Comments on: Coming Out Godless: What Was Your First Step?

By: @pschult

@pschult — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:53:18 +0000

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.

By: @holydust

@holydust — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:17:00 +0000

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.

By: Al Scott

Al Scott — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:41:59 +0000

Thanks That's great!

By: godlessgirl

godlessgirl — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:44:56 +0000

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.

By: godlessgirl

godlessgirl — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:41:47 +0000

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!

By: godlessgirl

godlessgirl — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:41:28 +0000

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!

By: godlessgirl

godlessgirl — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:38:43 +0000

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!

By: godlessgirl

godlessgirl — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:37:50 +0000

"It means he doesn't pretend to know anything,"

That's a pretty succinct way of explaining it!

By: Holydust

Holydust — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:43:54 +0000

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.

By: Al Scott

Al Scott — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 06:40:34 +0000

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.