Lanky_Pomegranate530CNN: Atheists are still reluctant to ‘come out’
I used to be more forward about it, just to make sure people were aware to try to avoid awkwardness down the road. Turns out, some folks just hyper focused on it and only defined me by the one thing.
- I had one person break down crying. That was the single most awkward as I got dirty looks from other people in the room who had no idea about the conversation.
- I’ve had multiple people tell me I’m unworthy of love and commitment. And while not said, by their actions might as well, unworthy of basic respect.
- I’ve had multiple people try “converting” me.
- I’ve had some people send people to my homes and stalk me. Primary reason I have a Nest doorbell and want to know exactly when someone is going to show up to visit.
- I’ve had multiple people try various intimidation tactics to try to “convince” me to join their church.
- I had one person bust out laughing at me when I said I more closely line up with secular humanism.
- I was questioned multiple times why I’d show up to someone’s wedding… (not a wedding crasher, they basically assume only religious people get married, and that atheists cannot support others in their life paths)
I’ve since stopped telling people or making it even known at all.
Where in the hell do you live?
Minnesota
Rural or urban? Have you tried saying, “I’m not religious”, there is a lot of fear mongering around the word “atheist.”. I only occasionally get a negative response from saying “I’m not religious”, but more frequently get a negative response when I used to say “I’m atheist”. However, it’s easy to say nothing about religion in Minnesota, I find most people avoid uncomfortable topics here.
I’ve lived in both rural and urban. Rural was worse by far (I don’t think that will surprise anyone). In the rural areas is where the stalking was the absolute worst. When I was a kid, I’d have strange men stop their cars and walk up to me, stop me from whatever I was doing and just demand to pray with me… then they’d leave. When I got older, a guy from a local church was stalking me at work and at my apartment.
In the metro, I’ve only had two show up that I know of (before the ‘answering the door procedure’ was put into effect).
When I just go with “I’m not religious” I’ve gotten mixed results, but yeah I’ve tried. I still try to avoid bringing it up unless directly asked