Well, why do you think that to say “I am an atheist” is a bad way so much that you have to find a better way. Now, most Christians I know do not start with “Hi, I’m a Christian”. If they do, then you can say “Hi, I’m an atheist”. But what most of them do is to tell you, at the end of a conversation “god bless you”. Which is their own way, depending on the response they get, of finding out who is Christian and who is not. In any case, if they tell me “god bless you” I can say “I don’t believe in god”. But the main point I want to make is: be proud to say what your beliefs are. Are you afraid you would loose their friendship? Do you need them?

You don't tell them.... Let them believe you are one of them. One more bogus belief on their plate is not going to hurt them ?

Telling them you're "A HUMANIST" is a good idea. Maybe they don't know what it is and you can ask them (gently) to look into it. Then, smile and SCRAM!

I don't feel any less less inclined to share the fact I am an atheist than religionists who choose to share their theism do.

Yes Lucy, I am discovering groups like this and am so glad to have fellow non believers! I do get the fisheye at work but there is no way I could be like them or want to stoop to their blind faith. Someone said to me the other day I am so nonjudgemental and I thought to myself, that's because I'm not religious. Lol...

I find most people treat me like I have a flu or something when I tell them I don't believe in any God.

I don't really talk about my lack of religion unless the other person wants to talk about it. And at that point I usually say something like "yeah, that's not for me" or "I'm not into that".

I don’t unless I’m (rarely) asked. If I am asked, I just tell them. If they’re religious, and want to rngage with me, I refuse. I just tell them there’s no point as we’ll never agree. If they persist, I literally walk away.
But I’m lucky. The UK is a very irreligious country, so on the very rare occasions that I am asked, I usually only get the merest hint of a raised eyebrow. Most Brits are alleged to believe in god, but the vast majority of those simply don’t care enough to be bothered about what they believe, let alone what anyone else believes.
I feel for American atheists. It must be very hard sometimes.

It can depend on the circumstances, but generally with people I don't know, I don't tell them unless they ask. (Spiritual-I believe in a Supreme Being/Creator, but not comfortable with Religion.) I am out about my beliefs to most of my family and friends, no problems there because the majority of them are spiritual/agnostic/atheist.

I simply challenge whatever they say politely - they soon get the picture.

I eat a baby in front of them.

Piss on lawn!

Piss on lawn!

Piss on lawn!

I don't unless they ask, to put me in a category when they know nothing else about me seems ridiculous ot me - lacking context . I live in Northern Ireland and am English so no one is really bothered what I am .

I don't introduce myself as someone who doesn't collect stamps because it doesn't define who I am. If they ask me where I get my stamps, I'll tell them I don't collect.

Same thing with atheism. I don't define myself by non belief, but if they ask me about what religion I am I'll tell them.

I am right and you are wrong is perhaps the best way to address it. NO way can one believe in that stuff without sacrificing intellect

The word 'atheist' seems too frighten the religious right. I use the words 'Free Thinker'. And they just end up scatching their heads. Plus people generally don't talk that crap to me. Might be the way I look or how i look at them. Everyone around me already knows how I think. It's no secret ?

Tell me who the eye witnesses were. How long after Jesus was supposed to have lived did a creditable witness appear? My understanding is it was many years, even many decades!

Good luck

I don't bring it up in conversation unless someone else does first, but I am rather out on social media, etc, so anyone exposed to me there knows where I stand.

I'm sorry I have a cold - that was one of the non sequiturs in a John Cleese sketch!
In godless uk we just say "I'm an atheist" or 'thats for me to know and you to find ou't

I bring it up with friends and answer fairly if they ask why. I think it’s important they have a good example of an out atheist to counteract the strawman and lies.

I don’t. Well’ not right off the bat. I just talk and get along with people by not bringing up religion or politics til they do.

I just say I'm not religious. Saves the confrontational judgment. In this culture, you're still judged as immoral if you don't believe in their myths. But, it is getting better. The younger generation seems to be more objective.