Atheism & faith seasoned with sarcasm
Coming Out Godless: What Was Your First Step?
photo © DerrickT
The delightful and thoughtful @hyumen documented the beginning of a long journey on her blog.
Well, I did it. I told my family that I am an atheist. Sort of.
After posting the results of the “Do you believe in God?” CNN poll (which strongly favored “No” at the time of its closing), a discussion about doubting God’s existence broke out on her Facebook page. Two family members joined her in vocalizing those doubts, while another, a theist, spoke back about why God is truly there.
The good news is that at least a part of my family knows how I feel now. We all know what the bad news is. I will have to hear the hellfire and brimstone sermonettes at every turn, as will my nephew and daughter. However, the family doesn’t know there are several more in the family who have yet to come out of the atheist closet. The holidays this year should be very interesting.
Make sure to check out her blog and support her as she navigates this family situation.
As the aphorism goes, “Everyone is coming from somewhere”. Some atheists were raised without religion and faith; others live in areas that are unwelcoming to the non-religious.
For all of you atheists who had to come out of the proverbial closet as non-believers: What steps did it take to be completely public and honest about your identity? Was it a confession to one individual at a time or perhaps a more public approach like @hyumen’s? Were the people around you welcoming and understanding of you or did they evangelize and debate? How long were you “in the closet” before coming out godless?
Cast your vote:
Loading ...
| Print article | This entry was posted by Godless Girl on September 25, 2009 at 11:26 pm, and is filed under christianity, god, religion, society. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
No trackbacks yet.
The Persecution of Atheists
about -1 years ago - 2 comments
I was recently asked a question on my formspring account that I thought deserved a longer reply:
Do you know any atheist who has not been persecuted for his/her (lack of) beliefs?
Ah, persecution. I think this word is used far too often by privileged people. For example, overly sensitive Christians claim persecution by those who don’t More >
Confession and Why It Works for Atheists
about 6 days ago - 6 comments
Confession. Its common definition outside of the law is an admission of sins or unrighteousness–often in order to gain absolution and forgiveness for breaking the laws or ideals of a deity. But since there is no deity, why should it ever apply to Atheists?
What is confession for atheists?
I’d like to re-brand confession for the secular More >
Atheist Church
about 1 month ago - No comments
What happens at an Atheist church? Maybe a little something like this:
Can I get a rAmen from my heathens? I need a witness up in here!
Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon
Tweet This!
Digg this!
Share this on Reddit
Share this on Facebook
Submit this to Twittley
Share this on FriendFeed
Share this on del.icio.us
Buzz up!
Share this on Technorati
Readers have More >
Why I Am Not An Authority, Just a Woman
about 1 month ago - 6 comments
I am not a scientist.
I am not a scholar.
I have never been a theologian, pastor, nor an apologist… except from my armchair.
I do not enjoy reading about philosophy or logic.
I have not mastered true rational thought, and I probably couldn’t explain it to you without quoting someone else.
I still don’t know where I stand on More >
Am I An Angry Atheist?
about 1 month ago - 34 comments
Because my dear mother is worried. She came to me tonight expressing a desire to talk about “the elephant in the room” which is, apparently, my atheism. In a very polite manner, she expressed her concern:
Ever since I came out to her in October, she has been reading more godless blogs (perhaps mine… rut roh!) More >
One Year of Godlessgirl!
about 1 month ago - 10 comments
Godlessgirl.com has been live to the world for one whole year! Every single cliché about time passing you by, flying, or otherwise moving swiftly applies here. When I decided to create this blog, I was certain I would become some sort of internet phenom, bursting onto the blogging scene with something new and different that More >
Video: Bertrand Russell on Having No God
about 2 months ago - 2 comments
I especially say “Hear, hear!” when he says he did not choose to stop believing in the Christian religion–he was simply on a search for truth and was able to discount all of the Christian dogmas.
Ramen, Russell!
Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon
Tweet This!
Digg this!
Share this on Reddit
Share this on Facebook
Submit this to Twittley
Share More >
Meet GodlessGirl, Blag Hag & the Friendly Atheist!
about 2 months ago - No comments
Come to the Chicagoland atheist meetup! Skeptics, atheists, freethinkers, and friends are all very welcome. We’ll be eating, drinking (optional), and making all kinds of merry whatnot. Bonus: You’ll get to see my ugly mug for the first time and my *le gasp* identity will be revealed (however bland it may be)!
Date: Saturday, January 2
Time: More >
Poll: Do Motivations Matter?
about 3 months ago - 4 comments
We need more love in the world. There is so much acidity, bad blood, inequality, bigotry, hatred, poverty, hunger, suffering, and sorrow all around us. Each of us could improve the situation by helping someone in need or promoting peace and love.
But what about those who do these things for religious or superstitious motivations?
