How open are you with your Atheism?

[abaris]

I have. Ever been told "God blesses you" by a complete stranger?

Yes, and why should I care? Unless a sermon follows I wish them a good day and move on. It's not important and as meaningless as "how are you?" if you don't really give a shit.

Here we have several ways of greeting. If someone uses the religious greeting, I reply with have a good day without elaborating why I didn't reply in kind. I don't even police my language, good day comes naturally. And I still find myself saying "Thank god" although it doesn't have any meaning for me personally. It's just that I grew up with these words and never felt the need to employ newspeak after I no longer believed.

[account_inactive]

I've had that said to me numerous times, and I don't really care either. I agree with abaris, you just wish them a good day and move on.

[brewer]

I have. Ever been told "God blesses you" by a complete stranger?

Yes, and why should I care? Unless a sermon follows I wish them a good day and move on. It's not important and as meaningless as "how are you?" if you don't really give a shit.

Here we have several ways of greeting. If someone uses the religious greeting, I reply with have a good day without elaborating why I didn't reply in kind. I don't even police my language, good day comes naturally. And I still find myself saying "Thank god" although it doesn't have any meaning for me personally. It's just that I grew up with these words and never felt the need to employ newspeak after I no longer believed.

My response is not an attack, it's "No thanks, atheist". And then I move on. I feel it's important that they understand not everyone is christian. 

I don't think "thank god" often but I still cuss in xtian. Doubt that will ever leave me.

[abaris]

My response is not an attack, it's "No thanks, atheist". And then I move on. I feel it's important that they understand not everyone is christian. 

As I said, totally unimportant where I live. My only reaction is, you're probably a believer and I'm on my way. My assumption doesn't even have to be true, by the way. It might just be another person not giving a single shit which phrase they use.

[brewer]

My response is not an attack, it's "No thanks, atheist". And then I move on. I feel it's important that they understand not everyone is christian. 

As I said, totally unimportant where I live. My only reaction is, you're probably a believer and I'm on my way. My assumption doesn't even have to be true, by the way. It might just be another person not giving a single shit which phrase they use.

Remind me not to sneeze around you. I just might go all gamma ray, AAARRRRR............ puny human!

[abaris]

Remind me not to sneeze around you. I just might go all gamma ray, AAARRRRR............ puny human!

Don't understand that one. That's for sure.

[brewer]

Remind me not to sneeze around you. I just might go all gamma ray, AAARRRRR............ puny human!

Don't understand that one. That's for sure.

I sneeze, you knee jerk "bless you", I fill with rage and give you a HULK whomping.

If it has to be explained, not really funny.

[abaris]

I sneeze, you knee jerk "bless you", I fill with rage and give you a HULK whomping.

The most you would get out of me on that occasion would be a grunt. Also the main reason why I never used the religious greeting. Too long, too complicated. Good day comes more naturally and can be shortened to day. I'm generally not big on phrases, since I consider them all to be meaningless. I know it's polite to greet persons or to return a greeting, but I use the shortest version. That's really all there is to it.

The only time when my neckhair stands up with religious phrases being used is in politics. Probably not understandable for an America who's politicians invoke god even before taking a bathroom break. But it doesn't happen in my country. Now the rightwing candidate for the presidential election does just that. And he stands a realistic chance of winning. Apart from being a borderline piece of nazi shit, he adds god to the mix by now.

Interestingly, the churches, catholic as well as protestant were the first ones to react. But not to praise his use of "so help me god", but to fight for the division between church and state. They said that god has no place in politics and replied by quoting the "thou shalt not use the lord's name in vain" bit.

By the way, there's a secular version to react to sneezing. Also shorter. It translates to "be well".

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Some times I'll stroll along until I find someone carrying a Bible (preferably an elderly lady) and I'll rush up and shriek, 'I'M AN ATHEIST!! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?!'

But seriously folks, religion (or lack thereof) doesn't matter very much here. I'm sure I've told this story before, but not long after we got settled in, the neighbours - with whom we'd already struck up a casual acquaintance - invited us to Sunday services at their Methodist church. My missus said something like, 'Very nice of you to offer, but we're atheists.' After a brief pause, the husband said, 'Oh. Do atheists go to the cinema? We could do that if you like.'

That was it. No questioning, no recriminations, no threats of hellfire. They're simply very nice people offering a social engagement. We remained good friends until they moved away.

Boru

[Doubting Thomas]

I run a small business in a small Christian (predominantly Catholic) town in a red state. I definitely don't advertise my atheism. It's hard enough telling people that I think Trump would make a lousy president.