Why tell anyone?

[rexbeccarox]

Because I want to be me. And me is an atheist. I should not have to hide it. There is a difference between not hiding who you are and parading it. I don't do the latter.

We shouldn't put ourselves into categories like atheists. I am just some one who does not believe in a god, just like I don't believe many things. If someone ever asks you if you believe in god, just say no. You don't have to announce to anyone that you are an atheist. Unless however your circumstances require it, but I don't know your circumstances.

But... "no, I don't believe in gods" is the exact same thing as "I'm an atheist."

I'm very confused by what you're saying.

[The Valkyrie]

Because I want to be me. And me is an atheist. I should not have to hide it. There is a difference between not hiding who you are and parading it. I don't do the latter.

We shouldn't put ourselves into categories like atheists. I am just some one who does not believe in a god, just like I don't believe many things. If someone ever asks you if you believe in god, just say no. You don't have to announce to anyone that you are an atheist. Unless however your circumstances require it, but I don't know your circumstances.

Because I'm an atheist. I don't believe in god - which is what atheist means.

Yes, there are many things I don't believe in that I don't label myself with, but then, as I've previously stated, we don't have people trying to make us believe in those things.

[cromwell]

We shouldn't put ourselves into categories like atheists. I am just some one who does not believe in a god, just like I don't believe many things. If someone ever asks you if you believe in god, just say no. You don't have to announce to anyone that you are an atheist. Unless however your circumstances require it, but I don't know your circumstances.

But... "no, I don't believe in gods" is the exact same thing as "I'm an atheist."

I'm very confused by what you're saying.

As Richard Dawkins once said, "I'm as much of an atheist as I am an afairiest or aunicornist."

[SteelCurtain]

We shouldn't put ourselves into categories like atheists. I am just some one who does not believe in a god, just like I don't believe many things. If someone ever asks you if you believe in god, just say no. You don't have to announce to anyone that you are an atheist. Unless however your circumstances require it, but I don't know your circumstances.

First off, can you demonstrate why assuming an identifier like "atheist" (which, as has been pointed out, is the same as 'someone who does not believe in a god') is a bad thing? I belong to a group that I'm proud of. I don't feel pigeonholed at all by claiming to be an atheist.

I feel like I said in my previous post that I don't go around parading the fact that I'm an atheist. If you don't know me you wouldn't know that about me. But to the people that are close to me, it is an important part of my identity. I would literally have to lie about it in order to hide it from my family. It comes up. For anyone. Unless you have an non-religious family, you'd stick out like a sore thumb, unless you were just going along for the ride in order to avoid having a 'label.'

[Phatt Matt s]

Its just a belief

[Sejanus]

Its just a belief

Lack of*

[cromwell]

Its just a belief

Lack of*

Thank god (pun intended) you said that, I was about to go on a rant lol.

[Chas]

Its just a belief

And you're just an idiot who thinks lack of belief is a belief.

[Phatt Matt s]

Its just a belief

And you're just an idiot who thinks lack of belief is a belief.

Tthanks chaz. Youre a good man! U r my sunshine

[hamsonk]

I know it can be extremely hard to come out as atheist, but always remember that you only have one chance at this life. Don't spend it living a lie, because you are not only lying to yourself, but those you love.