Lol. Welcome to my world. I've been very secretive about my beliefs. My ex wife and my children 14 and 15 do not know. Yes this is wrong, I should be honest with my children and blood relatives. But I live I reality. Until my daughter, 14, turns 18yrs old I will continue the charade. The repercussions of coming out aren't worth it. I don't mind. Its not just about me After all.

I was never in.

Right from the start of discussions I asked too many questions and said I didn't believe their answers. They weren't too bothered and I soon realised I was an atheist.

I didn't come out at all. My parents (mainly my father) tried to get me to believe as a child, but it always looked like BS to me. I hate lies, so I just stated the truth.

I just stopped going to church. Being away at college while I figured this out made it easier to cope with.

You don't need to "come out". To me, religion, or lack thereof, is deeply personal. If they ask just say it's personal. The problem i see a lot is that once you come out as atheist, especially if your family is religious, they try to push it on you and pretty soon theyre condtamtly sending religuois stuff to you and then getting upset when you don't respond the way they want and it creates unnecessary tension. So you don't need to say anything. Just stop going to church and if asked just say it's something you want to keep to yourself.

I can relate to what you are saying as I am going through the same process. I don't want to hurt anyone but it's impossible to avoid that when you are from a religious family. I did it in stages . They have still not accepted the fact that I m not religious and still try to get me to go to church . In my community , it's difficult for a person without faith to have friendships and relationships . It's difficult to have to constantly explain to people why you don't want to go to church or why you are not religious. Even if you explain it to them they don't understand most of the time. I am not the kind of person who will constantly engage with religious people to stand up for my convictions. I am just tired of having to explain over and over again why I don't have any faith . So when my family insists I just go to the mass / religious service to oblige them . It's difficult to be completely liberated from religion without damaging your relationship with your family .

I put it on my Facebook. I may or may not submit to their questioning. It's my truth to give or keep.

Concerning sexuality... even more important that you pick and choose who deserves to have their curiosity answered.