"Coming out" as a non-theist is becoming more and more commonplace. It's ok to declare it folks.

[RBInMaine]

I don't for a second believe that 89% of progressives are theists. I think many lie on the phone interviews. Many really don't believe in this mythology for which there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever. Fewer and fewer people are involved in organized religion.

For those who do believe this stuff, good for you. It is your right. All we non-theists ask is to keep it at home and in church where it belongs. It has no place in the halls of public schools, public courts, or public government buildings. Keep it private, and respect the privacy of others.

No one needs to believe in an invisible mythological being to be a good and moral person. Religious intolerance and hypocrisy abound. It has been the source of more wars and killing in history than perhaps anything else. It is divisive and controlling in far too many instances. It was invented in times when science wasn't there to explain nature. Now it is.

We are great human beings, the result of millions of years of evolution. Science is extraordinary, beautiful, and wonderful. We are beyond mythology.

Celebrate it ! Don't be afraid to come out as a non-theist if you are one. It's as liberating as anything else. And for goodness sake, don't fear natural death. It's as natural as life. Ever been under general anesthesia? Same thing. Remember what it was like before you were born? Death is the same. Just nothingness. I know someone who died for a minute or so before they shocked him back. It was just nothingness he said. Just nothing. No awareness. No heaven. No hell. No light. No angels. Just nothing. No worries.

Also, I celebrate the holiday season, have an evergreen, give gifts, go to parties, etc. These are entirely secular and are a celebration of joy, love, life, light, and family. Most of these traditions were born of solstice celebrations that long preceded Christianity. Jesus, if he did in fact exist, was a nice guy with some good messages about loving one another, peace, and helping the poor. But he sure as heck was not divine, didn't rise from the dead, and won't be coming back.

[Big Blue Marble]

1. Why in the world would people lie on the phone to a pollster?

It may be difficult for you to accept, but the majority of people of all political positions
have beliefs in something beyond the material world. In fact, I have noticed that on DU
it would harder to share any beliefs, than to "come out" as an atheist.

There is quite a bit of intolerance here for anyone who holds any beliefs what so ever.

[Fumesucker]

4. Habit

If you think revealing oneself as a believer on an anonymous website is difficult then try the opposite in real life, it really can have life changing effects and they are not always for the good.

Interesting coincidence, a relatively new friend of mine is gay, it took me about a week after meeting him to figure that out. Now, three months later I just today revealed to him that I'm an atheist, he hadn't figured that out about me.

[Big Blue Marble]

5. It is sad we sometimes have to hide who we are or what we believe.

There should be no shame in sharing our beliefs. We all share the fear of being
judged or rejected. We all want to be accepted for who we are and still want
to belong in our communities.

While I am not an atheist, I am not a 'believer' either, I, too, often hesitate to
share my spiritual positions until I trust someone. I live in the middle of the bible
belt where most everyone still has a, as they say, "church home." It is so much
easier just to avoid the subject whenever possible even with many friends.

I hope your friend is as OK with your atheism as you are OK with his gayness.

[RBInMaine]

9. The poll was a couple of years ago. Others have shown less belief in the myths. Of course people

would not want to tell another person, "I don't believe in God" just as much they might not want to admit being gay several years ago
to someone over the phone.

I am completely tolerant of the mythologists, just as long as they keep it at home and in church and don't talk to me about it. They should TOLERATE others as well, such as people with other beliefs including atheism.

[Big Blue Marble]

19. I actually think most people want to believe in something.

I seriously doubt that much has changed in two years. Having said that, it is getting easier
for nonbelievers to speak out without risk or censor even publicly.

Thank goodness. Speaking of tolerance, our work is to be tolerant even of their intolerance
as long as it does not injure others. I do have to question your complete tolerance when
you refer to "the mythologists." That kind of gives away that you are in fact judging those
who hold religious beliefs.

[longship]

2. I am an out atheist.

But I would not support outing atheists as that would be a matter of personal choice. It's something which can have sudden profound effects on family, friends, and employment status.

But I agree with your post. Those who are in a position to do it, should be encouraged to do so. But I would never, ever be pushy about it.

R&K

And I have no problems with people saying Merry Christmas to me.

[RBInMaine]

10. How come it is ok to "come out" as being gay, but not as being an atheist? It's ultimately anyone's

choice of course and to each their own, but I'm just saying they shouldn't be afraid to come out about it. I think this is the next evolution in social acceptance. There are LOTS of closet atheists.

And I don't care if people say Merry Christmas to me either, or Happy Hanukah, or whatever. I say Happy Holidays, but I don't take offense to the others. It's just a greeting. But one thing, no one can say there is a "war on Christmas". Man I hate that.

