Do you ever just want to scream?

[gaspee]

When you are confronted with the overwhelmingly religiosity we face day in and day out?

I never used to be out as an atheist. I've been out as lesbian/bi; I've been out as a socialist; I've been out as wishing for someday to get past our tribalist natures and having worldwide open borders/one planetary government but only recently have been out as an atheist - though not within my own family. They've known since I was about 5.

Nowadays though, if anyone even mentions their religion to me, I share mine. Hey, if they can, I can too. Too bad if I offend their sensibilities.

And if they get aggressive with me, that whole, but I'm concerned about your immortal soul, I laugh as hard as I can and say "you really believe that bullshit!"

To me, religion is utter BS. I think there is something wrong with people who believe in a sky fairy. I'm sick of being governed by people with imaginary friends. If I hear one more person say "Praise Jesus" or "Thank You Jesus," I think I'm gonna hurl.

I guess that would make me one of those militant atheists, huh?

[Warpy]

1. I'm a little more forgiving

probably because of my years of dealing with all sorts of people in intensive care units, both patients and families, who were sick and/or terrified of what might happen. If an imaginary sky friend comforts them, then I'm perfectly happy to let them try to believe it. I even got tolerant of bible TV blasting in some of the rooms. The human race is not smart and most would rather believe in magic than science.

I'm out to friends and neighbors. My parents both died unbelievers, but I had nothing to do with that since they'd agreed to disagree when I was still in grammar school and didn't buy a word of it.

Strangers are a different matter. Unless one is being a total pain in the ass and trying to shove a bloody Jesus down my throat, I'm just not religious, thankyewverymuch.

It took Europe two world wars fought on their soil with a Depression between them to shed all the religious superstition. Likely it will take the equivalent disaster here to cut through all the magical thinking.

Until then, they can praise gawd all they want. I just tune it out.

[gaspee]

6. I totally get

where you are coming from and in your shoes, I would do the same. I would *never* ever be disrespectful in an ICU. That's just inhumane. I'm talking neutral territory where my belief in god is assumed by total strangers.

I'm an out and proud atheist and it's nothing to be ashamed of, just like being gay is nothing to be ashamed of. I don't care if other people think I should be ashamed.

[TZ]

2. I was raised by secularists/atheists

But I also respect other people's beliefs even if I don't share it. I just ignore it. But if I like the person, if they have religious beliefs or lack of them, it makes no difference to me.
To be completely honest, one of the people I am good friends with on this board is pretty relgious (enough that I know he teaches Sunday School) and knows I am an atheist but we are respectful enough of each other that its a non-issue.
If people make my lack of belief a non-issue we can coexist very well.
But you are right. Some believers are judgemental assholes and I will not be polite or respectful to those types.

[gaspee]

5. You are right

And I do tend to ignore it in most cases. I just hate the ones who have to push it in your face.

I also think that if they feel free enough to talk about their religion to me, I should feel free enough to talk about my lack of religion.

To me, it's always seemed that we atheists are expected to keep quiet because somehow, being an atheist is supposed to be a shameful secret.

It's not more a shameful secret than being gay is and I've decided that I am out and proud about both.

[immoderate]

3. I play it pretty low key is casual situations.

I say I'm not religious. And only debate if challenged. If the missionaries come to my door, I advise them that their time would be more productive elsewhere. Why? I don't believe anything supernatural, thank you.

Those religious freaks on TV get me going though.

--IMM

[gaspee]

4. Yeah, me too

I used to play it real low key - still sort of do. But it gets old to be confronted with the assumption I believe the same as the people I meet because of the way I look.

I hate that our society is so theistnormative and heteronormative.

I used to just say I'm not religious, but that has been treated as an invitation. Now I just say I don't believe in god. If they continue, then I get a little more militant.

I laugh at the ones who come to my door because I loathe salespeople coming to my door, no matter their product.

[and-justice-for-all]

7. Your not militant for speaking up...

buring churches would be militant, killing priest and preachers would be militant, protesting out outside of a church while there is a cult meeting going on would be militant.

However, speaking up and honestly is not militant. Religious fruits are desperate to keep their flock together, so anything that challenges their fantasy is regarded as militant.

[NMMNG]

8. Yes

I'm sick to death of the notion that whenever anybody "witnesses" about their religion they're doing something noble or just spreading the "truth" but if we even mention the fact that we're atheists we're being belligerent. And :wtf: is all this crap about the "New Atheists" anyway? Are they just the atheists who won't stay in the closet and dare to call theists on their hateful nonsense? Funny how that's considered such a bad thing.

I myself am not the evangelistic type about anything, but I won't go so far as to actually denounce those--such as Dawkins, Harris, Hitchins--who are. Yes, some of them can be abrasive assholes at times and are wrong about things at times. However they provide a much needed counterpoint to the eons of theistic evangelism and shenanigans we've had to put up with.

[Lost-in-FL]

9. I used to be very open...

but then i realized that it isn't worth it. There have been people before me who weren't believers, for centuries, and things have changed little. It might sound pessimistic but i don't see it that way.

If someone ask I tell them I'm not a believer and leave it as that. Something has to really get to me so I can open my mouth and I do only in very little occasions. I only hope that when I speak that I at least plant the seed of doubt in someone.

[RebelOne]

10. I live in the Atlanta area where I am sure you all know

was hit by tornadoes this weekend. My fundie neighbor said it was God's punishment because Atlanta was so corrupt. Talk about wanting to hurl!!