I think that there are certain words that causes some people to turn off thought once they hear them. Words like feminist or liberal or conservative, for example, can make some people have a visceral negative reaction even if they agree with what the speaker is saying.
In the southern US, hearing the word atheist can make a person shut down and assume that they now know everything about an individual.
My immediate family know that I am an atheist. For those outside my family but are still very close, I describe myself as having serious doubts. For some reason, this goes over better then saying that I am an atheist.
I also don't like that I might kick off someone's obligation to save the heathen by saying that I am an atheist. That can lead to some uncomfortable situations that I just want to avoid.
In the southern US, hearing the word atheist can make a person shut down and assume that they now know everything about an individual.
My immediate family know that I am an atheist. For those outside my family but are still very close, I describe myself as having serious doubts. For some reason, this goes over better then saying that I am an atheist.
I also don't like that I might kick off someone's obligation to save the heathen by saying that I am an atheist. That can lead to some uncomfortable situations that I just want to avoid.
