This really reminds me of a video someone once made - an mid-eastern looking man ranting how in 'his'country, religion was controlling everything, people in high position all had to be of that religion, wars could be started for that religion, that religion tried to control the schools...only to reveal at the end that he wasn't talking about some muslim country, but about the USA. Just goes to show that this unspoken message is still true.
When people act startled or have the wrong idea I just clarify what I am:
"What I mean is, I do not believe and follow any god. And I mean I don't follow any other 'mystical being' either. There si no hate, and I am not following some 'anti-force' like Satan. After all, he also is a 'mystical being' - which I don't believe in in general. Atheism, or rather A - Theism means 'without a god', in other words, simply not believing. I'm not hating. All that it means is that I do not partake in any religious life, like visiting a church or praying.'
if people go on and ask 'whyyy?' just simple reply 'I found that it didn't work out for me.' Rinse, lather, repeat.
If you don't feel comfortable discussing it, just keep using that line. If you want to discuss it, discussion can get heated, but never show your own frustration, don't yell or curse. Disengage and stop the discussion if you feel not good about it, and say 'I feel this discussion is not getting us anywhere. I'll stop now, and I'd appreciate if you would do the same'.
When people act startled or have the wrong idea I just clarify what I am:
"What I mean is, I do not believe and follow any god. And I mean I don't follow any other 'mystical being' either. There si no hate, and I am not following some 'anti-force' like Satan. After all, he also is a 'mystical being' - which I don't believe in in general. Atheism, or rather A - Theism means 'without a god', in other words, simply not believing. I'm not hating. All that it means is that I do not partake in any religious life, like visiting a church or praying.'
if people go on and ask 'whyyy?' just simple reply 'I found that it didn't work out for me.' Rinse, lather, repeat.
If you don't feel comfortable discussing it, just keep using that line. If you want to discuss it, discussion can get heated, but never show your own frustration, don't yell or curse. Disengage and stop the discussion if you feel not good about it, and say 'I feel this discussion is not getting us anywhere. I'll stop now, and I'd appreciate if you would do the same'.
When I was a Christian, I was annoyed with dogmatic condescending Christians. Now that I'm an atheist, I'm annoyed with dogmatic condescending atheists. Just goes to prove that people are the same, regardless of what they do or don't believe.
