. I love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am agnostic as is my husband but we still don't go around advertising it.

Do you "advertise" what schools you went to, or where you were raised, or what kind of car you drive, or where you went on vacation? -- doubtful -- these are just parts of everyone's lives that they talk about freely -- the way people who have a religion mention it in conversation. We'll have arrived when people freely mention their lack of religion just as easily as they mention their religion or other aspects of their lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 42 and haven't admitted it to anyone.

Do you live in the DC area -- there are lots of secular groups around -- you should go to a few and see what it's like to finally be able to "come out."

[Anonymous]

OP here, I agree that evangelicals in the DC area get the eye rolling too. That is also wrong.
I like it when people say to atheists, "I don't care what you believe in, just as long as you believe in something"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 42 and haven't admitted it to anyone.

Do you live in the DC area -- there are lots of secular groups around -- you should go to a few and see what it's like to finally be able to "come out."

Apatheist here, and I don't get the appeal of secular groups. I could see joining a non-religious club with a purpose, like a running club or something like that, but I don't get the appeal of meeting to be not-religious together. What's the draw?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am agnostic as is my husband but we still don't go around advertising it.

Do you "advertise" what schools you went to, or where you were raised, or what kind of car you drive, or where you went on vacation? -- doubtful -- these are just parts of everyone's lives that they talk about freely -- the way people who have a religion mention it in conversation. We'll have arrived when people freely mention their lack of religion just as easily as they mention their religion or other aspects of their lives.

I disagree with the above post and agree that you don't need to go around advertising your belief system (or lack thereof). The car example is not event close to being the same. Schools somewhat as well. When I meet people socially, religion hardly ever comes up until people are close friends. If people mention their bible study or church whatever, it easy enough to make a few inane comments then change the subject. After 12 years in DC, I really can't remember a single time my religion came up in discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please. People don't care if you're an atheist.

I take it you're not an atheist?

People care very much, and judge you as devoid of ethics, morals, or values. I have been told this numerous times by faith-believing people.

I was not raised Atheist, but it took me until my early-mid 20's to "come out" to a few people, and later to be more open. Till this day I still feel judged, and sometimes just say that I'm not religious, as opposed to being an atheist. It's still very much frowned down upon even in the US, and in a large metro area.

Same here, although depending on where I am (hello deep south), I'm "not affiliated with a specific church". "Not religious" comes next. Sometimes "agnostic" or "atheist", but mostly I just don't care about it - not sure what that label is.

Apatheist - pronounced APaTHEist

LOL. I love it.

Belief is something I too just never thnk about. I never had any inner struggle or debate or even any conversation with myself about it. I was raised without religion really, belief wasn't something that came up in my house. I honestly don't know if my parents believe in god. So, yes, I'm an atheist, but I've never "come out" as one. It's just something that is, not something I feel the need to proclaim or take ownership of.

Fwiw, I was raised in a blue collar community in New England, with a large catholic population. Since I wasn't catholic, I was accustomed to feeling somewhat different and a bit apart from a pretty young age. But in my community it was a small difference, really; I had lots of catholic friends and it never seemed like that big a deal not to share those beliefs. New Englanders in general tend to be much less religious than people in other parts of the country, and those who are religious tend to live their religion quietly. You rarely see anything like the overt religiosity that is common in other regions.

As an adult, I rarely think about religion at all (in my personal life; of course I do think about it sometimes in the context of politics, international relations, etc). I have friends who appear to have no religion and others whom I know attend religios services faithfully. But I don't know if they believe in god or not. It never comes up.

Though I am an atheist, I don't really identify myself as an Atheist, iykwim. I view it more as an absence of something rather than a philosophy of its own. It's not really a part of my identity. If someone asks me what religion I am, I always say, "Nothing." I never say, "Atheist."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 42 and haven't admitted it to anyone.

Do you live in the DC area -- there are lots of secular groups around -- you should go to a few and see what it's like to finally be able to "come out."

