CHRISTIANS: If you were an atheist in America, would you admit it to your family and the world?

Question

... is it any wonder the number of atheists (in polls) are under-reported?

Answer 1

I'm an atheist, and it took a long time for me to admit it...

Answer 2

Yeah, I think I would. But then, I'm not an atheist in America. I'm an atheist in New Zealand. Very liberal bunch, we are. Nobody really cares. We do have some fundies here, but your fundies make ours look like a bunch of bleeding heart liberals. We could never, for example, spawn a Fred Phelps or a Jerry Falwell here.

Point is, while I can say that I think I would be openly atheist if I was American, I have no real concept of what sort of crap I'd take. I guess I'll find out if I ever go there.

Answer 3

"But Praise God I am not an atheist. it really is denying the truth you really know."

I know you think that now, but if you were in my shoes you'd realize how wrong that line of thinking is. I can't believe how simple my mind was when I believed in the myth of the Bible. It embarrasses me to look back on the kind of person I was and realize how brainwashed and mentally crippled I was by thinking that it was noble to have faith in things that could never be proven.

Believe you me, atheism is not denying any "truth" that you "really know." A lot of you Christians seem to think that atheists are just being contrary or trying to be edgy and cool by denying God, even though we really do secretly believe in him. Sorry - that's just not true. When you can open your mind enough to discern truth and falsehood for yourself, it's really incredible what you discover about religion.

Your assertion that atheists are just denying a truth that they really know is true is plain ignorant. I feel a bit sorry for people like you who think that everybody has the same brain as yours. Thank goodness that's not the case!

"Do you actually think someone could pretend to be a Christian and fool a true one? funny"

Except for Charles Templeton, the well-known Evangelist minister who was a partner to Billy Graham. He sure didn't have a hard time making Billy think that he was a Christian even after he'd given in to reason and become an atheist in his heart. He continued to live outwardly as a Christian minister for several years before he finally admitted that he didn't believe any of it. If Billy Graham could be fooled, I think you could, too.

Answer 4

IF I were, it would depend. Since this is a made up untrue question, it would depend if my family were atheists or not, and generally what their take on atheism was.

In reality, when I told my parents and family that I'd switched from being Methodist to Mormon 15 years ago, they took it pretty hard, my Mom still does. Sometimes I wonder if maybe she would have taken it better if I'd said I was atheist.

Answer 5

"Do you actually think someone could pretend to be a Christian and fool a true one?"

-Actually, I live in a small town and about 99% of the people here are strict Catholic. As I was raised in the Church, and research religion enough it is fairly simple to fake being Catholic around them. Granted, once I got older and matured I was able to stick up for myself and my beliefs (atheism) and grew a thicker skin when people started damning me to hell, or calling me a heathen.

All you have to do to pretend to be Christian is say, with reverence and mild excitement: "I may not know a lot yet, but I've been touched by the spirit and want to know more, amen!"

Answer 6

I don't just admit it, I publish it in the newspaper every few weeks. There is but one truth in this planet, and it is the fact that organized religion is the one true abomination of planet Earth. Just about everything wrong with our planet can be traced back to religion, including more innocent deaths than all wars put together (and that doesn't take into account most wars take place for idiotic religious reasons...)

Answer 7

I've often wondered about that seeing how many there are here on R/S. Here atheists can speak their mind and remain anonymous, but I do wonder how many let their family and friends know? If you want to be noticed, speak up! Kind of funny to think that those we debate with on here could very well be our neighbors!

Answer 8

I have a few atheists friends, who obviously admit it or I wouldn't know it. Actually, if you're around here much you'll realize that the most intolerant people in this section are by far the atheists.

Answer 9

Religious belief is the refuge for retreating cowards.
Atheists, on the other hand, are the "Marines" of battle-hardened warriors.

Answer 10

Yes I Would. But then, I don't have that problem. My sister is a wiccan and they took that pretty well. The problem my mother has is with me being a nondenominational christian. (The rest of them are United Methodist.)