Do you tell people you are an atheist? Do you volunteer it or wait for the conversation to turn to religion?
2007-05-03 16:19:43 · 34 answers · asked by Rogue Scrapbooker 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Guppy137: I wish that were so where I live... the first question I was asked when my son started school, by the majority of the other parents, was "what church do you go to?" That is equal to asking someone what religion they are. I was flabbergasted and torn about how to respond. I stuck with "we're not very religious" for awhile... until I realized that led to being preached to about what is the best church to attend (based on which religion is best, of course). Now, I have a science fish on my car, I wear an atheist logo button very frequently, I let anyone know who even remotely mentions religion... I am out there.
2007-05-03 16:51:20 · update #1
I'm completely open. I volunteer it when it's appropriate. I don't blurt it out at random. When people ask me to pray for them, I don't lie. If people ask me what chruch I go to or start to fish around, I tell them.
2007-05-03 16:23:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
Depends on the circumstance. I don't at work, I don't with my dad's side of the family. In both cases it's for pretty mercenary reason, I'm sorry to admit; with work I don't want to get fired, with my family I'd prefer to continue getting invited to family functions and remain in wills and soforth.
Like many of my fellow atheists, though, I'm very conversant in religion, so I can carry on a conversation without revealing too much about my own opinions until the topic goes back to how terrible the Lions are or whatever.
In most of the rest of my life, where I don't have anything riding on the continued assumption that I hold religious beliefs that I don't, I'm open about it, although I don't usually volunteer it.
2007-05-03 16:38:11 · answer #2 · answered by Doc Occam 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm not open about it. It's difficult being a black agnostic/atheist. I am a small minority in a minority. My parents don't even know. I guess it's a mostly out of convenience, possibly a little cowardice. I've never told a black person. White people are more open to this idea, even though you can read the horror/pity in their face. I really hate the long circular discussions that follow and ultimately lead nowhere, so I try to avoid stating it and often just lie. Even when it does come out I act nonchalant about it and act like I just don't think about the subject much or that I just haven't been to church in a while. Sometimes I feel guilty about lying but I I think I feel worse being preached to or ostracized.
2007-05-03 16:31:16 · answer #3 · answered by Brandon 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am upfront about my Atheism. However it's not something that comes up in normal conversation so I don't mention it. Unless of course the other party tries to bring up religion about anything and I politely tell them I'm not interested since I am an Atheist.
2007-05-03 16:31:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't advertise it. I don't ask others what their religion is. People don't usually go up to people and say "Hi, I'm Catholic" or "Hello, I'm a Buddhist." That is just a strange thing to do. If I'm in a conversation about religion, I don't say much. I will respect other people's views, no matter what religion they may be, but if I'm asked, I will say I'm an atheist. I'm a private person, I don't tell others things about my personal life, unless I know them well.
2007-05-03 16:26:16 · answer #5 · answered by Enceladus 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I never bring it up (unless I'm talking to Athiest friends) although I have no qualms about discussing it with religious people if the topic comes up. I'm just sly about it; I like to keep people guessing. I wear the American Athiest symbol everyday in the form of a necklace I bought from their website. The symbol looks like an "A" in the middle of an atom and my name happens to be Alli. If someone says, "I like your necklace! 'A' for Alli, eh?" then I say "..among other things..."
If someone wants to talk religion (or non-religion) with me then I'm all for it. Otherwise, why bring up a subject that will just cause social awkwardness?
2007-05-04 06:08:44 · answer #6 · answered by GallopingGrasshoppers 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a closet atheist, but I don't go around bashing people over the head with it, like some people do with their religious beliefs. If the subject turns to religion (and I'm specifically targeted with the question, "what church do you go to?"), I say "none. I'm a heathen."
2007-05-03 16:26:14 · answer #7 · answered by Resident Heretic 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't volunteer it. My boyfriend knows cause he's my best friend, and you'd think everyone else could figure it out.
I don't just run around and shout about it, some people around here would probably go crazy about it.
I especially don't volunteer it because I don't think religions are dumb or anything, just that I don't believe in God. I don't want people to think I think they're dumb or I don't like them or something.
2007-05-03 16:31:45 · answer #8 · answered by spidermilk666 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I dont belive in anything cept for total science and the facts show the reason that we are here bcuse of history tells us does that mean I'm atheist? Yeah I tell others only when they ask me. But talking about religion is boring for me.
2007-05-03 16:28:15 · answer #9 · answered by roar_ca 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think most people of any religion volunteer the information on their religion... that it more likely comes up in a conversation.
2007-05-03 16:24:24 · answer #10 · answered by guppy137 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