What are some of the reactions have got from people when telling them you are an Atheist?

Question

I've some times got the impression I have deeply offended some people simply by admitting to this, and have gotten comments like that sounds bleak or hopeless, what are some of the reactions you have had and for those religious people that feel they have had a similar experience feel free to answer too.

To tricycle-pilot the only reason I would tell someone that is if they asked in thee first place, I have no interest in bringing it up first.

Answer 1

"Oh you're probably one of those people who thinks they're too smart to believe in God."

I also remember telling a girl I was dating, she looked hurt and betrayed as though I had told her I just tied up her family and they were in my basement.

Answer 2

I really try as hard as I can to avoid that subject in real life, for that very reason. So much of the time, the reaction you get is negative. I've had occasions where even just SUGGESTING that the Bible might be untrue is enough to get you reactions like "that's mean!" or "that's horrible!" or "only idiots think like that!". It's really amazing how it's such a big issue with some people. It's also really amazing how some people seem seriously surprised that there are people in this world who actually ARE non-religious.

Answer 3

Excellent question. Excellent answers.

I don't share my view of reality with too many people, because those that I have, their reaction has been disbelief and indignation. They can't quite grasp that anyone on the planet doesn't think like they do. You can see it in their eyes: you're unclean, a heathen, infidel! Your very presence offends their sensibilities.

You can also see a disconnect going on in their brain. Their Church has indoctrinated them to believe we are all amoral and immoral. We are the depraved, wicked enemy full of sin and evil. So when they see we are normal it throws a wrench into the years of brainwashing they've been exposed to. You can see the smoke coming out of their ears as they try to grasp the ramifications of the lie.

It's almost an affront to their belief structure. I think it speaks more to the insecurity of the bible worshipers than it does to anything else. That one freethinker can put such fear and anger in them speaks volumes about the strength and moral foundation of their own beliefs. We represent the doubt they all have within themselves. They don't want to topple the fragile house of cards their religious mythology has been built upon. The Church has sheltered its sheep for too long.

"It is difficult, none the less, for the ordinary man to cast off orthodox beliefs, for he is seldom allowed to hear the other side.... Whereas the Christian view is pressed on him day in and day out."
— Margaret Knight

So long as man remains free, he strives for nothing so incessantly and so painfully as to find someone to worship. But man seeks to worship what is established beyond dispute, so that all men would agree at once to worship it. For these pitiful creatures are concerned not only to find what one or the other can worship, but to find something that all would believe in and worship; what is essential is that all may be together in it. This craving for community of worship is the chief misery of every man individually and of all humanity from the beginning of time. For the sake of common worship, they've slain each other with the sword. They have set up gods and challenged one another, "Put away your gods and come and worship ours, or we will kill you and your gods!" And so it will be to the end of the world, even when gods disappear from the earth; they will fall down before idols just the same.
— Fyodor Dostoyevsky; (1821-1881)

Answer 4

When i was an Atheist. People were afraid of me. I had a very evil like vibe and talked about Satan just to scare people. I wore scary cloths and made art that would creep out Christians and stuff. I viewed Christians and the like as one of the evil destructive forces of the world and declared myself an enemy.
I worked hard to expand my mind so i could outsmart them. I meditated alot and experimented with LSD and stuff. I literally got to the point where "faith" people were so afraid of me they saw what they believed was Satan in me. I used to try and "spin" these people.

This went on for years and years. One day however I saw GOD. So the only thing that has really changed is now i KNOW there is GOD. Because now i know even more then ever Christians are retarded and that hardly anyone even knows for real or not if GOD is real. They have no clue what GOD is. They actually purposely block GOD out and do what they do because they hate GOD. In all reality Atheists probably are closer to GOD then any other religion.

"saved by the fire, Satan is a razor blade."

