Are you nervous about telling people?

[pwsoldier]

This thread makes me very sad.

No one should ever feel uneasy about plainly saying that he's an atheist. And no one (especially including family members) should ever treat anyone who does do that in any less friendly or loving a way for saying it. And yet, of all religious/philosophical stances, atheism is probably the most maligned of all, and the atheists the worst abused.

This thread has opened my eyes to a significant problem in my society. Thank you, Mr Sprinkles, for sharing your story. This makes me want to help my fellow theists see the light!

Your understanding is much appreciated. I wish more theists thought like you.

 

[Worshipper]

Can you explain what you mean, my english fails me on the word maligned.

I just looked it up in the OED to make sure I used the right word. I did.

To malign means to speak ill of or to slander. That's what I meant.

Your understanding is much appreciated. I wish more theists thought like you.

After reading this thread, I wish that too! I wish I could say that I had considered it on my own, but I can't. I never thought to wonder whether atheists or secular humanists were especially abused. After reading this thread and thinking back over my own experience, I can see that they are. As I think about it now, I think there are few if any theistic faiths that are more abused, at least in the U.S.

 

[ranjana]

wow my jaw dropped reading this thread. shows my ignorance about the US! though i know it is a religious country.... I thought maybe like Canada is (where I am from) where many people were born as a certain religion but dont really practice or identify strongly with it.

that atheists are seen as immoral blows me away!!! it truly is seen as the reverse here, god has nothing to do with morals. with the younger generation you can almost assume the person you are talking to doesnt believe in god. we are even slightly suspicious of the very religious.

I should note that if someone asked me I would say I believe in god, but not the human-created personality up in the sky looking down in judgement. More like the power of life itself.

 

[Magic Man]

Storm, just saw your thread "Discrimination against atheists" isn't it ironic you have been discriminating against me from the very start of the discussion, just because I am atheist. If somebody reviews this thread they will clearly see you initiated personal attacks against me out of sheer frustration that you could not refute my arguments.
I have, relatively, been a lot more politer than you.

First, "more politer"?

Second, I won't say that no one here discriminates against atheists, because I guess it happens. Storm, however, does not. I'm not sure you could really use the term "discriminate" in this situation, anyway. It's hard to take away someone's rights or privileges here, which is normally what's involved in discrimination. I would say, if anything happens around here, it's prejudging, not discriminating.

Anyway, in your case from what I've seen, it's not because you're an atheist tha you get a negative reaction. It's because of your attitude. I can have a perfectly pleasant conversation with Storm and most others here, no matter their religious affiliation, and I'm an atheist. Logic indicates that if I'm an atheist and you're an atheist, and the same exact people treat us differently, it's not because we're atheists.

 

[Mr Spinkles]

I'm quick to point out that I cannot think of an instance, either in the real-world or on RF, where I felt truly discriminated against because I'm an atheist.

What I have seen, however, is very disturbing things being said about atheists in the media, and very disturbing attitudes towards atheists being revealed in public opinion polls. So in my day-to-day life I don't experience real discrimination, but I do wonder sometimes what people are thinking, and what they might say.

 

[Yerda]

I've found over the years that when on the rare occasion the issue of religion comes up I become irritated. I'm uncomfortable with "I turned to Jesus" talk and professions of faith (though not with the overt evangelism of Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons) and annoyed by the ten-a-penny atheists demonstrating the flaws of The Bible and the import of orbital teacups. In response I avoid discussing it and often feign complete ignorance (not too difficult a task, as many of you chaps would agree I'm sure ).

 

[stacey bo bacey]

I get the feeling People automatically think less of you if you don't believe in God. It's as though for some divine reason, religion makes you better than everyone else. What a sad world we live in.

When I used to be hardcore religious I would do that..think less of you if you didn't believe in God. It wasn't even like I could help it, though. I told myself not to do it, it wasn't right...but from the second I learned you were an atheist I just kind of thought you were a crazy, wild, immoral person.....

I'm SOOO happy I'm not close-minded now. Because, honestly, it was exhausting.

 

[Mr Spinkles]

I've found over the years that when on the rare occasion the issue of religion comes up I become irritated. I'm uncomfortable with "I turned to Jesus" talk and professions of faith (though not with the overt evangelism of Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons) and annoyed by the ten-a-penny atheists demonstrating the flaws of The Bible and the import of orbital teacups. In response I avoid discussing it and often feign complete ignorance (not too difficult a task, as many of you chaps would agree I'm sure ).

Has RF made you jaded when it comes to religious discussions?

What about philosophical discussions?

 

[Mr Spinkles]

You mean you don't know why she asked?

I meant that I don't know why I responded that way. Although, come to think of it, I had no idea why she asked, either, although I didn't question that it was for legitimate reasons (a research study, perhaps).

Aren't questions like that usually used so that if you're admitted to a hospital or the like, the staff knows which chaplain (if any) to send to you?

Oh, I'm sure you're right. Makes sense.

