Coming out of the closest as an atheist

[toole]

i have always been an atheist. in grade school, i had two teachers that tried to make the class pray in the morning. my dad had that stopped because it was public school. i also was sent to the principal's office more than once for refusing to say "under god" during the pledge of allegiance. i think it was a little bit harder to be an atheist kid in the 60s than it is today.

[theotherone]

I became an atheist after I read the bible I was given at school. Maybe I wasn't supposed to actually read it, maybe I was just supposed to be awe struck instead

It didn't work.

[Diamond]

Lmao that is kind of funny...but sad. So agnostic is curable by Christian, atheist is hopeless lol....

Apparently.

but I hope it didn't messed up your relationship with your mom. I bet it's hard because it is such a daily thing that involves family like going to church.

I'm actually still forced to go to church (and to think that by telling her I wouldn't be forced to go). But I remain patient as it's only a matter of time before I get my own place.
I've been sneaking my iPod into church anyway. I seriously have no idea what's been going on. I might as well not be there at all.

[passionatefool]

I have been an atheist all my life... No biggie.

People don't seem annoyed at my atheist, but my constant rambling about science that they don't understand
I always sit there every couple of minutes and ask "did you know......?". I never run out of interesting facts.

I wish I have a friend like you! Lol nothing is ever interesting when it comes out of my friend's mouth.

What part of the world are you from? I'm in Oklahoma, bible belt so religion is such an important thing.

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I became an atheist after I read the bible I was given at school. Maybe I wasn't supposed to actually read it, maybe I was just supposed to be awe struck instead

It didn't work.

the school gave you a bible?

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i have always been an atheist. in grade school, i had two teachers that tried to make the class pray in the morning. my dad had that stopped because it was public school. i also was sent to the principal's office more than once for refusing to say "under god" during the pledge of allegiance. i think it was a little bit harder to be an atheist kid in the 60s than it is today.

bahaha what a rebel. It's funny because I always refuse to say "under god" as well.

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I'm actually still forced to go to church (and to think that by telling her I wouldn't be forced to go). But I remain patient as it's only a matter of time before I get my own place.
I've been sneaking my iPod into church anyway. I seriously have no idea what's been going on. I might as well not be there at all.

Wow that really sucks. Yeah it should be easier when you are on your own. I had been to a few church service, mainly catholic, and it was the weirdest/strangest thing I have seen. Among it was this ritual in which they were drinking this red liquid that signified the blood of Christ and I'm like.....wtf....you vampires.

[houseofcantor]

I was always a step or two away, just took me 43 years to get there. Just had to stop and pick up YHWH along the way; he wanted out.

Funny what a difference it makes to me, one little word added to my identity. So many atheists are stuck on the "lack of belief" ideal, which is information I just cannot process. When they said, "you gotta have faith to be an atheist," that must have been peeps like me they were talking about. I got that stuff in spades. People I run into on the street, almost always think I'm Christian; it's silly. I don't mess with 'em lest they come looking for it. I can get out all my hate and aggravation about religion in places like this; don't need that baggage in the real world.

[HarryStanluv25]

It's frustrating for me because I don't really remember why I didn't believe. I just...stopped. Guess it was when I was around 15 or so and life was getting hard and from that I started questioning god and everything. I can't recall ever telling my mom I was atheist either. To this day it bothers her slightly when I use the term but I simply tell her it's not a word to fear. It is what I am so just be okay with it. And she is I think, by now. She knows I don't believe and doesn't force me to either. She even makes the occasional comment about Christians or something we see on TV. So knowing she's accepted it is great. My dad was one of those kids who hated being forced to church growing up and never went to church with us when I was a kid so he's fine with me too. If only others were...

My aunt is in denial about it and drops in the Jesus thing here and there. I doubt she'll ever accept my beliefs. Same with my brother. It's pretty much impossible to talk about it with him as he feels he knows everything about anything. And since he believes others have to too. He will continue to force me to believe if that conversation pops up again. The way he is...makes me feel insecure, stupid, uncomfortable, unworthy... like my views don't even matter... I don't know if he realizes this but until he stops putting my opinion down he'll never accept either. Just because he's been through so much sh** in life and apparently god helped him through it, I am an idiot if I don't choose the same path. That sums it up really.

