Well, I'm agnostic and I just tell them that I'm not religious. Even if I live in the Bible belt, until now it never gave any problems. Just an understanding okay, or something like that.

don't offer your answer until asked but yes just say that if you are

Be the Atheist next door fearless Village Atheist stand your ground unless the boss is 2 doors down and he fires you for pissing in his church power grid

There is little reason for wearing your religious belief on your sleeve. Atheism doesn't require you to go out in the world and create converts. If the subject should come up, just say, "I am an atheist." If they try to persuade you to change. Let them know that you expect them to respect your coice, as well as you respect their choice. If they persist, fart a few times and leave.

I don't go out of my way to tell people, but if the subject is broached, I just say I'm an atheist, plain and simple. I don't begrudge anyone their beliefs, so I expect the same. It is usually met with an uncomfortable silence, and then on to a different subject!

When asked my denomination, I respond, Nondelusional.

You Don't Tell them. Let them deduce it - only when it matters . Keep them guessing by playing games and you will expos their methods of thinking .

I usually tell them that I just believe in one less god than they do.

I drop the I was born on Christmas and that my dad use to be a pastor that gives me a refrece

You should not have to. In fact, we should not know that they are religious unless we are religious too and were on a site, or at a place similar to this

What I say sometimes depends on the audience I am speaking to. Try saying, "I'm non theistic". If they enquiry further, say, "I believe in science, ethics and the immutable laws of physics". If they still enquire, say "I think of magic as entertainment".

I would just tell them and have popcorn ready for when/if they over react to it.

I do not discuss religion or other choioces with people. They should not ask. If they have the balls, then I just say happily I go to my church, mother nature, and bless her everyday.

Everyone I know is already aware that I am an atheist. I've had many conversations though, while having a drink at the bar with people who inevitably, bring up their religion in one way or another and at that point I let them know that I'm an atheist. Probably why I can't find a date.

I, too, lived in a Bible belt for a while. Not too far from it now either though... When someone asks me to go to their church, or religious beliefs come up in any way shape or form, or if I am directly asked, I always say it out loud and clear. When conversation has nothing to do with religion, and I am surrounded by new people, I don't see any reasons to bring it up, unless someone goes there and begins the holy steamroll, that's when I jump in

Same way I tell people about anything, Truth and then they deal with it. NOt me

I don't- I tell them I'm an Existentialist. It is interesting to see the puzzled look on their faces when I say that. They had their arguments ready if you said atheist, however the former they do not know how to handle.

Proud Existentialist here

I just tell them that I am "your friendly neighborhood atheist".

I use the term "non-believer" instead of atheist. Growing up in the bible belt, most are inculcated that atheists are evil. The non-believer doesn't carry the same connotation. Easier to strike up a conversation about non-belief.

"Hey, im Agnostic". "Whats that?" "Basically it means I'm Atheist, but I admit I could be wrong"

Give them my favorite quote by Hugo Betti. To Believe in God is to know that all the rules will be fair and there will be wonderful surprises. Better yet look up George Carlin who does a great show on Religion which is on You Tube. Tell them you belong to Bart Erhmans Bible Study Group which is on You Tube also. He is a Theology Professor at Chapel Hill SC, and used to be very religious and is now an Atheist or Agnostic. He has some great presentations. Lewis Black has one on the Old Testament which is another classic. What these people lack is the ability to defend what they call religion and they are what was termed by another famous Theologian who used the term "cadaver catholics" as people who go and sit in Church every Sunday and believe everything that is preached to them and then come back again next week and do the same thing. I will spare my take on the Fundamentalists who scare me because those Bible Thumpers get a bit carried away and they can be scary. I like to tell people that I'm spiritual which can mean anything and everything and applies to every person atheists especially.

I politely tell them, I don't believe in a God or God's. It seems to work out well.

Usually I'm very unapologetic and concise about it. There's no reason to hide it from anyone. UNLESS, that person is a family member of someone I'm dating. That's the only time I'll be on eggshells about it and only if I think it would cause a lot of trouble for the person I'm with to be outed to their family like that.

I generally don't bring it up first but when that does come up I reply that I am not religious or non-theistic or have an evidence based worldview. Many listen respectfully but it is too far outside their comfort zone. There is rarely a second meeting after that conversation. I use those terms on dating app profile, too. Unfortunately, the term atheist has a very negative connotation.

I use, "I'm a total atheist" with a shrug and a smile. If they give me examples of why I'm wrong, I say, "I'm glad that works for you. All of what you're saying is meaningless to me." Etc.

I really don't like wasting time "arguing" over religion or whether or not the earth is flat.