Jack believes More >
When They Indoctrinate Their Children
about 3 months ago - 20 comments
When someone you care about very much is training his or her children from birth to be the most closed-off, fundamentalist type of believers, how do you stay calm and butt-out as a relative or close friend? My sister-in-law posted a photo today of a beloved niece after going “doorknocking” (aka door-to-door evangelizing) with my More >
about 5 months ago
I've been atheist since birth, so I never had to come out. My dad is also atheist, but my mom is a minister for a multi-faith church. She desperately wanted me to believe in something–anything–so I studied religion like crazy when I was a teenager hoping to find something I could identify with that would get her off my back. I found a couple things about wicca that I liked (the "harm none" thing and the reverence for nature) and that seemed to appease her. So, we're all good.
about 5 months ago
It amazes me that people can't accept that humans have the capacity to love one another, do no harm, revere our world, and still be *atheists*! Ugh.
about 5 months ago
I remember talking to my brother in our room about five years ago, when I was about 17 and he was 16, about something er other. I said something about being an agnostic. This made my coming out easy, because I said this not realizing what I was revealing whilst (I'm purposely being pretentious with this word to reflect my belief that I am right in my beliefs?) my mother was in the room. Upon hearing these words from my mouth, she turned to my brother and asked, "What does he mean by agnostic?" My brother made the whole situation easier on me by stating, "He means he is agnostic. What the hell else would he mean?" To which my mother replied, "What does that mean?" My brother and I looked at each other. "It means he doesn't pretend to know anything," my brother told her. She gave up at that point. I no longer call myself agnostic when asked if I believe in God. Part of being agnostic means I worship no gods, which makes me an atheist. I feel calling myself this is more direct. It's a word people seem to fear, and I feel hiding from it isn't going to help anyone. So I embrace the term, no matter what trouble it gets me into (which is surprisingly little).
My mother might actually be the one that made it easiest for me to come out though. I tell her one thing, and I'm quite convinced by this point that she will never hear or understand what I have to say because what I say can never be heard over what Christ (?) is telling her. Luckily, I got her mildly interested in Bad Religion, but I again doubt she has any idea what they are saying. Maybe thought truly is just too much for so many of us to handle. God bless us, everyone.
about 5 months ago
"It means he doesn't pretend to know anything,"
That's a pretty succinct way of explaining it!
about 5 months ago
I came out as an atheist to my parents (my father is an ordained minister and my mother is 'more godly' than he is) via email. I sent them 10-15 questions I had about religion (pointing out the rape, racism, ect, in the bible) and then at the end said
"oh yeah, and if you can't tell by now, I do consider myself an atheist".
Needless to say I had a lot of heated arguments with them. My mother now says "I'm not talking about this anymore, I will pray for you". go figure. lol
about 5 months ago
Haha wow, that doesn't seem like a very peaceful way of coming out, but don't mind me; I'm a fraidy-cat with confrontation!
about 5 months ago
My father and mother were both atheists and, as a child, I was subject to no religious indoctrination whatsoever. Even so, I found it difficult to admit I was Godless.
I remember once, as a kid, I had to fill in a form which asked the question 'Religion'. I asked my mother what I should put there, and she said, "Put down Church of England. It's easiest." (She'd been a Jew in Hitler's Germany and had been persecuted.)
I finally admitted I was an atheist at a writers' meeting once when I was sitting next to a large African-American woman. We had to share something with our neigbour about beliefs. I nervously told her, expecting a negative reaction. But she laughed and said "I'm an Atheist too."
The other thing that changed me from being silent to being vocal and 'out' was reading Richard Dawkins' "The God Delusion". If you haven't read it, do so. It's marvellous.
about 5 months ago
I'm about halfway through the God Delusion and already wanting to re-read portions of it. I am one person who doesn't mind Dawkins' tone one bit.
P.S. I really enjoy your photoblog!
about 5 months ago
I'm glad your first steps "out" were so smooth!
I'm about halfway through the God Delusion and already wanting to re-read portions of it. I am one person who doesn't mind Dawkins' tone one bit.
P.S. I really enjoy your photoblog!
about 5 months ago
Thanks
That's great!
about 5 months ago
It's complicated with me. I actually came out to my father as Wiccan in high school, and he finally accepted it and eventually was suportive, so I thought telling him I was now an atheist would be cake. Strangely, he seems to be more unnerved and saddened by the idea that I believe that what we see is what is, than when I believed in fairies. It's because he felt comforted that I at least believed in something intangible, as he did, and now that I don't, he wonders if I'm missing out or if he's missing something. It's very sad.
about 5 months ago
I am still somewhat surprised at this view, even though I hear it often. Apparently it is more admirable or desirable to believe in *anything at all* rather than to be a naturalist and skeptic. One ex of mine said "Well everyone has to believe something's out there! You're being silly."
I'm not sure any theist or supernatural believer can understand just how easy it is and how unnecessary those unfounded beliefs are until they empathize on our side. I don't think telling them it's okay will ever make them believe it.
about 5 months ago
Agreed. When I told my mother that I wasn't Christian a few years ago, she cried to me, "just don't tell me that you don't believe that nothing's out there, because I know there is!" She seemed so upset that I might "not believe in anything." We seem to naturally assume that a lack of belief is tantamount to despair and is going to lead to depression and an empty life. That's what my parents' reactions seem to point to, anyway.
about 4 months ago
I came out as an atheist by writing a letter to my parents that I sent along with returning a religious book to them unread. They, a fundamentalist and a Catholic, were quite upset and wrote back with all the "reasons" to believe in god. They seemed convinced that I was just in a period of doubt and that I'd eventually return to xianity. 27 years later, I'm as much an atheist as ever, though I'm less evangelical.