How difficult has it been for atheists to openly confess their lack of belief to family, friends & coworkers?

Question

There was a question a few minutes ago about how to politely communicate to a coworker disinterest in religious activities, and it got me thinking... just how difficult has it been for the atheists here to publicly admit their atheism? Does the religious climate in your geographical location factor into the level of difficulty (as I suspect it does)?

Icarus... you are a LUCKY so-and-so. I would not mind one bit if it were the same "over here" in the USA.

Angel Drawers, "claim victimhood"? *blink* What?

Answer 1

My geographical location changes every few years when the military moves us. Currently, in N. Cali (where I grew up) it's generally ok the be an atheist. Growing up near Oakland/San Fransisco, it was not a big deal at all. A lot of the people I knew were either atheist or agnostic, and those that were religious were mostly Catholics and very easy-going.

Living on military bases.. now, that is fun. Might as well be living in the Bible Belt. My husband was told once by a sergeant in his squadron that as an atheist he could not possibly be a moral person. How nice :) I don't tell many people that I meet on base that I'm an atheist, until we become really good friends. Recently, a woman with whom I was forming a friendship found out. Let's just say she quickly found other people to hang out with :p I've had that happen a few times and I figure, if they can't handle a friendship with an atheist, it's their loss not mine.

My family, which is small and consists of my mother and grandmother, knows and are for the most part fine with it. They have never give me a hard time, but if the subject of religion ever comes up, they become rather uncomfortable. So, we just don't talk about it.

Reading the answers from people in the UK, Canada and Australia makes me wish the US didn't have such a huge stick up its rear.

Answer 2

I basically agree with Icarus, but I'd add a couple of provisos. I think that probably most people in the UK are basically atheist or agnostic, but I think that a surprisingly large proportion them (especially older ones) aren't really aware of their own agnosticism, and think they believe in God. But then they turn out not to really believe in any of it and say things like, "Well, OK, not in a strictly literal sense..."

I also find that there are surprising pockets or religiosity, sometimes quite intense. These are generally not very geographically marked, but they can be. Some of the Scottish islands are highly religious, and sectarianism rears its head in Northern Ireland and the Glasgow area, which you might want to call religious. For most people it's probably just an issue of labels, but I suspect it may occasionally encourage religiosity.

But yeah, it's pretty easy to be an atheist in Britain. I don't think you've got a problem unless your family is very religious. I can't imagine it would affect anyone's chances of getting elected, as I believe is the case in the US. Being a bit loudly religious might, however.

Answer 3

I have not had a problem with talking to friends about it ever. I lost a family by talking to family about it. I never would speak to a co-worker about it under any circumstances, as I would not ask a guy who's last name is Abramowicz if he were Jewish. It is not their business, and it is not mine. If that co-worker were insistent, I would state that my beliefs are a personal matter. I will walk down the street yelling that I am an atheist, but when I step into a professional setting, I should be a professional. I grew up in the "bible belt", and it was more difficult there than here in Arizona, where the sun has cooked god directly off most peoples brains.

Answer 4

Not difficult at all actually.. many of my fellow Canadians are atheist/agnostic , and many are theists, both seem to be fairly accepting of whatever you believe.. then again so am I. The whole thing seems more like a non-issue around here.. I have been around individual people who created an unfavorable climate but not really in a certain area. In general everyone just doesn't think of asking about it.. I have known people for years and never even thought of asking what their beliefs were. I think that type of thing is common around here.. doesn't matter what you believe it matters how you act. An as*hole is an as*hole no matter what they believe.. so as long as you are not an as*hole who cares..lol

Answer 5

Indeed, your location is very significant. I am openly atheist and I have never suffered for it despite going to a Christian school. Interestingly enough, the school itself is so liberal that even though we have 'Chapel' as a weekly period, they still don't do anything even remotely like preaching or giving us Christian values.

I live in Hawaii (they call it 'Blue Hawaii' for a reason), and being an evangelical white Protestant in Hawaii is a little like being an evangelical white Protestant in Atlanta. Asians make up an unequalled 50% of the population, and if you were to include mixed people, it would be more like 100%.