Answer 5

I'm not an atheist. But I feel your pain. People really over-react. They assume that if you are an atheist that you are only here to attack them. Obviously that is not true. The problem is that there ARE atheists that are only on here to insult religious people, but of course there are plenty of religious people doing the same thing. I think that the problem is threefold:

1. Because there ARE people on here just attacking and insulting, people get defensive and paranoid.

2. Some people who are guilty of being the attackers will also act defensive. It is a classic strategy of an abuser: deflect from your faults by blaming others.

3. Insecurity. A lot of people are afraid that they will lose their rights to believe what they believe. Perhaps it is a legitimate fear. Perhaps it is not. It is a shame that we cannot learn to accept our differences better.

I enjoy coming on here and doing some debating or discussing my beliefs, but I always try to respect others and their beliefs. Truth is that no one really knows that they are right and everyone else is wrong. Here is a crazy thought: maybe everyone can believe what they believe!

Oh, and here is a funny story: I have been called an atheist on here myself, simply because I argued that someone's argument that "The Bible says so" is illogical. I've been a Southern Baptist all my life. Found that pretty funny.

Answer 6

I've never told anyone that I am an athiest... because I am not an athiest... however
I have gotten similar responses from "religious" types when they find out that I am pro spirituality--- and anti-religion (theres a big difference between the two)... they get offended because I keep an open mind and judge no one for their beliefs... (can you believe that someone would be offended because I can honestly say I respect others beliefs?!) go figure...
why cant we all just get along...
why do so many people feel that you have to agree with everything about another person... in order to get along with them or to be their friend...
I have friends who are athiests... I have friends who are religious... thats fine for them... I happen to be of different beliefs...and as long as they dont "judge" me we get along great... even have some healthy debates once in a while... and occasionally learn something from one another...

Answer 7

I usually don't bring it up, but most adults I know don't make a big deal out of it.

Once, I suspect I didn't get an award because of telling the board about it. The kid who got it instead of me even came up later and said I deserved it more. (Ha! By admiting that, maybe he did deserve it LOL.) In the Army, if you refused to go to service on Sunday some DIs made you scrub toilets and stuff, but that wasn't a big deal. I had a girlfriend almost break up with me over it (if only she had! =-P),

In general though, I don't bring it up to people I believe are going to be set off over it. Why have the drama?

Answer 8

i would not be offended by someone admitting they are an athiest, but i do feel a deep sadness for anyone that does not have God. i get the same reaction from people who are not at all religious. they feel that i should not even speak of Jesus Christ because it offends their fragile sensibilities. just get in where you fit in! i think we all feel like we are being persecuted in one way or another by a person or group of people. is there a solution? i really don't think so, and to be perfectly honest, it doesn't matter. i am glad to live in a country where we are not forced to act like we believe something we don't.

Answer 9

When I came out of the atheist closet, my dad just smiled and said "Whatever makes you happy in life, but me too". He is a closet case atheist. My mom was sad and claims I'm just a lost sheep. I guess that's denial. My brother just nodded and was like, "I was happy for you when you were Christian and I'm happy for you now". He's always been an agnostic, so he's very open minded about such things. My Catholic husband doesn't mind whatever I think or believe, but his parents would have a cow if they knew. Otherwise, nobody knows my beliefs in real life. I am afraid admitting this to others would just cause conflict. I avoid the topics of politics and religion except around those I know who are like minded.

Answer 10

The most amusing reaction I ever experienced was from a former supervisor at work. She said: "You're an atheist? But you don't seem mean at all..."
As if all atheists go around all the time kicking puppies and stealing lunch money from little kids or something! I guess a lot of people don't ever really stop to think about their pre-conceived notions of things.

Answer 11

My favorite has been "Oh, Sweety, it'll pass." as if I'm just mad at god because I may be going through a hard time. The woman pretty much took "I don't believe in God" to mean "I'm having too hard of a time right now to have strong faith." The biggest problem was, my life was going just fine.

This seems to be a common response.

If you still claim to not believe in God after someone explains their religion to you (which you probably already know about), they seem to take it personally, as if you are rejecting them or saying something bad about them. Really, I just don't believe in God and I did actually do some thought on the issue to come to that conclusion.