Apatheist here, and I don't get the appeal of secular groups. I could see joining a non-religious club with a purpose, like a running club or something like that, but I don't get the appeal of meeting to be not-religious together. What's the draw?

No draw to an apatheist -- because you don't care. But some people who, for instance, have been in restrictive religious sects care a lot and are eager to meet people who are like them.

Others, who have not been particularly harmed by religion, just want to feel feel to talk openly about their lack of belief and be with like-minded people. For others, it's more of a political issue -- they want more open societal acceptance of non-belief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I agree that evangelicals in the DC area get the eye rolling too. That is also wrong.
I like it when people say to atheists, "I don't care what you believe in, just as long as you believe in something"

Kidding right? I can't figure out what people mean when they say that -- something supernatural, no matter what it is? Why is that better than looking to the natural world for answers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please. People don't care if you're an atheist.

I take it you're not an atheist?

People care very much, and judge you as devoid of ethics, morals, or values. I have been told this numerous times by faith-believing people.

I was not raised Atheist, but it took me until my early-mid 20's to "come out" to a few people, and later to be more open. Till this day I still feel judged, and sometimes just say that I'm not religious, as opposed to being an atheist. It's still very much frowned down upon even in the US, and in a large metro area.

Same here, although depending on where I am (hello deep south), I'm "not affiliated with a specific church". "Not religious" comes next. Sometimes "agnostic" or "atheist", but mostly I just don't care about it - not sure what that label is.

Apatheist - pronounced APaTHEist

LOL. I love it.

Belief is something I too just never thnk about. I never had any inner struggle or debate or even any conversation with myself about it. I was raised without religion really, belief wasn't something that came up in my house. I honestly don't know if my parents believe in god. So, yes, I'm an atheist, but I've never "come out" as one. It's just something that is, not something I feel the need to proclaim or take ownership of.

Fwiw, I was raised in a blue collar community in New England, with a large catholic population. Since I wasn't catholic, I was accustomed to feeling somewhat different and a bit apart from a pretty young age. But in my community it was a small difference, really; I had lots of catholic friends and it never seemed like that big a deal not to share those beliefs. New Englanders in general tend to be much less religious than people in other parts of the country, and those who are religious tend to live their religion quietly. You rarely see anything like the overt religiosity that is common in other regions.

As an adult, I rarely think about religion at all (in my personal life; of course I do think about it sometimes in the context of politics, international relations, etc). I have friends who appear to have no religion and others whom I know attend religios services faithfully. But I don't know if they believe in god or not. It never comes up.

Though I am an atheist, I don't really identify myself as an Atheist, iykwim. I view it more as an absence of something rather than a philosophy of its own. It's not really a part of my identity. If someone asks me what religion I am, I always say, "Nothing." I never say, "Atheist."

Try saying atheist and see what happens. It will be an interesting experiment. And you're right -- Atheism is not a philosophy -- that would be humanism, which most atheists are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please. People don't care if you're an atheist.

I take it you're not an atheist?

People care very much, and judge you as devoid of ethics, morals, or values. I have been told this numerous times by faith-believing people.

I was not raised Atheist, but it took me until my early-mid 20's to "come out" to a few people, and later to be more open. Till this day I still feel judged, and sometimes just say that I'm not religious, as opposed to being an atheist. It's still very much frowned down upon even in the US, and in a large metro area.

Same here, although depending on where I am (hello deep south), I'm "not affiliated with a specific church". "Not religious" comes next. Sometimes "agnostic" or "atheist", but mostly I just don't care about it - not sure what that label is.

Apatheist - pronounced APaTHEist

LOL. I love it.

Belief is something I too just never thnk about. I never had any inner struggle or debate or even any conversation with myself about it. I was raised without religion really, belief wasn't something that came up in my house. I honestly don't know if my parents believe in god. So, yes, I'm an atheist, but I've never "come out" as one. It's just something that is, not something I feel the need to proclaim or take ownership of.

