POLL: Do you feel pressure to be religious?

[Anonymous]

On a few recent threads, we’ve touched on external pressures from friends and family around religion.

Would love to hear more experiences.

At any point in your life:
1) Have you ever omitted (or even lied) about your true religious beliefs to make a social situation easier? Yes. I used to be a Mormon and it was embarrassing.

2) Has anyone ever insisted that you believe in a certain god or religious figure? No

3) Has anyone ever made you go to a religious service? My in-laws once when I was visiting. And I worked at a summer camp at a Catholic boarding school when I was in college and they forced us all to go to Mass. I was an atheist at the time.

4) Has anyone ever made you participate in a religious activity? Not other than the above.

5) Do you ever feel like an outsider because of your religious beliefs? Yes. I spend a lot of time with evangelicals and it's a weird situation knowing they probably think I'm not a real Christian.


If you feel comfortable, please share your general location/religious belief. Or any other related thoughts.

I grew up in CT and live in NOVA. I converted to Eastern Orthodox Christianity a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh yeah. The moment of silence at schools. And religious pledge of allegiance.

If that is it, then you have lived a good life

A daily reminder at the start of every single school day for years that you are an outsider.

Or that everyone is an individual

Calm down. I know your mommy told you you were special and all, but you are free to be an individual everyday all day long. I promise you we will all find out (whether we want to or not) of how very very different, special, and unique you are, even if you are forced to sit quietly for a few moments.

I mean this can’t be an adult with a job posting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On a few recent threads, we’ve touched on external pressures from friends and family around religion.

Would love to hear more experiences.

At any point in your life:
1) Have you ever omitted (or even lied) about your true religious beliefs to make a social situation easier? Yes. I cannot speak about my religious faith and beliefs at work or in general casual social settings.

2) Has anyone ever insisted that you believe in a certain god or religious figure? No.

3) Has anyone ever made you go to a religious service? No. I have attended services of different faiths to show support or love for friends and family of different faiths, though.

4) Has anyone ever made you participate in a religious activity? No.

5) Do you ever feel like an outsider because of your religious beliefs? Yes. People who aren’t religious think all religious people are bigots, intolerant, want others to be eternally punished in Hell. I cannot speak of my beliefs because many, if not most people do not allow you to express your personal beliefs before judging you as an individual. Stereotypes are harmful and probably inaccurate.


If you feel comfortable, please share your general location/religious belief. Or any other related thoughts. Deep South, and conservative Southern Baptist