How open are you with your Atheism?

[Arkilogue]

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.

How about "Cover your godamned mouth!"

[Mermaid]

I would lose my job if I was open about it. I keep it to myself.

[Whateverist]

I tell everyone who has any reason to know because as a great man once said "I don't give a fuck that's just how I troll."

[Whateverist]

Nobody gives a shit where I live. Well, unless you're applying for a job at one of the churches or affiliated organisations, I guess. Nobody ever asked me and I never felt the need to tell without being asked.

It's the same slightly further north...

You have no idea how jealous we are of your fuck-givingless country.

[Cato]

I don't ever hesitate to divulge my thoughts on the subject, but I also don't spend my life looking for religious conversation. In my line of work politics and religion are typically taboo, but on the rare occasion that it does come up I am forthright in my thoughts on the subject.

Regardless of the situation I am not immediately rude about it, just matter of fact. That changes instantly the moment someone starts talking about hell in a passive aggressive manner.

The real tough part is not bursting out laughing when some my wife's relatives start talking in tongues or waxing poetic about the existence of demons everywhere.

[The Valkyrie]

Personally I don't hide the fact that I'm an atheist.

That is probably because religious affiliation isn't the sacred institute it is in other parts of the world.

[TheMonster]

At my full time job, I've mentioned my Atheism twice, in the last four years. Two different people I trusted, and knew that they wouldn't think it was a big deal. But my workplace is absolutely loaded with the religious. One of my part time employees works as a chaplain at a hospital. Another person whom I have to coordinate with everyday practices memorizing bible quotes on her lunch break. So I am under no illusion that for my own benefit, and to avoid conflict from a lot of people, I keep it close to the chest, and just don't join conversations that involve religion.

My personal life; my friends, family, and my wife know that I'm Atheist. Most of my friends couldn't care less. My dad has become more and more wildly religious as he ages (My wife is pregnant with our first child, and I'm becoming paranoid that he's going to try and baptize our daughter when we're not around). So he's not thrilled with it, but knows that if he pressures me on it too much, we'll probably lose contact, because he knows I won't put up with anyone's religious harassment.

My wife wasn't Atheist until we started dating- when I told her I was before our first date (I get it out there beforehand now, due to issues that came up in previous relationships), she actually didn't know what Atheism was. She was on the fence, and while I wasn't trying to recruit her or anything, she just accepted reality because of one conversation that involved me asking "where's the proof?" Ironically, she has a tattoo of a cross on her ankle that she got when she was 18, because in her words "I was young and dumb." I pretend it burns every time my hand touches it.

How open are you about Atheism in your life? Does it ever come up?

It does come up sometimes. Any political discussion will invariable bring in some form of discussion on social conservatism and values which are intrinsically linked to religion. This causes problems because religious conservatives do not accept "man made rules". I know it is a poor argument ( it is basically their own rules dressed up as a gift from an imaginary friend).
It comes up in pubs when I am out with colleagues. My social circle is quit liberal and young so most are atheist or religious-bit-only-in-name type of crowd. We normally just have a laugh talking about religion and its absurdity. 

A friend of mine persuaded me to go on a Christian meet-up event in this new town we moved into. Interesting talk. It was genuinely interesting to listen to them talk about their beliefs as if they were iron-clad facts. I kept my views private, but I do know a bit about the Bible so I was able to say some relevant things and not look like a complete idiot. They are non-denominational but they do advocate some degree of creationism, opposition to same sex marriage, abortion and they also talk a lot about past conflicts in history of Christianity. 

The bigger challenge for me is with family. I pretend to be religious when at home (go to Church, say nice things about religion when asked, validate the spirituality of other people etc), but they know I dont believe any of it. When asked if I go to Church when not at "home" I simply say that I live a moral life with as much consideration to others as possible... so I believe I will be rewarded for it (karma sort of thing). This logic works quite well with them.

[TheMonster]

At my full time job, I've mentioned my Atheism twice, in the last four years. Two different people I trusted, and knew that they wouldn't think it was a big deal. But my workplace is absolutely loaded with the religious. One of my part time employees works as a chaplain at a hospital. Another person whom I have to coordinate with everyday practices memorizing bible quotes on her lunch break. So I am under no illusion that for my own benefit, and to avoid conflict from a lot of people, I keep it close to the chest, and just don't join conversations that involve religion.

My personal life; my friends, family, and my wife know that I'm Atheist. Most of my friends couldn't care less. My dad has become more and more wildly religious as he ages (My wife is pregnant with our first child, and I'm becoming paranoid that he's going to try and baptize our daughter when we're not around). So he's not thrilled with it, but knows that if he pressures me on it too much, we'll probably lose contact, because he knows I won't put up with anyone's religious harassment.

My wife wasn't Atheist until we started dating- when I told her I was before our first date (I get it out there beforehand now, due to issues that came up in previous relationships), she actually didn't know what Atheism was. She was on the fence, and while I wasn't trying to recruit her or anything, she just accepted reality because of one conversation that involved me asking "where's the proof?" Ironically, she has a tattoo of a cross on her ankle that she got when she was 18, because in her words "I was young and dumb." I pretend it burns every time my hand touches it.

How open are you about Atheism in your life? Does it ever come up?

It does come up sometimes. Any political discussion will invariable bring in some form of discussion on social conservatism and values which are intrinsically linked to religion. This causes problems because religious conservatives do not accept "man made rules". I know it is a poor argument ( it is basically their own rules dressed up as a gift from an imaginary friend).
It comes up in pubs when I am out with colleagues. My social circle is quit liberal and young so most are atheist or religious-bit-only-in-name type of crowd. We normally just have a laugh talking about religion and its absurdity. 

A friend of mine persuaded me to go on a Christian meet-up event in this new town we moved into. Interesting talk. It was genuinely interesting to listen to them talk about their beliefs as if they were iron-clad facts. I kept my views private, but I do know a bit about the Bible so I was able to say some relevant things and not look like a complete idiot. They are non-denominational but they do advocate some degree of creationism, opposition to same sex marriage, abortion and they also talk a lot about past conflicts in history of Christianity. 

The bigger challenge for me is with family. I pretend to be religious when at home (go to Church, say nice things about religion when asked, validate the spirituality of other people etc), but they know I dont believe any of it. When asked if I go to Church when not at "home" I simply say that I live a moral life with as much consideration to others as possible... so I believe I will be rewarded for it (karma sort of thing). This logic works quite well with them.

[robvalue]

I think every open atheist in the world makes it slightly easier for the next one to "come out". But being an obnoxious atheist and shouting it at everyone when no one asked will likely work against this.

[Rhondazvous]

As I read these posts they sound like you’re talking about coming out of the closet.
“I told a few people.”
“They would be horrified if they knew.”

I’m like Vic. It’s not something that I can be open about with my family. But they know anyway because my mother is an ordained evangelist with a PhD in biblical studies. Because her arguments are so full of holes, when she starts in I’m always tempted to think logic and exposure will work. It never does.

Among friends and neighbors I will not lie, but I don’t walk around with a sandwich board either. I never feel the need to make a declaration, “I’m an atheist.” And nobody feels free to pry into my business about any subject.

Still, that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell environment can be a drag hen I’m the only person in a group who isn’t free to say what I think. Fortunately, people talk so much I can’t get a word in edge wise any way.

I swear to you at this very moment Billie Holiday came on singing "Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do"