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

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

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!

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 ?

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?

I simply say that I am an Atheist.

There is not better way-why should there be!

If we are all identifying our religious identity, I tell them whatever flavor Im feeling most like that day (atheist, agnostic, secular humanist, etc.). If that hasnt come up, I don't tell them. If they make a comment like they assume that I agree with their religious view, and I dont, I may ask questions about their assumptions or make a comment asking them to reflect on why they think that way.

People I know well on a personal level, all know I'm an atheist.

Most of the people I work with are christians. By sharing my personal beliefs as a non christian to several that I like, I soon picked up the vibe from others that this info spread like wild fire. I can tell as they look at me and judge me they have singled me out as some kind of nut case. It's so condescending as they talk about attending bible studies, baptisms, lent, etc, etc. If I were to talk about attending women's choice marches or atheist meetings ....well you can just imagine. Many like myself have to stay underground. I'm more open about my beliefs now but still have to listen to their nonsense while biting my tongue. I'm hoping in generations to come this will change. I am seeing more progressive thinking with millenials and this gives me hope!!

At this time, I don't say anything about my personal beliefs. However, I'm making progress. How?
I no longer tell people "I'll pray for them" especially in situations where they're asked for. Instead, I tell family and friends and even strangers I'll be thinking of them or I'm sending positive thoughts and vibes their way. If point blank asked, I say that I don't believe there's some guy in a white robe up in the sky waving a magic staff deciding one person will get cancer and another will win the lottery. We all have control of our own lives. [BTW, I'm from Georgia (USA) so my actions are considered blasphemous.]

When I have people come to my door and ask me if I believe in Jesus, I say, "Yes, historically." Usually they do not take offense, yet they understand that I do not "believe."

I guess it all depends on how close that person is close to you. For the most part because I'm the one who seldom if ever bring up the topic. If they are people that I am meeting for the first time and they have no effect on my life, I just say that I'm a non-believer. If they persist I just tell them ,first politely, that I am not interested in their religious belief.

If they are aggressive in persisting to tell me their belief than I feel I can go on the offensive and tell them how ridiculous their belief are and I never feel guilty because they felt their belief is more important than mine to me and that's disrespectful.

As far as my family is concern they know that I'm not a believer.

Gently with a smile.

Hi Polly - So what keeps you in a place you are not comfortable about showing who you really are?

Depends who's asking. The answer can range anywhere from "mind your own business" to "are we really getting into this AGAIN?" Mostly I just say "I'm not religious" and leave it at that.

From my experience religious people are so judgemental

I generally don't mention my atheism unless it's necessary.

Regardless of how long I've known someone, my view of them goes down when I find out they have a faith based hamster on a wheel going on in their head.

It's interesting how invasive religion is in American lives. No family I know ever says grace. Even the older generations. It just isn't part of the Australian way of life. Most Aussies are indifferent or atheist. The majority now claim no religion. So the issue of Atheism rarely comes up.

We are a secular nation tolerant (mostly) of all beliefs.

I've tended to avoid declaring it initially. Bad experience with judgmental prostelyzation. I do understand the inclination though. I figure I need them to know me a little typically before I divulge.

Personally, I only bring it up if the subject comes up. People make assumptions on all sorts of things, including religion. If it doesn't come up, what do I care if they think I'm religious. I've actually found sometimes that it works in my favor, in that they get to know me before knowing I'm atheist. I've actually had someone, upon finding out I was atheist after a couple of years of assumptions, say with surprise, "But you're so moral." It led to quite an interesting conversation about the roots of morality without spirituality.

Point being, IMHO, it doesn't need to be brought up unless it comes up and is relevant to the conversation at hand.

Just tell them, if they judge you then they are a waste of your time anyways.

I say - "I'm an atheist" Or I'll say I playing for the other team - that confuses people though.

It depends on if the subject comes up. I don't usually bring it up with someone until I know them quite well. Some of my best friends and my wife are religious. On the other had, I went to a class reunion and a classmates spouse started "witnessing" to me. He started to tell me about being "saved" and I interrupted him with "That's too bad."

They usually guess when I tell them to fuck off with that bullshit.