It's unfortunate when certain people will never accept you're an Atheist. But if there is one thing I am putting my foot down on is I will not let these people control my beliefs or force me to think or do anything I don't believe in. *sigh*

[passionatefool]

It's frustrating for me because I don't really remember why I didn't believe. I just...stopped. Guess it was when I was around 15 or so and life was getting hard and from that I started questioning god and everything. I can't recall ever telling my mom I was atheist either. To this day it bothers her slightly when I use the term but I simply tell her it's not a word to fear. It is what I am so just be okay with it. And she is I think, by now. She knows I don't believe and doesn't force me to either. She even makes the occasional comment about Christians or something we see on TV. So knowing she's accepted it is great. My dad was one of those kids who hated being forced to church growing up and never went to church with us when I was a kid so he's fine with me too. If only others were...

My aunt is in denial about it and drops in the Jesus thing here and there. I doubt she'll ever accept my beliefs. Same with my brother. It's pretty much impossible to talk about it with him as he feels he knows everything about anything. And since he believes others have to too. He will continue to force me to believe if that conversation pops up again. The way he is...makes me feel insecure, stupid, uncomfortable, unworthy... like my views don't even matter... I don't know if he realizes this but until he stops putting my opinion down he'll never accept either. Just because he's been through so much sh** in life and apparently god helped him through it, I am an idiot if I don't choose the same path. That sums it up really.

It's unfortunate when certain people will never accept you're an Atheist. But if there is one thing I am putting my foot down on is I will not let these people control my beliefs or force me to think or do anything I don't believe in. *sigh*

Aww yeah sometimes its hard. While the path to becoming an atheist is intellectual, religion is however something emotional to people.

I find it ironic that if you are a Hindu, you would say you experience lord Vishnu and he helped you overcome bad time, if you are a buddhist then its buddha, if you are a taoist then its Jade Emperor, if you are Muslim its Allah, and if you are a Christian, its Yaweh - God. I think people doesnt realize their own capability and strength to overcome and cope with problem by themselves or with the help from friends and family when they give God or deities all the credit. Overall it is a self-assurance thing they do to give themselve a delusional comfort that there is a supernatural, all powerful and all knowing being watching after them. Religion is a double standard thing, if they couldnt overcome or maybe have something tragic happened, its God testings their faith, if something good happened its a blessing from God....

So Harry, you shouldnt feel stupid. I think your brother isnt capable of understanding you yet because the mentality he is in. If he accept your POV then he is putting his faith in risk. So sometimes theists put atheist down to reassure them that they are on the right. The path to becoming an atheist for me was very intellectual, philosophical at times, a lot of logic and rationality, it wasnt an easy thing to do just to abandon comforting delusion. I believe it was the same for you and it was, in my opinion, a brave thing to do. So you should feel good And be proud that you are finally seeing reality for what it really is, no longer limited and blinded by religion, even if you brother, mom, or aunt cant understand it.

[Minimalist]

The way he is...makes me feel insecure, stupid, uncomfortable, unworthy... like my views don't even matter... I don't know if he realizes this but until he stops putting my opinion down he'll never accept either.

There is a somewhat different dynamic between a person and their parents or even an aunt than there is with a brother.

You can tell your brother to go fuck himself and jesus, too. You probably wouldn't want to try that with your aunt....at least not in those words.

[rubikscube]

Here (UK) people are relatively accepting of atheism. I do get involved in the occasional debate, but I don't get hate for being an atheist. My family, however, were a different story.

[frankiej]

I wish I have a friend like you!

Everyone does

Lol nothing is ever interesting when it comes out of my friend's mouth.

What part of the world are you from? I'm in Oklahoma, bible belt so religion is such an important thing.

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I'm from Scotland. I'd hate living in the bible belt... It must suck.