[longship]

13. You misunderstood my post. Sorry.

I meant it is not proper to out an atheist against their will. That would be the same with LGBT, I would hope.

I apologize if I didn't make that clear.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

[RBInMaine]

20. I agree it is a matter of personal on both counts too. My point is just not being ashamed of it.

[longship]

21. I am with you there, but some cannot be so public about it.

[NightWatcher]

3. I love anesthesia and the nothingness.

I was "outed" by a cousin who found my twitter feed and a few tweets I had made.

[pipi_k]

6. On coming out...

Here's how I see that...

If I'm expecting theists to keep their beliefs to themselves unless specifically asked, so do I keep my non-theism to myself unless I'm asked

I don't feel I need to advertise it

But if asked, then I'll certainly tell the truth

[ellenfl]

7. exactly. i've been an atheist for 50+ years.

if my beliefs or lack thereof came up, i did not deny my atheism but i just never offered up my position. i have tried out some denominations but none ever took . . . or could take. one of the upsides is sleeping in on sunday mornings.

that said, i do not believe we are alone in the universe. i just think the 'others' are aliens, not god.

[RBInMaine]

14. Of course they aren't "God" for goodness sake. What a notion. God, Buddah, Krishna, Zeus...

It's all unfounded mythology. In an infinite universe, there is almost certainly life elsewhere. Just no definite evidence of it yet.

[RBInMaine]

12. Exactly. I'm not saying to "advertise" it. Just don't be afraid to say so if the occasion arises.

We can be open about it, and we can also enter into discussion about it if the occasion arises. Hey, if someone wants to have a good evolution vs. creation debate with me, they are going to get one.

[Logical]

8. No way I could declare it at work. To many really religious superiors. n-t

[RBInMaine]

15. Not that you'd need to come out at work, but their religion shouldn't be discussed either.

[NuclearDem]

11. In some communities and situations it's not feasible for someone to come out.

[RBInMaine]

16. Why not? See this is really something. Gays are out, but atheists must stay in the closet? That

needs to change. There should be no stigma to sexual orientation nor religious preference including one's atheism.

[NuclearDem]

17. And in some communities it's not feasible for someone to come out as gay.

I wouldn't ask someone to come out if it put their livelihood or safety in jeopardy. Which it still does for a lot of atheists and LGBT individuals.

[RBInMaine]

18. And this is supposed to be America, the land of the free, right? I hear ya.

[RKP5637]

29. Yeah, America, land of the free, equality for all, we the people. What a load of bullshit

gets shoved on people, From day one America was bigoted and persecutory. And civil rights for many is still an endless uphill battle. America has a bunch of bigots and assholes when it comes to allowing rights for all. And many state govs. are run like a 7th grade playground.

[Tikki]

22. I may not mention it, but if someone asks I tell them I am an atheist.

Tikki

[Demo_Chris]

23. I am a proud ANTI-theist. nt

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

24. I have, in those words,

and folks want to call me atheist, agnostic, etc. It's just plain non-theist.

[Vashta Nerada]

25. I came out of the closet twice.

The first time as a bisexual and the second time as an atheist in a fundamentally religious town. I'm hated for two reasons.

[RKP5637]

27. I figure no matter what one does in life, about 1/2 of the world is going to hate one, so

I just don't give a fuck anymore.

[RKP5637]

26. F, no hiding here, I don't believe any of the religious crap, never did, never

will. For those that do, that's fine, glad you found something, but don't push it on others like some try to do.

[libdem4life]

28. I believe in a Superior Energy that exists in all Time for we mere humans to bumble around and bump

up against and accidentally evolve just a smidgen and sometimes to actually experience an aha, or an oh crap, not again. It does infer some involvement of the Karma understanding...I see it as a form of logic and physics. That which goes forth, comes back. But superior in that I did not consciously call myself into being, or gender, race, birthplace, etc. (or, New Age Mumbo Jumbo, if one prefers.)

But not a personage, with a gender and indicator of some human or angelic or other-world form, such as the idols/symbols used to represent a convenient form for worship. So I'm not sure what I am. I'm not an agnostic, because to me that indicates a lack of interest in a god.

Nor am I an atheist, because that also incidentally infers, at least to me, that the absence reflects a potential presence. The closest I ever came was Zen Buddhism. Perhaps my friends are correct when they lovingly say, "There is no word for you."

My Near Death Experience pretty much confirmed it, long after I held those views.

I'm right there with you on that last paragraph including the questions about the existence of Jesus. Yes to the importance of bringing on and celebrating the Days that others consider holy, because they help us all become better humans.

[Warren DeMontague]

30. It's a statistical fact that 96% of everyone believes in "Bob", whether they want to or not.

Last edited Fri Nov 29, 2013, 06:17 PM - Edit history (1)

Sorry. It just is. Deal with it.