Anonymous wrote:OP here. I think you are right about being honest and about representing the non believing community honestly, but it usually just opens up a can of worms for me.

We are not militant, we just don't buy it. However to us, it's immoral to indoctrinate children into religion, and the first communion dresses just horrify me, but I still give a card with $ when we are invited, and skip the service.

It always makes me feel bad to do so, but I do like my neighbors.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I think you are right about being honest and about representing the non believing community honestly, but it usually just opens up a can of worms for me.

We are not militant, we just don't buy it. However to us, it's immoral to indoctrinate children into religion, and the first communion dresses just horrify me, but I still give a card with $ when we are invited, and skip the service.

It always makes me feel bad to do so, but I do like my neighbors.

I feel the same way about wedding dresses.

Anonymous wrote:I guess I mean we are not assholes if that is what you are saying. We treat other people as we wish to be treated. By undercover I mean that I put up lights on Christmas to decorate with the rest of the neighborhood, and give communion and confirmation gifts when we are invited to their parties. Maybe that does make us assholes?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I mean we are not assholes if that is what you are saying. We treat other people as we wish to be treated. By undercover I mean that I put up lights on Christmas to decorate with the rest of the neighborhood, and give communion and confirmation gifts when we are invited to their parties. Maybe that does make us assholes?

I'm an open atheist and I put up a christmas decorations because I like them -- also give figts for whatever religious (or otherwise) occasions is being celebrated. Being atheist doesn't mean you hate other people religion, it just means you don't share it. I think atheists ned to come 'Out" just the way gays did - so people can see we're ordinary folks and so we don't imply to ourselves that we have something to be ashamed of.

As for being "militant" - don't worry about it. Some people are more outspoken about their beliefs (whatever they are) than others. I've never seen a militant atheist carrying a gun or physically threatening anyone.

If you're not militant and in the closet, you're depriving people of the opportunity to know that all atheists aren't militant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I think you are right about being honest and about representing the non believing community honestly, but it usually just opens up a can of worms for me.

We are not militant, we just don't buy it. However to us, it's immoral to indoctrinate children into religion, and the first communion dresses just horrify me, but I still give a card with $ when we are invited, and skip the service.

It always makes me feel bad to do so, but I do like my neighbors.

I feel the same way about wedding dresses.

LOL. Me too. That's why I wore a bold color. I wasn't trying to fool anyone into thinking I was a virgin. Not to mention the whole weird consumerist bent on wedding dresses and engagement rings, etc.

Anonymous wrote:I am the opposite - an undercover Christian. The environment I work in is almost all atheists and they make very clear their feelings and negatives attitudes about Christians, so I just stay quiet. Sometimes I feel very guilty about doing so but I have seen a couple other people 'come out' and it has been really ugly. So I just nod and smile. I just walk away from conversations where people are trashing Christianity or mocking a specific person because of their faith. Not very Christian of me to not stand up for them but I am not prepared to handle the consequences of speaking up.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I think you are right about being honest and about representing the non believing community honestly, but it usually just opens up a can of worms for me.

We are not militant, we just don't buy it. However to us, it's immoral to indoctrinate children into religion, and the first communion dresses just horrify me, but I still give a card with $ when we are invited, and skip the service.

It always makes me feel bad to do so, but I do like my neighbors.

Anonymous wrote:I am the opposite - an undercover Christian. The environment I work in is almost all atheists and they make very clear their feelings and negatives attitudes about Christians, so I just stay quiet. Sometimes I feel very guilty about doing so but I have seen a couple other people 'come out' and it has been really ugly. So I just nod and smile. I just walk away from conversations where people are trashing Christianity or mocking a specific person because of their faith. Not very Christian of me to not stand up for them but I am not prepared to handle the consequences of speaking up.

FruminousBandersnatch wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the opposite - an undercover Christian. The environment I work in is almost all atheists and they make very clear their feelings and negatives attitudes about Christians, so I just stay quiet. Sometimes I feel very guilty about doing so but I have seen a couple other people 'come out' and it has been really ugly. So I just nod and smile. I just walk away from conversations where people are trashing Christianity or mocking a specific person because of their faith. Not very Christian of me to not stand up for them but I am not prepared to handle the consequences of speaking up.

As an atheist, I'm sorry you're in that situation. We should all try to be more tolerant of each other's views, and judge people on their actions, not their beliefs.

Anonymous wrote:I am the opposite - an undercover Christian. The environment I work in is almost all atheists and they make very clear their feelings and negatives attitudes about Christians, so I just stay quiet. Sometimes I feel very guilty about doing so but I have seen a couple other people 'come out' and it has been really ugly. So I just nod and smile. I just walk away from conversations where people are trashing Christianity or mocking a specific person because of their faith. Not very Christian of me to not stand up for them but I am not prepared to handle the consequences of speaking up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the opposite - an undercover Christian. The environment I work in is almost all atheists and they make very clear their feelings and negatives attitudes about Christians, so I just stay quiet. Sometimes I feel very guilty about doing so but I have seen a couple other people 'come out' and it has been really ugly. So I just nod and smile. I just walk away from conversations where people are trashing Christianity or mocking a specific person because of their faith. Not very Christian of me to not stand up for them but I am not prepared to handle the consequences of speaking up.

First reaction: doubtful, unless you work for the American atheist association. SOunds more like a Christian taking an opportunity to make atheists look bad

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the opposite - an undercover Christian. The environment I work in is almost all atheists and they make very clear their feelings and negatives attitudes about Christians, so I just stay quiet. Sometimes I feel very guilty about doing so but I have seen a couple other people 'come out' and it has been really ugly. So I just nod and smile. I just walk away from conversations where people are trashing Christianity or mocking a specific person because of their faith. Not very Christian of me to not stand up for them but I am not prepared to handle the consequences of speaking up.

First reaction: doubtful, unless you work for the American atheist association. SOunds more like a Christian taking an opportunity to make atheists look bad

You are wrong, little I say will have any effect given you have already judged me so I will leave it at that.