If you’re not religious, do you hide your lack of religious belief? Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean I also don't walk around with shirts saying "I don't watch football". Generally you don't advertise a negative.

Sounds like you see not believing in God as a negative. I don't.

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.

In which planet do you live?! Here on Earth, I see antiracism shirts, anti bigotry shirts, etc, etc. People announce what they don't believe all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Would you wear some kind of an atheist emblem (like Christians wear a cross) if they existed?

DP, but I would not. My identity isn't tied up in not believing.

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 just disagree that people wearing crosses or religious garb, or talking about religion, do not have religion as a strong part of their identity.

And I disagree that the default position is religious. I think if you're silent about religion and not wearing symbols, people assume you're not religious. They may be wrong in their assumption, but that's the assumption precisely because so many religious people broadcast it.

I disagree. I think if you're silent about religion, people don't notice and just assume that you hold the default position - of being religious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean I also don't walk around with shirts saying "I don't watch football". Generally you don't advertise a negative.

Sounds like you see not believing in God as a negative. I don't.

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.

In which planet do you live?! Here on Earth, I see antiracism shirts, anti bigotry shirts, etc, etc. People announce what they don't believe all the time.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Would you wear some kind of an atheist emblem (like Christians wear a cross) if they existed?

DP, but I would not. My identity isn't tied up in not believing.

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 just disagree that people wearing crosses or religious garb, or talking about religion, do not have religion as a strong part of their identity.

And I disagree that the default position is religious. I think if you're silent about religion and not wearing symbols, people assume you're not religious. They may be wrong in their assumption, but that's the assumption precisely because so many religious people broadcast it.

I'm an atheist that broadcasts Christianity because it's my culture. Go figure. It's like an American abroad joining an Independence Day celebration in London. It happens. I've done that too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Would you wear some kind of an atheist emblem (like Christians wear a cross) if they existed?

DP, but I would not. My identity isn't tied up in not believing.

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 just disagree that people wearing crosses or religious garb, or talking about religion, do not have religion as a strong part of their identity.

And I disagree that the default position is religious. I think if you're silent about religion and not wearing symbols, people assume you're not religious. They may be wrong in their assumption, but that's the assumption precisely because so many religious people broadcast it.

I'm an atheist that broadcasts Christianity because it's my culture. Go figure. It's like an American abroad joining an Independence Day celebration in London. It happens. I've done that too.

But I bet you believe in Independence, right?

How do you "broadcast" Christianity? Do you wear a cross?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Would you wear some kind of an atheist emblem (like Christians wear a cross) if they existed?

DP, but I would not. My identity isn't tied up in not believing.

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 just disagree that people wearing crosses or religious garb, or talking about religion, do not have religion as a strong part of their identity.

And I disagree that the default position is religious. I think if you're silent about religion and not wearing symbols, people assume you're not religious. They may be wrong in their assumption, but that's the assumption precisely because so many religious people broadcast it.

I'm an atheist that broadcasts Christianity because it's my culture. Go figure. It's like an American abroad joining an Independence Day celebration in London. It happens. I've done that too.

But I bet you believe in Independence, right?

How do you "broadcast" Christianity? Do you wear a cross?

Yep, I wear a cross. People can wear whatever they want. And, yes, I believe in independence from the monarchy. As I said, it's my culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Would you wear some kind of an atheist emblem (like Christians wear a cross) if they existed?

DP, but I would not. My identity isn't tied up in not believing.

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 just disagree that people wearing crosses or religious garb, or talking about religion, do not have religion as a strong part of their identity.

And I disagree that the default position is religious. I think if you're silent about religion and not wearing symbols, people assume you're not religious. They may be wrong in their assumption, but that's the assumption precisely because so many religious people broadcast it.

I'm an atheist that broadcasts Christianity because it's my culture. Go figure. It's like an American abroad joining an Independence Day celebration in London. It happens. I've done that too.

But I bet you believe in Independence, right?

How do you "broadcast" Christianity? Do you wear a cross?

Yep, I wear a cross. People can wear whatever they want. And, yes, I believe in independence from the monarchy. As I said, it's my culture.

