I tell them I'm Jewish. They feel sorry for me because I don't know Jesus. If I told them I'm an atheist, they would not come near me.

That depends on the circumstances and the setting. Most of the time I don't bother. However, if they are pushy, I am very clear that I reject their beliefs and they need to back off quickly because I won't be treated with disrespect or disdain. For example, I went to visit a patient in a nursing home and encountered their minister leaving the room. The asked about my "personal relationship with jesus" and were quite pushy. After patiently explaining that my relationship with jesus was none of their business, I finally asked them to pretend that they were actually professional and to shut up about my beliefs as they were crossing way too many personal and professional boundaries. If they continued I would be taking action to have them banned from speaking to any staff members.

If I am asked to attend a service or participate in prayer outside of supporting a patient, I simply say that I do not share their beliefs and I will not participate. I do have a practice at work, I am a hospice social worker, of pointing out that this is a secular organization and I won't allow them to make it anything else. Prayer in meetings is not acceptable as they can pray on their own time, not on mine. I am pleased that it is less of an issue than it used to be. I even managed to become friendly with the Southern Baptist who was our spiritual care person because he was wise enough to understand that he didn't have a strangle hold on truth.

It's rare that I find it necessary to be part of a religious discussion. If necessary I just say, "I'm not religious." If someone wants to push my buttons, asking them to grow up usually works or there's an old saw, "Everyone has the right to find their own way to Hell."

Unless it comes into conversation or they try and convert me , I don't . It's nothing to do with them .

I just say I don't think we have much common ground, or at a push I'm a fallen Catholic lol

I live in the South. Only if they ask "do you believe in God" I tell them "no" and let them deal with it.

I don't. I listen to what they have to say and smile. Never do I agree with them or even try to get into a discussion about my beliefs or the lack thereof. It is a personal choice and frankly, none of their business. I'm not ashamed of being agnostic nor do I go around trying to convert or change peoples minds. Live and let live...to each his own...etc.

I just tell them that I am not a Christian. Strangers have no right to know what I believe but if I am put in a situation where I must discuss, I am honest. They either walk away or they don't.

I have never used the word "Atheist" to describe myself. I usually tell people they don't want to know my beliefs, or I give them a copy of Small Gods, by Sir Terry Pratchett, and tell them it is basically summed up in there.

Boldy

If they ask, "secular" is my response. I don't want to dwell on it because it doesn't matter to me.

Bible belt here too over in Oklahoma. It usually depends on whether I feel like pissing them off or not but that's mostly because I like to argue. There's some major shock value involved when you tell someone you're an atheist minister.

I simply say my parents were jewish and my beliefs are personal.

I'm open about my atheism. I just say, "I'm an atheist." Most people don't care. The people that do care? Well, I don't associate with them.

I'm an atheist works for me.

I try not to bring it up. Everyone tbat I know or meets claims to be a "good vhristian:. At my place of employment a person that brought god into every conversation became so annoying that I told her that I was an Atheist so that shed stay away.She spread it throughout the building and the harassment began...everyone that came near began talking about tbeir church or relivion and some invited me to church..lol..I then poined out that all of the "christians" in the building smoked & drank or used drugs- destroying gods temple,were living in sin or had children with people they werent married to and many had a criminal history and most couldnt pass a background check... and me,the Atheist had none of those issues therefore I'd stay on my own..

Only way to find out is, suck it and see, make it a learning exercise, research, that way you won't be quite so thrown when you get a load of nutterguff back. I only tell these days if I am asked and if I have an imaginary bullet proof vest on because it is absolutely of no consequence to me, what I am not. I don't really see why its of consequence to anyone else - I'd love to just answer completely off key and wacky like 'yes I do always wear white knickers'

Every time I have to deal with this they assume I'm an old man who just never knew anything about the "good news." Sometimes even telling them that you were once a preacher doesn't even work. They assume there is something "new" that I must have missed. Many coming to my door with their message even want to tell me of sunsets and trees, etc. God works in hysterical ways!

One method is simply asking: you believe in jesus what was the reason that convinced you of jesus?
Generally once you ask this question they have an idea you don't really believe.

Ah what fun.

I will usually introduce a discussion that includes the many past (burning witches, killing gays) and current atrocities and lessons taught in the bible, (human sacrifice, the fun a killing babies, slavery OK, sell daughter as sex slave).

Eventually they will tell me they are a Christian and occasionally ask if I am Christian, At that point I can talk about how Christians are supposed to get their morality from a god that killed nearly everybody during the flood etc etc . . and how the stories of the bible paint their god as an insecure self riotous monster. This is all laid out in their holly book.

I tell them my sense of morality is much less destructive to society then those of Christians because, in addition to not accepting (faith) (belief without evidence) claims as truth, I realize there is no invisible sky daddy to forgive anything I do that is destructive so I take responsibility for my actions in our social environment.

So, No, I am not a superstitious theists as I use evidence to evaluate truth claims.

I never bring it up. If I'm asked about my religious beliefs, which rarely happens, I tell the truth. I'm an Atheist. Theists are usually curious but so far have not been judgmental.

It they ask ... I just tell them . Most people couldn't care less, if they do care or are ' offended' in some way , I don't care anyway .

I had a missionary ask me if I had heard the good news. I just told him I was a philosophy major. Then he walked away. So I guess that works?

I only tell good friends that I trust. On occasion, if a group is trying to convert me at my doorstep, I will say I am an atheist, it seems to make them scatter. I have had a couple bad experiences with bullying when I have had people try to pull out of me my belief system, I keep quiet about it in real life.

Up front. Usually in the first or second conversation. If they don't understand or respect me then fuck them