It will come to you, what you need to do , when you are ready to listen to your self . Don’t despair or beat yourself up about it . Awareness of the situation is a good thing to have .

Just be honest and don't even try to change them. If they are friends worth having they will stick with you - some for curiosity's sake.

Read through the other answers below mine , and I think they've pretty much covered the gammit . Your beliefs are no body's business but your own . And their beliefs are their own business . It's nice to have friends who share your beliefs , but not everyone has to . You know better than anyone on this site the conditions you are living under . Know who you are . Do what's best for you .

When I was much younger my home town was smaller and more conservative. I am from a household of atheists. I couldn't believe I was the only atheist in my school. When I was about 14 or so I discovered punk rock and decided to not care what my classmates and teachers thought. I discovered women, sex, drugs, rebellion, anarchism, and freedom and all because I dared question god. I am free now and have been for 35 years or more. But I have lost many people whom I once considered friends and that is a high price indeed. Small towns can be echo chambers. I wish the very best luck to you.

I won't lie and claim to believe when I don’t, but, I won't necessarily correct them when they assume that I do, and I keep my disbelief to myself, changing the subject if/when religion comes up.

People than cannot accept you as non-religious cannot be friends as their beliefs are causing them to reject you. Lying to people about your beliefs is not an effective way to develop friendships. Moreover people are very good at determining if someone actually carries the same beliefs. Expand beyond your current location to find like minded people. Join the Freedom From Religion Foundation in Madison Wisconsin.

You need not share them if you don't want, they are no one else's business but your own. Better to have an outgoing pleasant caring persona.

I'm part of some organizations, clubs/etc where the community is more split on politics than religion.
I've grown up not depending on friends for much other than the occasional visit, granted, being 44, I'm self sufficient, however, I see my dad and his wife are retired, and they definitely pretend or just go-with-the-flow on what everyone else believes in the matter of faith when hanging out with their clubs/organizations.

Nope. Everyone close to me knows I'm atheist. Hell, I'm pretty sure I have it written on my public FB page. I'm not hiding that aspect of myself from everyone, and the only people I invite to stay in my life are those who can respect that without trying to push their own beliefs.

You might consider checking the internet, meetup.com is a good start, to find groups of nonreligious people somewhere close to you. I did that about 12 years ago and have made many friends since, although most do live 40 or more miles away.

As far as pretending to be religious... I used to as a teen and some years beyond but finally came to a point where I did not feel right pretending anymore. I am careful who I admit my atheism to. If the person or people are obviously fanatical about religion I try to avoid them if reasonably possible.

Can you move? Life is short and there are some really rewarding places to live.

I prefer the truth and tell people. Commonalities are important to me.
To each their own, so whatever works for you works.

Yes I do think people believe everybody has to think as they do if you want to interact with them.

Gaia, if you are in a small town in Texas, I absolutely believe you should keep your beliefs to yourself. I lived in Lynchburg VA, home of Jerry Falwell for 20 years and I never told anyone I was an atheist. I have traveled extensively in rural Texas and it is the same way as Lynchburg. I believe you would lose all your friends or worse yet, they will all start praying for you.

Mums the word. For your health!

I make it a point NOT to mention my beliefs, to avoid such discussions. Of course, anyone on my facebook page will know it, but those people are My friends.

I suggest that you simply tell others who question you, that you define "god",whatever god may be, differently than many others do......that totally disarms them without creating an adversarial situation.......

I live in Texas. In the large urban area of Dallas-Ft. Worth I do not pretend to believe in god. If I choose I have more ways to to meet like minded people. I play on a senior softball team. The two teams meet for a prayer after the game. I just walk off the field. No one has ever said anything. Welcome to the site.

I live in Texas!

Where now there are more tattoo Parlors as churches, well almost!

I do not tell anyone anything about religion and religious dogma!!!

If they ask me about religious beliefs???

I then ask them if they are going to pay my bills and support me???

If not do not go where you do not belong!!!

No and I don’t share

Once we find the freedom of reality, those things bothering us will ebb away. If friends demand an attendance i would go with new friends...
Hi.how are ya? ...

Join the club. In my opinion 99 % of Christians are closet atheist that lie and say they believe so they can enjoy the all you can eat pot luck buffet after church service.

An organization that asks about your beliefs or so call friends that ask about your beliefs are far from organizations I would want yo belong to or friends that Ibwould like to mongle with. If anyone or anybody asks for my religious beliefs my answere is always the same: now that is none of your business, is it? The day I ask for your beliefs is the day you can ask me, and I will never ask you.

Nah, never have, never will. Too stressful to even consider!

I went to a Catholic high school in a small town. Two of my classmates were open atheists. I do not think it affected them socially at all.

No but I literally don't have friends and am not involved in organizations, mostly because they are religious ones in this small town. Also I keep my lack of belief to myself at work. So I guess probably.