So yeah. I can actually strike up a debate about religion and no one will blink.

Answer 6

First, let me second your comment to "Icarus62." He is INDEED one *very* lucky duck, because he lives in a wondrous land where the hateful and ignorant RRR Cult (the pseudo-Religious Radical Right that has done so much damage to American society) will NEVER have any chance of getting a foothold... in the UK. From what he said, I'm betting that if any of those obnoxious losers started spouting their mindless bigotry over there, they'd be laughed (or egged!) right off of the islands!

(For more information on the TRUE nature of the RRR Cult, I invite you to read my article on it. No one has yet been able to refute or dispute one single word of it.) ---

http://apifar.blogspot.com/2007/10/have-you-ever-told-lie-key-talking.html

(IMPORTANT: Suggest you use any browser BUT Firefox to access it. Firefox somehow louses up its appearance.)

That having been said, America IS a free country, and DOES have freedom of religion. Therefore, no matter WHAT I believed... Christian, Muslim, Atheist, Buddhist, Taoist... I wouldn't hesitate to answer honestly to anyone if that were to come up. NO problem! Even if I were an atheist.

-- "Roadrat" -- Normal/actual Christian, just like 94% of the other Christians in America. Fair-minded, tolerant, NON-invasive, UNobtrusive, and sensible. Actual Christians should NEVER be confused with the high-profile hateful and bigoted phonies of the RRR Cult. That loathsome cult is a pathology to America. Hopefully, we soon will outgrow it, and reject both it and its sociopathic agendas... just as we did with the equally-ignorant and hateful segregationists. But for now, THIS analogy applies:

RRR : Society :: 5% Arsenic Solution : Glass of Drinking Water

It is unacceptable to all sensible and fair-minded people.

To "PAULO" -- Be glad that I don't stoop low enough to report people in here. Because what you said was hateful, uncalled-for, and the epitome of abject ignorance. I hope everyone in here, who lives outside of the USA, realizes that you are FAR from being a typical American on this topic.

Answer 7

Some family and friends don't like to hear this. But they do agree that this Creation Museum nonsense is far more grieving to them than an Atheist in the family.

I can only believe that the difficulty would be much greater in Georgia, Mississippi, etc.


But, this is not a subject that comes up much. I don't run amock telling people that the religious writings are old world fantacies.

Answer 8

I live in an area that is dominantly fundamentalist Christian. I work with a few people that are extremely outspoken about their beliefs, and make no bones about how they feel about non-Christians, gays, etc. We have one among us who may as well be a kindred spirit to Fred Phelps. It was only by accident that one co-worker found out I'm an atheist, but fortunately, he has kept his mouth shut (though it's only a matter of time...he's been a bit passive-aggressive about it, and sooner or later he's going to spill it to our resident Fred Phelps).

I absolutely do NOT let my beliefs be known at work. First of all, it's none of their business. Second of all, regardless of laws, Human Resources involvement, etc., it can and will make my life at work miserable. No one knows I'm bisexual either, for the same reasons.

Where I used to live (completely different region), religious beliefs were very diverse, and I wouldn't feel so uncomfortable speaking my mind, letting on that I'm an atheist, etc. But where I live now? Not a chance.

Answer 9

I live in a liberal state. My family and friends all know that I've been an atheist since I knew what the word meant. My coworkers know if I am friends with them or if they straight out ask.
I do not go around proclaiming my atheism, nor do I ask others what their religions are. I only know definitively the religions of about four people of those I work with.

Answer 10

Oz is similar to UK.
Religion is seen as something some eccentric weirdos do Sundays.
Most of us think it's amusing when a USian carries on about their belief in their specific breed of Invisible Sky Critter or the Ghostie or The Kid.

I still recall the double take I made when I first heard a black USian thank 'god' for winning a music award. Geez I larfed.

In Australia I think it's more embarrassing for the theist to 'come out'.
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