to OP
Good for you for being open about it with your wife from the start, and awesome that you set boundaries with your dad. Sometimes it has to be done, people can be very pushy about things like religion, especially when they believe in it so strongly.
I am, I would say, very open about it. Everyone in my family and all of my friends know I'm an atheist. Very few know that I'm a Satanist. That one I kind of keep close to my chest. But as far as being an atheist, I don't even see how that could be considered controversial so I don't try to hide it. I usually don't mention it to strangers unless the topic comes up, but if it does come up I am very open about it.
The only place I might be a little more reserved concerning my beliefs is at work. I will still openly admit to being an atheist, if asked, but I usually don't mention any of my REAL opinions on religion or spirituality. I'm sure a lot of religious folk wouldn't respond very positively to me saying that religion makes smart people stupid and weak. That's probably something that would end with me having to explain myself to the lady in HR.
But I'm pretty open about it. After a coworker got to know me he realized, I think, that not all atheists are devil worshiping baby killers (go figure) and told me that even though I was an atheist, he considered me to be a good guy and a friend, and that he was going to pray for me. I just said thanks man, and that was that.
I'm actually surprised to learn that most religious people are, well, not all that religious. I think a lot of it is social for many people. For example I have a buddy who, to this day, will not admit to his parents that he's an atheist. He still says he's a Catholic because he says it's a difficult conversation that's just not worth having. And I suspect that many 'Christians' are probably just like him. Then I think a lot of 'Christians' SAY they believe in everything in the Bible, and to some extent probably even believe themselves when they say that, but they don't, because their actions prove that. Plus when you start to poke and prod a little bit and ask more about someone's beliefs and opinions on things, you'll be surprised to find how non religious most religious people are.
I think it's a title that people enjoy using on themselves.
Good for you for being open about it with your wife from the start, and awesome that you set boundaries with your dad. Sometimes it has to be done, people can be very pushy about things like religion, especially when they believe in it so strongly.
I am, I would say, very open about it. Everyone in my family and all of my friends know I'm an atheist. Very few know that I'm a Satanist. That one I kind of keep close to my chest. But as far as being an atheist, I don't even see how that could be considered controversial so I don't try to hide it. I usually don't mention it to strangers unless the topic comes up, but if it does come up I am very open about it.
The only place I might be a little more reserved concerning my beliefs is at work. I will still openly admit to being an atheist, if asked, but I usually don't mention any of my REAL opinions on religion or spirituality. I'm sure a lot of religious folk wouldn't respond very positively to me saying that religion makes smart people stupid and weak. That's probably something that would end with me having to explain myself to the lady in HR.
But I'm pretty open about it. After a coworker got to know me he realized, I think, that not all atheists are devil worshiping baby killers (go figure) and told me that even though I was an atheist, he considered me to be a good guy and a friend, and that he was going to pray for me. I just said thanks man, and that was that.
I'm actually surprised to learn that most religious people are, well, not all that religious. I think a lot of it is social for many people. For example I have a buddy who, to this day, will not admit to his parents that he's an atheist. He still says he's a Catholic because he says it's a difficult conversation that's just not worth having. And I suspect that many 'Christians' are probably just like him. Then I think a lot of 'Christians' SAY they believe in everything in the Bible, and to some extent probably even believe themselves when they say that, but they don't, because their actions prove that. Plus when you start to poke and prod a little bit and ask more about someone's beliefs and opinions on things, you'll be surprised to find how non religious most religious people are.
I think it's a title that people enjoy using on themselves.
“Love is the only bow on Life’s dark cloud. It is the morning and the evening star. It shines upon the babe, and sheds its radiance on the quiet tomb. It is the mother of art, inspirer of poet, patriot and philosopher.
It is the air and light of every heart – builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody – for music is the voice of love.
Love is the magician, the enchanter, that changes worthless things to Joy, and makes royal kings and queens of common clay. It is the perfume of that wondrous flower, the heart, and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon, we are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods.” - Robert. G. Ingersoll
It is the air and light of every heart – builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody – for music is the voice of love.
Love is the magician, the enchanter, that changes worthless things to Joy, and makes royal kings and queens of common clay. It is the perfume of that wondrous flower, the heart, and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon, we are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods.” - Robert. G. Ingersoll
