(February 15, 2015 at 5:28 pm)dreamsofpotato Wrote: Funny how atheism and homosexuality have this in common: Those that come out risk being cut off by their parents.
I think Dan Savage (awesome sex collumnist who hosts the podcast, Savage Love) gives good advice in these situations:
If you think there's a chance your parents will cut you off, stay in the closet until coming out of the closet doesn't potentially make you homeless or in dire straights. Once you are independent and can stand on your own two financial legs, coming out as an atheist will be a whole lot easier.
In addition I would use this as motivation to become independent quicker.
a lot of the cults take advantage of the dependency to force people to stay.
same with abusive domestic relations where the partner can't afford to leave
safely and take the kids.
You give me an idea, to organize a microlending fund for people going through this, whether for religious freedom or orientation conflicts or abuse issues.
why not organize a fund, such as through supporting atheists or universalists,
where if someone needs to break away sooner for college but can't afford living expenses, to set up a financial plan to lend the money until it can be paid back over time through summer or campus jobs, similar to student loans.
Even that student who sued her parents to make them pay for her college could have used help with a loan, while they worked out those personal conflicts.
I especially have a heart for rape victims who have trouble finishing school or keeping their jobs and households running after assaults that take years to recover from.
If every such group focuses on members in a specific situation, maybe this can be set up as part of peer counseling and support to resolve issues and get stabilized as soon as possible. I would love to see such a support network and microfund set up for atheists to help fellow atheists who might not feel right getting help from just anyone.
