I think the more of us that are open about our atheism, the harder it'll be for others to penalize us for our lack of belief. I believe in "the fight". I believe in active defiance of the status quo.

I am currently, for the most part, in the closet about my atheism. There are a few friends and family members who know but I haven't announced it publically yet. It's all very new and it's compared to 18 years of religious fundamentalism - meaning, IDK if I'm really an atheist or a very depressed and dissolutioned Christian. Like, I don't believe in the supernatural right now but I have to get my neurochemistry sorted before I can make an objective observation about myself. In the meantime, there's no need to upset EVERYONE I KNOW by saying I don't believe in their coping mechanisms anymore.

I just have this anxiety that it's going to be a big deal. When I began keeping the biblical dietary law 12 years ago, people freaked. I can only imagine what they're going to do and say when I tell them I don't believe in God anymore.

I'm not emotionally strong enough at the moment to debate or defend my beliefs so I'm not bringing them up to people if I don't know that I can trust them to accept me regardless.

I also suspect there would be some prejudice against me professionally if I'm out. I already had to tell one potential employer I'm in the LGBTQIA+ community bc he kept talking about past church activities on my resume (nursery work and old volunteer work) and I didn't get the job. Of course, I wouldn't want to work in that environment but, at the same time, I can't be too picky about jobs because I need to get paid.

My point in all that rambling was this: It's not time for me to come out about my atheism yet. I'm sure the time is coming - I always come out eventually and take a stand for my beliefs - but for now I need to stay in the closet until I figure some stuff out.

or in danger, if they do?