RE: Study says coming out as atheist can help reduce prejudice towards atheists
February 2, 2013 at 12:04 pm
I don't run around with a sign proclaiming myself to be an atheist, but I don't try to hide the fact either. For me, owning that I don't believe is important. I've run into trouble when I try to be anything other than what I am. I don't want to live a lie or a deception or whatever, and if I led people to believe that I have faith, that would be a lie. Either people will accept me or they won't. I have no control over what others think about me. I put up with a lot of shit when I was younger and out as an atheist. It shaped who I am. My only fear is that my kids would have to deal with the same shit. I think the more atheists who are open about their lack of belief will lead to acceptance for the community as a whole, and better the chances that my kids (and other atheists-my kids aren't atheists, they're too young to decide such things for themselves yet) will be accepted, whatever they end up believing on the god question.