My mother had a meltdown when I told her in high school. She continued to assume that she had convinced me when I married a religious woman (she's now a UU) and when worked for the church, the last time I went to church was with her the week before the divorce. It was a relief to finally not have to pretend for anyone. My son is a devout atheist, he makes no apologies.

My father was an atheist but also an activist against religions . Man , if I ever turned out to be a believer , I truly think he will had send me to psychiatrist to figure out if depressed or just stupid !( his words !) ???
And that's the guy that made me take world religions in college and wanted me to study them all !
Seriously , I am not sure if I will ever had the strength to dissapoint him if life was different for me and if I had " find Jesus ". I totally understand all the folks who are keeping their atheism secret from parents , etc .