I'm a Closet Atheist

[Cecelia]

Hi, my name is Cecelia and I'm a closet atheist.  I'm 30 years old, but will be 31 in October.  I'm getting old =/

I was raised Catholic, but started to doubt god around the time I started dating my now husband.  I switched to non-denominational Christian, but the truth was I was just fooling myself.  I didn't really get that I was an atheist at the time.  The more I read the bible, the more I not only doubted god, but the more I didn't want the Abrahamic God to exist.  The Abrahamic god was a misogynist, a psychopath, and not someone who I wanted to exist.  So I guess I fit the stereotype of someone who 'hates god'.  I'd say it's more accurate that I hate the things that god is said to have done.  You know, hate the sin, not the sinner.  Except you can't hate someone who doesn't exist in the first place.

I'm a high school History teacher, which is one of the reasons I'm in the closet about my Atheism.  I'm worried if the wrong people find out, I could be fired.  I'll be starting my eighth year of teaching this year.  I had to hide a lot about who I was in my interview process.  Which really sucked, especially since my boss was my old High School Vice Principal.

My husband does know I'm an Atheist.  He's one too.  Most of my friends know.  But our families don't.  My side of the family isn't really a problem.  My mom's probably an Atheist.  Not my dad though.  It's my husband's side of the family that's big into religion.  His father is your classic Wrath of God type Christian.  He thinks if you do something bad, god will destroy your house.  A lot of his beliefs are totally backwards.  And he's immune to logic.  To him, being an atheist is a worse sin than murder.  And working on Sunday is definitely among the worst things you can do.  Just to give an example of his 'logic'

"What about people born in Africa?  They don't know about Jesus, so how can they be expected to believe in him?"

"They can pray about it."

At which point I wanted to bang my head against the wall.  We haven't even told any of our kids that we're atheists because they might say something to him.  He's one of those people who if found out would NOT leave us alone.  And the rest of my husband's family isn't a whole lot better. 

My neighbor Divinity told me about this place, and I thought it'd be a good idea to join a place where I can be more open about who I am.  Christians are so worried about their religious liberty, and then treat atheists the way they do.  It's nice to meet you all.

[SteelCurtain]

Cecelia!

I'm glad Divinity told you about us heathens.

I hope you join in on the discussions and find a home here among the heathen horde.

[Jenny A]

[Gawdzilla]

Hi, I'm one of the few rational people in a very large clan of Southern Baptists (at best, snake handlers at worst). Keep a low profile for your own safety. God won't mind.

[Lucanus]

Welcome! And have a nice stay.

[Aoi Magi]

Welcome!!

May you be able to come out of that closet soon...

[abaris]

I'm a high school History teacher, which is one of the reasons I'm in the closet about my Atheism.  I'm worried if the wrong people find out, I could be fired. 

That's sad.

Welcome.

I know it's not much of a help, but if they would fire you, they would break the law in doing so. At least in most countries I know of.

[robvalue]

Hey Cecelia, welcome

That's very sad you have to keep your atheism hidden, but I totally understand. People clearly find atheists threatening to their ludicrous belief systems when they feel the need to hound us about it.

I'm sure you'll fit in well here, especially since you come with the divinity seal of approval!

[Cecelia]

I'm sure it is illegal. I don't think it'd stop them from trying though. And of course the religious right want to weaken teachers unions, so that we don't have protections from things like that. They don't want an Atheist teaching their children. They could be fine with me one moment, then as soon as they learned I didn't believe in the Abrahamic God, they'd do a 180. I'm sure some of them hate that I teach the Treaty of Tripoli, and that the US wasn't founded as a Christian Nation. But I think it's important for students to learn, especially since it has a relation to the first amendment. Many people hate the idea of the separation of Church and State. They want the state to stay out of the church's business, but want the Church to run the state.

[Minimalist]

His father is your classic Wrath of God type Christian.  He thinks if you do something bad, god will destroy your house.  A lot of his beliefs are totally backwards.  And he's immune to logic.  To him, being an atheist is a worse sin than murder.  And working on Sunday is definitely among the worst things you can do.  Just to give an example of his 'logic'

So why bother with him?  This honor thy father and mother shit is bible-based too.  If the guy is as big an asshole as you say then you'll never change him.  People who shut out their families because of the invisible sky-daddy do not deserve to be treated with respect.  If you can't talk about mundane stuff ( the weather, sports, etc.) then avoid him.  Don't let his problems be your problems.