Fwiw, I was raised in a blue collar community in New England, with a large catholic population. Since I wasn't catholic, I was accustomed to feeling somewhat different and a bit apart from a pretty young age. But in my community it was a small difference, really; I had lots of catholic friends and it never seemed like that big a deal not to share those beliefs. New Englanders in general tend to be much less religious than people in other parts of the country, and those who are religious tend to live their religion quietly. You rarely see anything like the overt religiosity that is common in other regions.

As an adult, I rarely think about religion at all (in my personal life; of course I do think about it sometimes in the context of politics, international relations, etc). I have friends who appear to have no religion and others whom I know attend religios services faithfully. But I don't know if they believe in god or not. It never comes up.

Though I am an atheist, I don't really identify myself as an Atheist, iykwim. I view it more as an absence of something rather than a philosophy of its own. It's not really a part of my identity. If someone asks me what religion I am, I always say, "Nothing." I never say, "Atheist."

Try saying atheist and see what happens. It will be an interesting experiment. And you're right -- Atheism is not a philosophy -- that would be humanism, which most atheists are.

Sure, I could do that. Except I really don't care. ~shrug~

Yes, I do consider myself a humanist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please. People don't care if you're an atheist.

I take it you're not an atheist?

People care very much, and judge you as devoid of ethics, morals, or values. I have been told this numerous times by faith-believing people.

I was not raised Atheist, but it took me until my early-mid 20's to "come out" to a few people, and later to be more open. Till this day I still feel judged, and sometimes just say that I'm not religious, as opposed to being an atheist. It's still very much frowned down upon even in the US, and in a large metro area.

Same here, although depending on where I am (hello deep south), I'm "not affiliated with a specific church". "Not religious" comes next. Sometimes "agnostic" or "atheist", but mostly I just don't care about it - not sure what that label is.

Apatheist - pronounced APaTHEist

LOL. I love it.

Belief is something I too just never thnk about. I never had any inner struggle or debate or even any conversation with myself about it. I was raised without religion really, belief wasn't something that came up in my house. I honestly don't know if my parents believe in god. So, yes, I'm an atheist, but I've never "come out" as one. It's just something that is, not something I feel the need to proclaim or take ownership of.

Fwiw, I was raised in a blue collar community in New England, with a large catholic population. Since I wasn't catholic, I was accustomed to feeling somewhat different and a bit apart from a pretty young age. But in my community it was a small difference, really; I had lots of catholic friends and it never seemed like that big a deal not to share those beliefs. New Englanders in general tend to be much less religious than people in other parts of the country, and those who are religious tend to live their religion quietly. You rarely see anything like the overt religiosity that is common in other regions.

As an adult, I rarely think about religion at all (in my personal life; of course I do think about it sometimes in the context of politics, international relations, etc). I have friends who appear to have no religion and others whom I know attend religios services faithfully. But I don't know if they believe in god or not. It never comes up.

Though I am an atheist, I don't really identify myself as an Atheist, iykwim. I view it more as an absence of something rather than a philosophy of its own. It's not really a part of my identity. If someone asks me what religion I am, I always say, "Nothing." I never say, "Atheist."

Try saying atheist and see what happens. It will be an interesting experiment. And you're right -- Atheism is not a philosophy -- that would be humanism, which most atheists are.

Sure, I could do that. Except I really don't care. ~shrug~

Yes, I do consider myself a humanist.

Then do it as a good deed, for the cause of atheists who do care. Check out this "Openly Secular" site -- short videos of people - some well known, most ordinary, who "come out" as secular. http://openlysecular.org

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Then do it as a good deed, for the cause of atheists who do care. Check out this "Openly Secular" site -- short videos of people - some well known, most ordinary, who "come out" as secular. http://openlysecular.org

I'm guessing you're not apatheist. I don't want to make a public statement because I don't care. And I want other people to not care too. Model behavior.