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Are you an open or closet agnostic/atheist, and why?

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348 comments (226 - 250)

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1

Iā€™m an open non-religious person for anyone who chooses to inquire.

1

Closets are for clothes . . . not for people šŸ˜‰

1

I'm open about it. I don't run around advertising it, usually, lol. But if it helps I will.
When I got out of the cult I was in I needed to connect with others like me but no one was speaking out at that time. I decided, at that point, that I would speak out so I could be there in case others needed me. Ever since then I've been pretty damn open and honest about everything. I don't believe a person can help others if they are "perfect".
Since open and honest and out there is how I chose to live, it's the path I am on and I have no intention of deviating. I understand others do not have the freedom that I have for various reasons so I don't put them down. Some people could lose their jobs and so on.

Lori Level 2 Nov 10, 2017
1

I'm closeted. Im not ashamed, I just don't feel like debating. They'd be more hung up on me not believing than I would be with them believing.

I understand the need for religion, the need to create order out of chaos but they wouldn't understand me NOT believing. My closest friends are religious, I think they may feel like in not a believer, but they aren't sure. My husband doesn't even know.
I just don't want to deal with the stigma.

But really I'm never asked so I don't volunteer the information.

0

Open. I feel no need to hide who I am. Fuck what other people think. Life's too short to worry about that.

1

HAHAHA - just try me!

1

My family of origin is very religious. I live in a very religious area. I work in a conservative industry. It is easier for me to keep my thoughts and beliefs to myself with most people - my best friends are those who have similar beliefs and we've discovered this over time.

I'm an open book, but I'm not here to be judged. I will answer if asked, but I tend not to volunteer this.

1

I am an open book in every way. I've never spent one second in a closet. I spent 16 years moderating a local online community for lesbians, educating women on the merits of authenticity. With quite a bit of success. Then I joined the local atheist group and all they talked about were the people they couldn't tell. I never went back because I don't have the patience for it anymore. Why? Because I only have one life and I won't apologize to anyone for living it.

1

I try to be honest about everything with everyone, I consider it an insult to myself if I feel like I have to lie to someone. When in an open forum where you don't know the individuals personally, I stand my ground without elaborating. I am open about my beliefs "IF" I participate in a conversation where It is a "MUTUAL" exchanging of Ideas (and you can usually tell who are the hard headed people) and I am questioned, I try to offer up as much supporting information as possible. Fortunately for me, I have been allowed to have a huge portion of time to think and reason. I have been surprised at the positive reactions as of lately, and I live in Georgia !

1

I'm open in most of my social interactions. The other members of a Lutheran church ministry in which I am a member, know that I'm agnostic. It's almost as if I DARE anyone to say anything. I have my rebuttals prepared. Not that I would attack their beliefs; I just DEMAND that they respect my beliefs. I believe that my feelings can guide me to being a moral person.

1

Open Atheist. I don't wear my Atheism on my sleeve - but should someone ask, I tell them as matter of factly as I would my hair color. It is part of me just the same.

0

As a person who has the good luck to live on the west coast of Canada, and come from a family of skeptics/agnostics/atheists, I have been able to spend my whole life being quite open about my own beliefs (or lack thereof).

If put in a position where I would have to pay a substantial price for being publicly without Faith, I would probably stick to my guns (as much out of a tendency towards contrarianism as anything else), though I couldn't say for sure.

2

Depends. If asked I give an honest answer but in some situation I keep it to myself.

0

I'm somewhere in the middle. If it comes up, then I say "I'm an atheist." Fortunately, I suppose, it doesn't come up often here in the mid-west, unlike the constant topic of conversation in the Southern East coast. My friends and family know, and accept it; although I did have one sister say to me, "you know better than that." When I told her god didn't exist.

I believe I have to justify my non-belief to no one. People are surprised to learn I am a non-believer! Which always amuses me.

0

I have an "Evolve" fish on the rear window of my truck.

0

I've been atheist for most of my life. I've skipped the closet phase. I've been a believer for a total of 8 years, which were 3-11 grade, at which point my common sense kicked in. I didn't think I was super outspoken in hs. However, I got a total kick out a message I got when I first got on Facebook from a hs classmate, asking me if I was the one he remembered as being a "die-hard atheist". I felt quite happy that this is how he remembered me. Ironically, I was attending the national CFI conference when I read that message, so I couldn't help but crack up. My response was, "Yes, I am. Glad that this is what you remember about me."

