Disclosing atheism

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I have a problem with your title, OP.

One does not "disclose" atheism, as if it was an infectious disease.

You don't have rabies, ebola or a new and supremely lethal Covid variant.

You have a belief system, to be respected just as much as the other person's belief system. The other person started the topic first. You responded.

End of story.

Agree - however, given the times we live in, "disclose" is a reasonable choice, IMO. OP's encounter will go a long way, I think, in opening the eyes of his neighbor to the fact that atheists can be regular folks who invite you over to meet your new neighbors. Pretty normal and very nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an Atheist but if someone talks to me about church etc, I say I'm not religious... Maybe I should be more direct..

Give it a try the next time and let us know how it goes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I just say I’m not religious

True, but it's the easy way out -- sort of like a gay guy saying he's not the marrying kind (in the old days -- now people bring up their same sex spouse like it's no big deal.)

And it does nothing to help change the perception of atheists as nasty, bad people.

You know what would help with that? If hundreds of DCUM readers didn't click into the Religion forum every day to see atheists trashing faith and showing bigotry towards certain faiths. I mean, if you want to change the perception of atheists.

Such irony.

“We wouldn’t hate the atheists so much if they would just keep it to themselves and not state their beliefs “

This kind of bad faith comment is exactly why I cringe at people who announce themselves to be atheists. I assume it’s about to be contentious. And I’m usually right.

In contrast, DH comes from a Muslim family and I never have any sort of unpleasantness with them, even though I’m not Muslim.

This is hate speech.

My husband is an atheist. When asked, he answers. He does not wish to get into it, but he feels he must reply accurately. It's never contentious because he never has anything else to say on the subject. If someone persists in talking about religion, he will smile politely and try to change the subject.

Why are you so full of hate?

DP. I don’t see that as being full of hate. It’s simply stating a fact, that some of us have had too many bad interactions with atheists.

I'm not saying you didn't but I'm having a hard time imagining under what circumstances, or in what group, you might have many bad interactions with atheists. I'm almost 70 and have never been exposed to such a conversation, much less engaged in one. I'm guessing that these bad interactions might have come after someone tried to proselytize to an atheist? If I'm wrong, please enlighten me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would only tell people I am an atheist if they directly asked me, as they did the OP, what church I go to or if I was a Christian or whatever. Otherwise I assume that, like me, they don't really want to get into a discussion of religious faith, especially with people who have views that are completely opposite of mine.

Same here. But currently, people bring up religion assuming that you're religious too - especially if you're a nice person, who, say, has invited new neighbors over to get acquainted.

I think it's time to do what OP did. The more people who do this, the faster atheism will become as accepted, or at least as expected, as homosexual relationships are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just say I’m not religious

True, but it's the easy way out -- sort of like a gay guy saying he's not the marrying kind (in the old days -- now people bring up their same sex spouse like it's no big deal.)

And it does nothing to help change the perception of atheists as nasty, bad people.

You know what would help with that? If hundreds of DCUM readers didn't click into the Religion forum every day to see atheists trashing faith and showing bigotry towards certain faiths. I mean, if you want to change the perception of atheists.

Such irony.

“We wouldn’t hate the atheists so much if they would just keep it to themselves and not state their beliefs “

This kind of bad faith comment is exactly why I cringe at people who announce themselves to be atheists. I assume it’s about to be contentious. And I’m usually right.

In contrast, DH comes from a Muslim family and I never have any sort of unpleasantness with them, even though I’m not Muslim.

You just keep proving the point, post after post.

You know what would help with that? If hundreds of DCUM readers didn't click into the Religion forum every day to see atheists trashing faith and showing bigotry towards certain faiths. I mean, if you want to change the perception of atheists.

PP says we hate atheists because they post what they think. End period. Nothing in bad faith about it. That's what it is.

People of faith don’t want to engage with atheists because they trash people of faith. Not because they personally lack faith.

[Anonymous]

In the same situation, I say I'm Jewish, and that almost always halts the inquiry. However, it's a half-truth, as I'm a Jewish atheist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just say I’m not religious

True, but it's the easy way out -- sort of like a gay guy saying he's not the marrying kind (in the old days -- now people bring up their same sex spouse like it's no big deal.)

And it does nothing to help change the perception of atheists as nasty, bad people.

You know what would help with that? If hundreds of DCUM readers didn't click into the Religion forum every day to see atheists trashing faith and showing bigotry towards certain faiths. I mean, if you want to change the perception of atheists.

Such irony.

“We wouldn’t hate the atheists so much if they would just keep it to themselves and not state their beliefs “

This kind of bad faith comment is exactly why I cringe at people who announce themselves to be atheists. I assume it’s about to be contentious. And I’m usually right.

In contrast, DH comes from a Muslim family and I never have any sort of unpleasantness with them, even though I’m not Muslim.

You just keep proving the point, post after post.

