" I just don't understand" is what I usually hear. "Its such a large part of my life". One time, found out one "Christian" didnt know about the dove flying from the ark to find the olive branch. Yeah, I can tell how much it means to you.

Did you have a bad experience with religion growing up?

Actually, I had a beautiful experience in the church, but my belief in deities was long ago fading. I might still be a follower had it not been for a major life-altering event that changed the history of my life!

For the best? I wouldn't say that. For the worst? I wouldn't say that either.

To awaken my mind to reality. Yes. This.

I have a friend that says I'm going to heaven anyway, and when she gets there she is going to demand they let me in. I have a couple of dear friends that it took them about 5 years to put me in their will as guardian of their child because they knew I would not take her to church. A lot of wide eyes and silent disbelief. I'm so used to it. I think the most awkward times are when I meet someone incredibly intelligent, something about god comes up that I scoff at, and it's ME that assumes they don't believe; that's when I get a shock.

Well, I came out to my parents as oth beign gay and beign an atheist at the same time. Oddly my parents were more concerned about my geign gay... as if my "Immortal soul" was of no concern.

I think it is alwasy other who feel more awkward than us non-theists.

Not one, ever.

I've had contentious conversations about belief, and my lack thereof, but not a lot of awkward responses that I recall. But it reminds me of a joke: A man moves into town and his neighbor stops by to welcome him to the neighborhood. They talk about many things, and eventually the neighbor asks whether the newcomer is Catholic or Protestant. The new resident replies that he's an agnostic. "That's fine," says the neighbor. "We all pray to the same God."

When those two women pulled up to the front porch to spread the good word and I told them I was atheist and they just stood there looking at me. It wasn't awkward for me. ?

Nothing really.... I treat it as need to know basis and for the most part, I don't bring it up. No one needs to know.