I reflectively say "bless you" when someone sneezes and things like "thank god" in a moment of relief. It doesn't mean anything more than I was raised using these expressions I the Bible belt.

[Anonymous]

The opposite. I've stopped wearing a cross necklace because it's associated with Christian fundamentalists, and I am mainstream Christian who leans pretty far left. It sends the wrong message nowadays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I understand, but really think it's too bad, particularly because it's an opportunity to normalize atheism.

Coming from Europe, the US does seem weirdly religious, but still, I haven't been in a situation where I'd been uncomfortable to reveal my atheism. I'd say atheism is already accepted.

Saying you don't believe in God in some parts of 'Merica is like telling the Taliban you don't believe in Allah. And they will treat you just as harshly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I understand, but really think it's too bad, particularly because it's an opportunity to normalize atheism.

Coming from Europe, the US does seem weirdly religious, but still, I haven't been in a situation where I'd been uncomfortable to reveal my atheism. I'd say atheism is already accepted.

Saying you don't believe in God in some parts of 'Merica is like telling the Taliban you don't believe in Allah. And they will treat you just as harshly.

Yep and them parts of 'merica ain't places them for-in-ers want to find themselves neither!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean I also don't walk around with shirts saying "I don't watch football". Generally you don't advertise a negative.

Sounds like you see not believing in God as a negative. I don't.

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.

In which planet do you live?! Here on Earth, I see antiracism shirts, anti bigotry shirts, etc, etc. People announce what they don't believe all the time.

Those are things they believe. I believe in anti racism, that's not the same as disbelieving racism or not being invested one way or the other in racism. An equivalent would I guess be anti-theism, which I suppose some atheists are. But most non-believers just don't care. They are not anti-religion, they are a-religious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While it seems like there are more and more non-believers, it also seems, to me, at least, that people are hesitant to acknowledge it IRL, while religious people frequently telegraph their religious status, e.g., by wearing a Cross necklace or casually mentioning their participation in religious services.

What do you think that’s about?

How do you show something that isn't there? Should I wear a necklace comprised of a cross with a slash through it?

This just isn't something that comes up. I have no need to advertise that I don't believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean I also don't walk around with shirts saying "I don't watch football". Generally you don't advertise a negative.

Sounds like you see not believing in God as a negative. I don't.

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.

In which planet do you live?! Here on Earth, I see antiracism shirts, anti bigotry shirts, etc, etc. People announce what they don't believe all the time.

Those are things they believe. I believe in anti racism, that's not the same as disbelieving racism or not being invested one way or the other in racism. An equivalent would I guess be anti-theism, which I suppose some atheists are. But most non-believers just don't care. They are not anti-religion, they are a-religious.

Plenty of atheist are anti-religious, like most of them. Seriously. It's the same concept. But of you feel the need to argue because you know the "truth" please do so. I need another laugh today.

[Anonymous]

I don't hide or advertise anything. I'm actually a bit of a chameleon. If you quote scripture, so will I. If you talk sports, so will I. If you talk books, games, recreation, hobbies, kids, food, etc etc, so will I. Connecting with other people is more important to me than belief. Yes, I'm atheist and know the Bible; it's just another book, like all the Greek mythology. If you believed in Greek mythology, I'd talk to you about that too. You lead the conversation. I'll smile, nod, validate, and see you. I can do all of this genuinely. I find people are more interested in telling me what they believe than asking and listening to what I believe. If they ask me what I believe, I just turn the question around "I believe it's fascinating. How do you view blah blah blah?" Or "one (important person) believes it should be interpreted this way. (Another important person) thinks this. Hw do you view blah blah blah". As I said I'm genuinely interested in connection, so it's actually all authentic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While it seems like there are more and more non-believers, it also seems, to me, at least, that people are hesitant to acknowledge it IRL, while religious people frequently telegraph their religious status, e.g., by wearing a Cross necklace or casually mentioning their participation in religious services.

What do you think that’s about?

Hell no
I don’t care who knows

I just wire a T shirt from DC to Denver to Texas to DC that says exactly how I feel about the religious right hypocrites