Answer 92

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Question 92

How open are you about your atheism with your family, extended family, parents, friends, co-workers?

I don't walk around constantly proclaiming I'm an atheist. But I definitely don't hide it and I easily admit it. All of my family friends and co-workers (that I see on any regular basis) know I'm an atheist. And except for my mom, no one seems to have a problem with it. (Michael Stanley)

I don't go around shouting "there is no god" to people, but my family and friends are well aware that I'm an atheist. Many of my co-workers are aware as well. No one seems to mind, and no one tries to convert me. Of course, living in NY City probably contributes to that. (raven1 #1096)

I'm very open with friends,co-workers and close family, but keep my lips a bit tighter when it comes to extended family, who tend to be the most easily offended category of people IMHO.

My wifes' Grandmother apparently said I was a fine boy but it was such a pity I was an atheist. I wasn't told this until after she died which is probably a good thing. (Rik Newbold #1589)

None of my immediate family are religious, so it's a topic that just doesn't come up. My mom knows I'm an atheist, and doesn't have a problem. My friends also know, and some are atheists, so they don't have a problem. Those that are theists, while they may not understand, don't seem bothered by it, either. (Michelle Martin #1474)

My family (all of them) have known for years. Although I don't go around advertising the fact that I am atheist in real life, I will answer directly if asked; most people who get to know me usually figure it out for themselves pretty quickly.

Notable exception: The deeply religious who simply cannot imagine that a person can be truly atheist -- thier attitude is that atheists are in "denial". But let's face it, these people are also so generally weird that even other more moderate religious believers tend to avoid them.

It just goes to support my contention that the level of religiousity we see on this group constitutes a form of high insanity. (Erikc #2)

I have in the past been pretty open but may not be in the future. At one time I was amused by the looks of sadness or horror I got in return but for some reason it's not funny anymore. I was once sitting with two aunts who put the fundy in fundamentalism and one ask why I didn't believe in god. Before I could answer she said "never mind I already know what you're going to say." She basically shut my water off because she didn't really want to know. These are the types who speak in tongues, have religious visions and love to shake, rattle and roll at holy ghost revivals. Once, when when I was much younger, I rudely referred to fundies as holy rollers in her presence and she said that what I thought didn't matter because one day "Praise Jesus," she was going to "roll her big, fat ass right up to the gates of heaven." I thought that was kinda cute. (atheist@home.com #1554)

I sorta worked up to it. My dad and I had more than enough to fight about for years anyway, so it sorta slipped in occasionally.

Now it's understood and not arguable.

Our latest family joke even incorporates it: Jan 2 my dad remarried, and since he's been religious all his life, it was in the Methodist church. Though he knew/knows I'm an atheist, I was best man. OK, I figured it's his wedding, lets let things go as long as I'm not going to have to pretend , right? Turns out the minister was such an incompetent bungler he couldn't even figure out who should stand where, how to get the granddaughter (who was performing on flute) integrated with the service, etc. - his credentials seemed to be he had a nice face and a WWJD bracelet on. Anyhow, dad's temper, and the temper of his bride were getting more and more frayed until finally I basically took over directing. Now we tell folks about how dad's atheist son had to run his Methodist wedding.

My sister HATES it. But she's convinced I'm going to hell anyhow.

It's great. (Dewey Henize #122)

With my immediate family, very. My sister knows I'm a hardcore atheist, and she herself is a devoted Christian (wears crosses around her neck and all), my parents know it and for the most part share my opinions, especially my dad. My mom seems to skew more toward wicca or something, hehehe.

My aunt and uncle are diehard atheists as well... so it's an accepted practice in my immediate and even extended family.

As for my friends... they are okay with it, I just say I'm not religious, but I have muslim friends as well and they seem to equate it with Satanism, so I try never to get into the issue with them.

As for my co-workers... we sometimes talk politics over lunch and about two thirds of the table seem agnostic to me... I had a rather nasty episode with one of them though... I had a quote in my e-mail signature that equated the bible with cults like cigarettes equate with cancer and well, the guy, who had just lost his mother, was not very pleased and came down on me rather hard... another guy who was watching told me not to take it too hard. (Rune Boersjoe #1460)

Well, considering that my father is an atheist, my mother is an agnostic, my aunt is a deist, and my brother is an asshole; I'm pretty open with my family. :)

When it comes to friends; anyone who knows me well enough, knows I'm an atheist, but I do not set out to tell everyone. If someone asks, I'll tell them the truth. (Lori Lee #1049)

The subject hardly comes up with anyone else, except with one woman, whom I tutored on an adult college algebra course. After 10s of hours working together in the public library and many evenings, she sprang the question of whether I was an atheist, out of the blue. She is someone I know from work, and I have mentioned my atheism, there to a couple of people, so she may have heard gossip. She is a devout southern baptist, and had the usual questions like why did I volunteer to help her for free, instead of spending my time murdering and raping, etc. The conversation ended on a friendly note (I can be a charmer on rare occasions) with her assuring me that someday she would convert me, and me welcoming her to try, but expressing doubt that it would work. I have seen her many times since, and we have not discussed religion again, but remain very friendly. I consider this interaction to have been a positive one.
My attitude is that if anyone asks, I will be truthful with them about my atheism, but I find few reasons to inject it into conversation. Most religious peopls seem too insecure in their beliefs to tolerate open disbelief without thinking of it as a direct attack, and there are few I wish to attack, even in their imaginations. (John Popelish #159)

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