How to tell parents I'm an atheist

[Mothonis]

I never understood one's concern for keeping something bottled up inside. It is unhealthy.

You know what's also unhealthy? Being 15 and getting kicked out of your house for being an atheist (or gay, or whatever else).

To the OP, try and figure out how your parents will react - try bringing the subject up in some non-threatening way to gage their reaction to the word atheism or a person who is atheist. Try openly reading a Richard Dawkins book that is more scientific than atheistic (one of his books on evolution like The Greatest Show on Earth - but NOT The God Delusion!) and when they ask you what you're reading tell them it's a book on evolution by an atheist - have you heard of him?

See if that starts a conversation about atheism or atheists and that should give you a good idea about their initial reaction to notion. If things look favorable or they don't go too ballistic, try reading another book that's by Dawkins, then openly read a book that pits creationism against evolution, then a book that's about the historicity of the bible (Like The Bible Unearthed, or one of Bart Ehrman's books about early Christianity). Basically, ease them into the idea that you're questioning what you've been raised to believe, and when they start getting uncomfortable you know you've hit their limit - and (BONUS!) you'll have read some really interesting books.

If you read that first Dawkins book and things escalate quickly or they have a bad reaction to you reading something by an open atheist, you'll know that telling them you're an atheist isn't the best option for you and that you should wait until you're financially independent of them, as hard and as frustrating as that might be for you.

As a previous post said, try and think of the most reasonable worst case scenario that could actually happen, and if that scenario is something you're willing to live with then tell them, but if not keep your mouth shut and tough it out. Don't do anything that will compromise your safety or your well being.

I extremely disagree with this view. lack of belief should not also mean lack of integrity or courage.I would tell the truth even if it means death penalty.Think about how many nazis went along with hitler even though they didnt believe what he believe,they use the excuse,that there safety was being threatened. Besides your sending message that atheists have no courage to the christian community.