Should theists announce their beliefs?

[tjakey]

If a person brings up religion and I haven't figured out just what religion they are talking about, I simply ask. Often their particular sect doesn't seem to matter. My experience has been that most believers, particularly those in the US, are not that uncomfortable with people who follow a different religion, who believe in a "different" god. (Always a strange one to me since all sects of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam profess the same "god of Abraham". Most of the religious violence in the world today is a family squabble.) They may debate with a "New Age Spiritualist" or Hindu, but they will not be offended or angry.

But they will get cranked up when facing a person who has rejected god belief. Often, if religion comes up in a casual setting, the assumption will be that I am a believer of some kind, and probably a Christian. (Since I am a middle aged white guy and an American.) When it comes up that I am a bit of an outspoken atheist, one can almost see the gears strip as they try to catch up with the new direction the conversation is likely to go. It is kind of fun to watch. But, unlike their conversations with "other" religious people, the fact that I am not religious is something they will not be able to accept with any kind of grace.

Then let the games begin.