 

[Magic Man]

I'm SOOO happy I'm not close-minded now. Because, honestly, it was exhausting.

I'm happy, too!

 

[blackout]

I know I'm not an athiest
(and thus don't really belong in this thread)
but, being rather "nervous" about the repricussions,
I rarely EVER tell any people I know
(outside of RF)
that I am a Sourceress.

I'm thinkin' I'd get hit from all sides.
Christian/religious & athiest alike.

Either superstition or mockery would be the result.

Do you think I'm wrong?

EDIT: on a side note,
there are also OTHER reasons
a sorceress, or magickian does not reveal.
But that was not the point I was trying to make.

 

[Yerda]

Has RF made you jaded when it comes to religious discussions?

A bit, aye. RF has raised my standards I suppose.

What about philosophical discussions?

I don't often encounter them.

Do you engage in religious discussion outside RF (or other online setting), Spinks?

 

[Mr Spinkles]

I don't often encounter them.

Do you engage in religious discussion outside RF (or other online setting), Spinks?

Come to think of it--all the time! I have the extremely annoying habit of drawing people, especially friends and family, into those sorts of discussions.

Some friends and I started a club for secular students at my former college, so we had lots of discussions and events associated with that club...I wrote a couple of letters to the student newspaper and drew some editorial cartoons touching on religious issues back then. Those issues also come up a lot when I chat with professors. We talked about religious issues in many of my classes....and I would pick "religious" topics for a lot of my essays. I had a really friendly relationship with one physics prof, for example, who was a devoted Christian (and head of the dept. as it happens), and we had very entertaining debates. During finals week, just before I graduated, I had something like a 3 hour discussion with a guy from Campus Crusade for Christ.

None of these debates has ever become heated, however, as far as I can remember....it's always remarkably friendly, given the controversial nature of the issues being discussed.

Just last week, I got embroiled in a debate with a grad student in the religious studies dept. and an Indian physics grad student on the merits of Reiki healing, memory of past lives, etc. It's all good, clean fun.

 

[Laremst]

I prefer to keep it to myself, but I do get a little nervous when asked. I always fear that it could hurt my relationship with the person I am speaking with.

 

[whereismynotecard]

I know I'm not an athiest
(and thus don't really belong in this thread)
but, being rather "nervous" about the repricussions,
I rarely EVER tell any people I know
(outside of RF)
that I am a Sourceress.

I'm thinkin' I'd get hit from all sides.
Christian/religious & athiest alike.

Either superstition or mockery would be the result.

Do you think I'm wrong?

EDIT: on a side note,
there are also OTHER reasons
a sorceress, or magickian does not reveal.
But that was not the point I was trying to make.

I'm sure lots of people would be mean to you.

I think no one should care what religion someone is, but I know people do. Most of my family doesn't know that I'm an athiest. Just my mom and sisters. I'm sure my grandparents would think I'm a demon if they knew.

 

[texan1]

Thanks for starting this thread! There are certain people I would NEVER tell - like my parents...what's funny is my parents don't ever go to church. They are retired and it seems like they spend a lot of time just hanging out drinking at their lakehouse. But anyway I don't know how it came up but I hinted that I was reading a Dawkins book and well...let me just say I'll never talk about that again. I know I will lie about it if it ever comes up.

And we have a babysitter who is wonderful. She's known my son since he was a baby and he loves her. And she is kind of hardcore religious - she's not the type to throw it in your face or anything, but over the years you learn things about people. She listens to the Christian radio station, she's very involved in her church, etc. I would NEVER tell her. In fact, that Dawkins book I mentioned before - I hid it when she came over. The only problem is, I think she sings religious songs to my son before he goes to bed like "Yes, Jesus loves me", etc. I don't have a problem with that neccessarily but when it comes to my son's religious education, I want to monitor that. I don't want someone else to do it without me being there, you know? So I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with that. My fear is that she is realizing how little he knows about Jesus and is starting to take it upon herself to educate him.

It's kind of a relief though when I discover someone else who is agnostic or atheist. I'm finding that a lot of people I know fall into that category. We don't sit around having philosophical discussions or anything, but it's just a comfort to know that "hey, it's okay - you aren't the only one and we don't think you're the devil" kind of thing......Which makes me think - I should be more open about it so that I can provide that feeling of acceptance to someone else.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I think you should change your babysitter.

 

[texan1]

I think you should change your babysitter.

I have been so nervous to talk with her about this. But as it turns out, she got a new job and is no longer working as a nanny.

 

[Pah]

No longer. I take the opportunity whenever I am confronted with the choice of disclosing it or not.

I have also "come out" to family and Facebook, though I post in groups without a specific announcement. I guess my views could give that away.

 

[Naturalist_Atheist]

I've always tried to keep it to myself for the most part. If someone asks, however, I will tell them. I have heard that atheists are the most mistrusted group in America and I believe it. I've been harrassed and fired from a job for my lack of beliefs. It was a crappy job anyway.... Life goes on.