Wow Katherine! You are everywhere. Your energy level must be phenomenal. You are very active here as well as at school, with humanist and atheist , etc. Keep it up! I have two weeks to go before grad school ends for summer. Still hoping to meet you before you vacation!

0

Open but paying thƩ Price some in m'y famely quit talking To me. Oh Well its Worth it

0

Open. I'm in a country where religious beliefs are viewed as a private matter, and any overt preaching or display of it is viewed with reactions ranging from amusement to suspicion. So, I won't tell someone I'm an atheist unless they ask or if it's appropriate to a conversation.

0

I am an open atheist. Why not? I enjoy the scientific method and rational ways of thinking. Most pf the people I know have some respect for science and its benefit to the human race. I just tell them that I am a rational person who doesn't need any superstition to fill in gaps of ignorance.

0

I am both open atheist and open religious person. I tend to find it funny because people feel that I broke the law of the excluded middle. Its almost a funny case of geometry showing its ability: mind blown... In essence, being open or closeted about anything from sexuality, belief, personality, etc is always a game of egos. But I don't see why not pretend to have an ego for everyone for the fun of it.

argo Level 4 Nov 3, 2017
1

I guess I'm semi-closeted. I'm open about it on Facebook but I tend to try and hide it amognst strangers. I've been in a lot of therapy and it tends to stress spirituality. I would never share with a group and I'm extremely hesitant to share with an individual therapist that I'm an atheist.

17

I am a closet atheist at the moment because I would lose a lot of friendships/relationships. Working up the courage to "come out" is harder than it looks!

I'll be open one day.

Unfortunately admitting you're an atheist or non-believer of any level can be damaging to your career, friendships, and family life . it would certainly be nice to be able to be totally upfront and honest, but I don't feel an overwhelming need to profess my atheism

I keep my religious, political, and cultural views to myself at work. I try to be open everywhere else. Still I stand in awe of those people in the south who advertise on their cars etc of their open atheism

I'm in a similar boat, but I am getting old enough and tired enough of tiptoeing around that I'm looking to actively let folks know so that I can live honestly with myself. I don't hide the fact that I'm a Cubs fan, a runner, or that I love watching comedies. I'm hopeful that they will understand or that I will eventually find a more like minded cohort.

In fact, I've started this process already, and have been pleasantly surprised. One of my friends (who had asked me to proofread some of her papers for seminary) has been pretty supportive. We still talk almost every day, just like we have for years.

I am also in the closet about my being an atheist as well. My mother is dying of cancer and I feel that coming out will only hurt my relationship with her. Since this is her 4th bout with cancer, and treatment is not working, she is clinging to religion for hope. She has less than a year before she is gone (according to her doctors less time). Already lost my adapted father to cancer and my biological father to lymphoma. My wife and kids know, but the rest of my family is strong southern baptist.

0

Openly Atheist to friends, and the rest of the world. in the closet with my parents. My parents are firmly entrenched JWs. So, in order to maintain a relationship with them, I can't be as open with them as I would like.

0

I'm an open atheist and outspoken about it to a degree, depending on the time and place. I was a closeted atheist for many years. I felt pretty much alone. Then I discovered a local community of atheists, hiding behind the term "Freethought". I respect their wish to be passive in that term, but it's what makes it hard for others to know about other like minded groups around them. Most of the religious folks have no problem displaying symbols, slogans or professing their belief, so it's easy for them to identify who is who. So I borrow from that concept. I frequently wear the "Circle A" symbol on a necklace. I often wear shirts with some sort of relevance, even if it is just more pop culture relevance to open mindedness. I do have a couple shirts that are flat out labeled as atheist or secular. I have had a lot of people come up to me and thank me for wearing them. Saying they could never do it, but glad someone is. The same goes for bumper stickers on my vehicle. I started doing this outward projection right after a week long hospital stay where every time I woke up I was confronted with a Jesus figure on a cross hanging on the wall in front of me. The hospital Chaplin came in to pray for me even after I specifically told them not to allow it. I do it to normalize atheism.

1

I'm open about it ā€” and even in rural areas like where I live, it's not stigmatized like it once was (though i'm sure there are many exceptions). I don't open a conversation with my lack of belief, though, and I don't volunteer the information generally unless there's some direct relevance to the conversation or situation. My family knows, and some of them think I'm broken and want to "fix" me, but for the most part it plays no significant role in my life or relationships.

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