Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm atheist, but I've said I was Catholic at times when I felt it wouldn't be safe to say I'm not religious. I never say I'm atheist to anybody. The most I say is that "we're not religious." Too many crazy violent religious people around.

People like you are the reason I hide the fact that I even go to church.

+1. I don't hide the fact that I go to church, but I don't bring it up because of bigotted reactions like that of top PP. I don't know who the rest of you are hanging out with, or maybe you all live outside the DMV area. In my case, nobody at my DC office asks and I don't volunteer.

The poster who is bullying everybody else to fly the atheist flag is just as bad as any fundie proselytizer.

Anonymous wrote:I'm atheist, but I've said I was Catholic at times when I felt it wouldn't be safe to say I'm not religious. I never say I'm atheist to anybody. The most I say is that "we're not religious." Too many crazy violent religious people around.

People like you are the reason I hide the fact that I even go to church.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I am Catholic but I sometimes pretend to be jewish when I am buying at a jewish business, throwing in yiddish phrases etc. Plus my surname can pass either way.

Do you think Jews transact with one another on more favorable terms?

Of course they do. I don't blame them.

Anonymous wrote:I've also taught my kids to say "I'm not religious," and to avoid any discussion of religion. One kid made the mistake of telling some classmates that she didn't believe in God and got bullied for it. It's just not safe to say you're atheist, unfortunately.

That's when you go to the teacher and remind her/him that bullying isn't acceptable for any reason and that the US supports separate of church and state. Teachers and parents don't tolerate bullying of other minority groups, so that obviously goes for atheists too.

Anonymous wrote:I am an atheist. I avoid stirring the pot and just leave people be, to the point that my kid came home one day and ask if we are Christians. I told him no, I don't believe there is a God, and that if he wanted to learn about religion, I would gladly teach it to him. I further instructed him that he might get bullied if he told other people he or his parents were atheists, and encouraged him to just avoid the conversation altogether.

If there is a prayer, I simply take a moment of silence. If someone references God, I chuckle along and nod in agreement.

It just occurred to me that the religiosity of the US is quite suffocating, if I can't feel free to behave and express my true beliefs even in a large metropolitan area.

And it will stay that way as long as people like you chuckle along in agreement.

I know it isn't easy and I avoided being straightforward for a long time too, partly out of being taken aback and not knowing what to say. Then I eventually became more sensitive and "ready" to respond.

It works pretty well. People generally giggle nervously and move on. They're not expecting it and don't want to start a discussion. But at some level they've heard it and might start to figure out that 1. not everyone believes in God. 2. It's not wise to assume it and 3. Some pretty ordinary, respectable people are non-believers. They won't learn any of that as long as atheists deflect the issue and the US will continue to be pretty suffocating place for people like you.

Anonymous wrote:I've also taught my kids to say "I'm not religious," and to avoid any discussion of religion. One kid made the mistake of telling some classmates that she didn't believe in God and got bullied for it. It's just not safe to say you're atheist, unfortunately.

We gotta change that, though. Imagine where the gays would be if they had stayed closeted out of fear. Do you want you kids to be telling their kids the same things as you're telling them? You're helping to perpetuate the concept that not believing in god is a very bad thing, when in fact it's a very logical approach and highly education people tend to be more ethist than the general population.

I've also taught my kids to say "I'm not religious," and to avoid any discussion of religion. One kid made the mistake of telling some classmates that she didn't believe in God and got bullied for it. It's just not safe to say you're atheist, unfortunately.

Anonymous wrote:I am an atheist. I avoid stirring the pot and just leave people be, to the point that my kid came home one day and ask if we are Christians. I told him no, I don't believe there is a God, and that if he wanted to learn about religion, I would gladly teach it to him. I further instructed him that he might get bullied if he told other people he or his parents were atheists, and encouraged him to just avoid the conversation altogether.

If there is a prayer, I simply take a moment of silence. If someone references God, I chuckle along and nod in agreement.

It just occurred to me that the religiosity of the US is quite suffocating, if I can't feel free to behave and express my true beliefs even in a large metropolitan area.

Amen to that!

I say "I'm not religious" too.

I am an atheist. I avoid stirring the pot and just leave people be, to the point that my kid came home one day and ask if we are Christians. I told him no, I don't believe there is a God, and that if he wanted to learn about religion, I would gladly teach it to him. I further instructed him that he might get bullied if he told other people he or his parents were atheists, and encouraged him to just avoid the conversation altogether.

If there is a prayer, I simply take a moment of silence. If someone references God, I chuckle along and nod in agreement.

It just occurred to me that the religiosity of the US is quite suffocating, if I can't feel free to behave and express my true beliefs even in a large metropolitan area.

Anonymous wrote:
I am Catholic but I sometimes pretend to be jewish when I am buying at a jewish business, throwing in yiddish phrases etc. Plus my surname can pass either way.

Do you think Jews transact with one another on more favorable terms?

I'm atheist, but I've said I was Catholic at times when I felt it wouldn't be safe to say I'm not religious. I never say I'm atheist to anybody. The most I say is that "we're not religious." Too many crazy violent religious people around.

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many closeted atheists there are out there?

I'm one!

I wonder how many closeted atheists there are out there?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am jewish.. Back when I was in college I was on a long bus ride coming home because my father had just had a heart attack. I don't remember how it came up, but the person sitting next to me found out I was not christian. She, and three other people, started pressuring me about christianity - about how it would save me, and help my father. After about a hour of this badgering, I gasped, looked up, and stated "Praise the Lord, I've been saved". Then they left me alone.

Does that count?

best example yet.

OMG! You are cool. I need to make friends with people like you!

Yes, I've lied. I'm an atheist and most of my friends know it, but when I meet teachers, etc. I let them go on believing that I'm a believer. I sometimes wear a cross that my mom gave me for sentimental reasons so maybe this has misled them. It's alot easier to be a Christian than an atheist in the US.