Have you ever had to lie about your religious beliefs?

Question

Or keep them a secret?

Answer 1

No, thanks God. In Cuba, where religion is kept under close surveillance, as potential enemy of the State, I had the courage to say that I am Catholic

Answer 2

I don't ever lie about my religious beliefs and practises, but some people are better off not knowing (or, as is more often the case, sometimes *I'm* better off if certain people don't know).

My parents don't know exactly, but at least suspect or have some kind of idea that I'm not a Christian. That's all they need to know.

My room-mate, for example, I didn't tell for a while (which is quite a task), simply because I didn't know how he'd take it.

Most of my friends know that I'm Pagan, many of them even know that I practise Helenismos (ancient Greek paganism), but the only reason they get to know is because they're my friends and (unlike my family) generally accept my little idiosyncrasies better than most others. And quite a few of the friends whom I've made recently have been within the Hellenic polytheist community, so obviously, they know for that reason.

But if I'm going for a job interview? Nobody needs to know, and anyway, it's not like I'm wearing a giant pewter pentagram on a cord around my neck and inviting questions about it -- I have a couple of discretely-placed tattoos and a few subtle pieces of jewellery (like Mercury [Hermes]-head dime cuff links) that get few, if any questions, and when asked, am usually asked something simple like "ooh! where did you get that?" or "my boyfriend's been looking for something similar, where can I find something like that?"

Yeah, I'm sure there are a few McWiccans who might interpret this as "shame" but frankly, since I lack a martyr complex, I don't have this overwhelming urge to advertise my faith to every Tom, Dick and Bozo that I encounter.

Answer 3

I would not lie if I was asked point blank, but I do hid it from people I work with to some extent.
When you are not a main stream Christian or a Jew, you can face persecution on a regular basis in this country. I teach in the bible belt and the people are a pain about only doing things their way, especially in the black community. You would think that they would be more tolerant due to their own history, but no way.

As for hiding a religion being a sin, if thats not the silliest thing I have heard. Protecting yourself and your family is never a sin.... not that i use the term sin for anything. I take responsibility for my actions and the karma that comes with them. Good or bad.

Answer 4

Yes and no, I used to be Mormon, and my family especially my parents are very devout, when I told them that I didn't want to go to church anymore, it completely shattered them. When I met my husband he told me he thought I should go back to church again, so I actually go to church every once and a while. I read the Book of Mormon and the Bible as well as the Quran, and my father actually started reading the Quran too. However when I showed my parents my Hijabs they were upset, so I didn't wear them while they were here visiting for the week. I wish I could tell you that I have always been steadfast in my beliefs and I have never hidden them from other people, but unfortunately that is not the case.

Answer 5

Not even when I was a teen still living at home. My mother is Christian, as is my father (though he leans more towards a Deist view)... I was about 11 or 12 when I asked for a book on Wicca. I was never treated differently, nor did they try to stop me from learning about Wicca (actually, my mother agreed on some points). They didn't try to convince me to not become a Pagan. I have never received the threat of Hell from my parents (a certain uncle, on the other hand, loved to use that - needless to say, he has disowned me lol). I have never hid or lied about my beliefs - I see no reason to. Of course, I don't run around town screaming "I'm Pagan!" either ;-)

Answer 6

No I have never hidden the beliefs I have held. When I was a pagan when it was not common to see one in the open I never hid it despite getting backlash (lived in the Midwest) and now I do not hide the fact I am an atheist. I have nothing to be ashamed of so why would I lie or hide what I am.

Answer 7

I did for a little bit when I first left Christianity and became Pagan. But then I realized that most people don't care. So now if I'm asked directly, no I don't lie though I don't advertise either.

Answer 8

I used to be a mormon, I always told every one I was baptized mormon but i didnt believe their doctrine that wasnt a lie though. Now that I know the truth about Jesus, I would never tell anyone I wasn't a Christian.

Answer 9

No and No. I am proud to be a Christian. I am proud to belong to the Catholic Church.

here's the chorus from a song from DC talk
"What will people think when they hear that I'm a Jesus freak
What will people do when they find that it's true
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak
There ain't no disguising the truth "

I am a Jesus freak.

Answer 10

I even have under no circumstances outright lied... I even have even with the indisputable fact that urged the communique removed from the subject remember while conversing with my grandmother interior the few months between telling my father and mom and others approximately my atheism and my grandmothers loss of life... My father and mom asked that I now not inform her... I agreed to now not inform her if i ought to attain this devoid of mendacity... If she had asked me "Are you an atheist?" or "Do you suspect interior the life of god?" or comparable factor sparkling questions i could have advised her... even with the indisputable fact that while the subject remember of religion and ideology got here up it turn into continuously often words now not specifics so I urged removed from the subject remember...

Answer 11

Mmmm, no.
I avoid situations where that crap might come up.
My 2 brothers are known atheists and I pretty much am too, but I'm not going to advertise it too much.
People probably know I'm not interested in religion though. That part is easy.