You know what would help with that? If hundreds of DCUM readers didn't click into the Religion forum every day to see atheists trashing faith and showing bigotry towards certain faiths. I mean, if you want to change the perception of atheists.

PP says we hate atheists because they post what they think. End period. Nothing in bad faith about it. That's what it is.

People of faith don’t want to engage with atheists because they trash people of faith. Not because they personally lack faith.

I find it ironic that you are accusing a whole group of people of trashing people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just say I’m not religious

True, but it's the easy way out -- sort of like a gay guy saying he's not the marrying kind (in the old days -- now people bring up their same sex spouse like it's no big deal.)

And it does nothing to help change the perception of atheists as nasty, bad people.

You know what would help with that? If hundreds of DCUM readers didn't click into the Religion forum every day to see atheists trashing faith and showing bigotry towards certain faiths. I mean, if you want to change the perception of atheists.

Such irony.

“We wouldn’t hate the atheists so much if they would just keep it to themselves and not state their beliefs “

This kind of bad faith comment is exactly why I cringe at people who announce themselves to be atheists. I assume it’s about to be contentious. And I’m usually right.

In contrast, DH comes from a Muslim family and I never have any sort of unpleasantness with them, even though I’m not Muslim.

This is hate speech.

My husband is an atheist. When asked, he answers. He does not wish to get into it, but he feels he must reply accurately. It's never contentious because he never has anything else to say on the subject. If someone persists in talking about religion, he will smile politely and try to change the subject.

Why are you so full of hate?

because it's OK to hate atheists? because pp secretly thinks atheists might be right about god and that this is the only life they have?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My family invited another family over for dinner who had just moved into the house next door and invited a few other families from the friends the neighborhood to welcome them and introduce them to folks. At one point, a member of the new family was talking with me about how much they are going to miss their old church and I was empathizing how hard it can be to leave a community and make a new one in your new home when they asked me about my faith, where I go to church etc. I breezily said, oh, I'm an atheist, and tried to keep the conversation moving but they seemed taken aback - as if I had said something really impolite. What say you, DCUM? Is it impolite, "too much", "aggressive", or what have you to identify as an atheist if pressed? My spouse thinks I should have said that I'm "not particularly religious" to avoid offending our new neighbors.

"I'm an atheist" rings alarm bells to some Christians. Better to say you aren't religious. Or, just say the truth and get on with it and let the natural order of things follow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the same situation, I say I'm Jewish, and that almost always halts the inquiry. However, it's a half-truth, as I'm a Jewish atheist.

Try saying that and see what happens. I think if more atheists were open about their atheism that people would see that atheists were not the devil and people would stop asking about people's religion.

[Anonymous]

There's no need to hide atheism! Why? If you don't, you are feeding into someone's narrative that isn't yours. Why do that.
BTW, atheism is not immorality. Let's stop pretending it is by deciding to keep quiet about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the same situation, I say I'm Jewish, and that almost always halts the inquiry. However, it's a half-truth, as I'm a Jewish atheist.

Try saying that and see what happens. I think if more atheists were open about their atheism that people would see that atheists were not the devil and people would stop asking about people's religion.

100%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just say I’m not religious

True, but it's the easy way out -- sort of like a gay guy saying he's not the marrying kind (in the old days -- now people bring up their same sex spouse like it's no big deal.)

And it does nothing to help change the perception of atheists as nasty, bad people.

This is the first time she’s meeting these neighbors. She can save the atheism chat for the block party after a few White Claws.

The new neighbor brought up religion first. I think OP handled the situation well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just say I’m not religious

True, but it's the easy way out -- sort of like a gay guy saying he's not the marrying kind (in the old days -- now people bring up their same sex spouse like it's no big deal.)

And it does nothing to help change the perception of atheists as nasty, bad people.

You know what would help with that? If hundreds of DCUM readers didn't click into the Religion forum every day to see atheists trashing faith and showing bigotry towards certain faiths. I mean, if you want to change the perception of atheists.

Such irony.

“We wouldn’t hate the atheists so much if they would just keep it to themselves and not state their beliefs “

This kind of bad faith comment is exactly why I cringe at people who announce themselves to be atheists. I assume it’s about to be contentious. And I’m usually right.

In contrast, DH comes from a Muslim family and I never have any sort of unpleasantness with them, even though I’m not Muslim.

You just keep proving the point, post after post.

You know what would help with that? If hundreds of DCUM readers didn't click into the Religion forum every day to see atheists trashing faith and showing bigotry towards certain faiths. I mean, if you want to change the perception of atheists.

PP says we hate atheists because they post what they think. End period. Nothing in bad faith about it. That's what it is.

People of faith don’t want to engage with atheists because they trash people of faith. Not because they personally lack faith.

I call major BS on this one. Get a grip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's no need to hide atheism! Why? If you don't, you are feeding into someone's narrative that isn't yours. Why do that.
BTW, atheism is not immorality. Let's stop pretending it is by deciding to keep quiet about it.

Good point.