Among my friends and relatives here in VA, saying that I have doubts about the bible or think christianity is a crock of .... it would be certain trouble. I live my way, by the Golden , and avoid these discussions.

People close to me who matter already know. The rare occasion where the subject may arise I don't offer explaination, or I may disclose being an atheist, but only to those I percieve as understanding the deffinition.

I prefer to tell them as soon as it's brought up. I tell them that I am not here to tell anyone they are wrong and I expect the same. I try to be open minded and thoughtful. I feel that being honest about my beliefs and my views saves headaches later on.

I am honest but don't offer information about myself if the other person never asked, or unless they give me some reason to speak on the subject. For those who ask my beliefs I am honest but typically start by telling them I was raised Pentacostal, studied scriptures sincerely and eventually came to realize every organized religion in existence touts ideas that are most certainly either wrong or at least unsupported by their own scriptures. I point out as example the endless splintering of Protestant denominations, each one claiming theirs is the accurate one. Then I point to the Bible itself saying "No humans can ever fully comprehend the mind of God" and point to the contradiction that human-led churches appear to claim to do just that. I typically don't tell them that I believe NONE of the notion of a sentient deity looking after my life, instead keeping it more vague and explaining why doubt in any specific faith system is a reasonable position to take. I may eventually use the term "agnostic" but only after I have explained why I no longer believe what I was raised to believe. I don't use the term "atheist" unless I want to piss them off for being strident about their own delusional beliefs. In actuality, I am both agnostic and atheist, because these terms overlap and just have somewhat different focus and emphasis.

Depending on how obnoxious they've been, I sometimes tell them, "I'm not superstitious" or "I don't believe in mythology".

Say it. You will find out who your friends are.

Even though the word doesn't attract the same degree of prejudice over here in England, I still describe myself as 'non-religious' if the subject comes up. Don't know why... I think I've been following the American atheist scene for so long that I'm almost expecting the same grief as you folks get.

But although my atheism defines me, I never really feel any need to let people know. I think that comes from not feeling hemmed in. The majority of people that I know are atheists or agnostic theists; I think I've only met half a dozen proclaiming Christians in my entire life. Over there it must be very different.

Only when i was asked i told them that i am an atheist. i think you can say that too if you desire. there is no must . There is no a perfect saying too. i think it is alright to say that you are an atheist if asked.

Call yourself a pastafarian

I just say I'm a follower of Odin of the Norse beliefs, the beliefs of my ancestors.

I usually say "I'm not a believer." or "I don't believe that." I don't feel the need to label myself, and in the part of the fundamentalist Christian backwoods where I live, people expect atheists to have horns and walk around munching on babies.

I ran into this problem recently with a couple of new friends who are Christians that asked me where I went to church. They had been around me enough to see me as a "good" person and just assumed that I was religious. I decided not to use the word atheist, but instead chose to say that I was an agnostic/freethinker and told them that I was involved in a community group for people of that mindset which was kind of like my version church. They seemed to take it OK, but we did not stay on the subject long. So far they have not said anything else to me about it, though they do talk about god, prayer, and church once in a while. I guess they value my friendship enough not worry about our differences in beliefs.

I don't. They either accept me for the hairy weirdo that I am, or they can piss off. My beliefs are personal. Anyone I let into my life respects me, and I return the favor.

Just tell them there is no god and then when they start to argue, ask them to PROVE IT!!

Flat out telling them your an atheist is the best way. You have the right to believe in whatever you like. If some people want to believe in fairy tales it's there right and rest of us who believe in non fairy tales that is our right to do so.

I simply inform them that I am not afraid of the dark

I say "I'm and Atheist"

Yes I say it but have never had an adverse reaction but hereabout with a Protestant /Catholic divide - no one is really interested in Atheists we are of no account whatsoever though i have heard some people say back to me "ah thats a shame!" I usually just laugh no none has come accross as heavy just mystified.

My (non)beliefs are personal. I'll share them if asked or if someone's trying to force their beliefs on me. And I refer to myself as a non-theist, not an atheist. Purely a personal preference. I'm a deeply spiritual seeker ... I just don't believe in a being god.

I tend to only say that I am an atheist if I am asked or if a religious person has started insulting atheists.

I say that I'm not religious. If they seem open minded I'll say that I'm Atheist. I prefer for people to get to know me before I throw a label on myself.

Living in a mostly red state (evangelicals up the wazoo), it's pretty much not brought up unless you like being attacked by 20 or more nonthinkers at a time.
My exwife and former church are about the only ones aware at this point, and I don't have to deal with the nonsense of either one of those now.
MANY people online know (Twitter) but it's in my profile.

“Here there comes a practical question which has often troubled me. Whenever I go into a foreign country or a prison or any similar place they always ask me what is my religion.

I never know whether I should say "Agnostic" or whether I should say "Atheist". It is a very difficult question and I daresay that some of you have been troubled by it. As a philosopher, if I were speaking to a purely philosophic audience I should say that I ought to describe myself as an Agnostic, because I do not think that there is a conclusive argument by which one prove that there is not a God.

On the other hand, if I am to convey the right impression to the ordinary man in the street I think I ought to say that I am an Atheist, because when I say that I cannot prove that there is not a God, I ought to add equally that I cannot prove that there are not the Homeric gods.

None of us would seriously consider the possibility that all the gods of Homer really exist, and yet if you were to set to work to give a logical demonstration that Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, and the rest of them did not exist you would find it an awful job. You could not get such proof.

Therefore, in regard to the Olympic gods, speaking to a purely philosophical audience, I would say that I am an Agnostic. But speaking popularly, I think that all of us would say in regard to those gods that we were Atheists. In regard to the Christian God, I should, I think, take exactly the same line. ”

Bertrand Russell

I usually don't unless they start to get really preachy. Then I tell them and if they push it explain to them why I am. Surprisingly I have had some great philosophical conversations with a few of the more open minded types and have gotten them to look more closely at the hypocrisy of many believers. The ones who are shocked and can't accept it are another story. Had some woman throwing holy water on me and turned around and asked her if she saw it boiling? She ran off in a huff. Family members are the hardest. I avoid discussing it as much as possible and have had a pretty successful time telling them that if they bring it up I am leaving. Got up and left in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner once and have never had a problem since.

I tell one and all stick with the commandment, LOVE THE NEIGHBOR AS THY SELF and shut the hell up about all the other bs.......