Here's the thing for me. Also grew up and live in the Bible belt. I'm a bit of a loner so I honestly don't bite my tongue and really couldn't care less if my beliefs offend a religion will gallons of blood on its hands.

I have a few in my circle but as I've grown older they seem to mostly be outside the US. Norway, Canada, UK, Germany, Australia for some examples. I keep a very small circle in person. Out of that circle most are atheist or agnostic.

You are absolutely in the right place!

Share your thoughts and hopes with us and hopefully they help others with similar feelings express themselves too. Together we can strengthen the reasons people love this site

TLDRA! Welcome! Try recoveringfromreligion.org for help.

Tell me more of this bible belt. In the UK we are pretty free of such things, even in the outer isles the 'wee free kirks' have lost control of Sunday opening and ferries on 'the lords day'.
As several have said already, your life journey is just starting and you are capable of thought. I became an atheist at school just before my fourteenth birthday back in 1976! Religious education is pretty hit and miss in the UK.
I don't know your friends, but open their minds little by little with questions. I'm sure there are many people here who would help you with that.
Don't be shy, wade in and enjoy a life free from religion.

It's all a matter of respect. You obviously respect the beliefs of your religious friends and family. In order to justify and confirm their own beliefs they have to disrespect your beliefs. That is the most harmful part of their religion.

I'm a little confused by your statement that they think your lifestyle is different.I guess that means you don't go to church on Wednesdays and Saturdays and bow your head at school prayer events. If they are truly praying and worshiping during those religious times I don't understand how they could even notice what you are doing.

I hope you find friends at University with more logical minds and would be surprised if you didn't.

I think the advice of another poster that said just tell your religious friends that you want them to be comfortable around you and if they cannot to just remember you will be there if they ever want to contact you again.

I don't think your Mom viewed things as right or wrong , as much as she viewed how your life would be , if you're the different one . Just as you felt your friend would be pulling away from you , since you had different views of religion , your Mom is concerned that others would be isolating you . Her concept being , you would remain within your friendship circules easier , if you didn't chose to make the difference in religion a big deal .

Maybe your mother doesn't understand how you've been able to have reasonable, respectful conversations about religion with your friends in the past.

I was able to have interesting, dispassionate discussions on religion with a "reborn" very close friend for a while, but eventually we drifted apart. It wasn't the only time good friends have drifted away, sometimes against my heartfelt wishes. Does it have to happen? You can stay true to yourself and stay kind to your friends - beyond that, I guess it takes two to tango, so sometimes it is beyond your control.

I agree that it takes courageous people coming out and standing up for their rights and asserting their worth - making their beliefs visible, for society to move toward acceptance of diversity of beliefs. And I think atheists/agnostics are still one of the more shunned groups in the U.S. It's human experiences with an emotional core (getting to know and understand someone on a personal level) that change people's opinions most profoundly - not intellectual arguments.

But that doesn't mean you should feel compelled to push beyond revealing what you are comfortable with. You can choose how much of your beliefs to share and who to share them with and when. Small steps are just as meaningful. College may open up a much more broad-minded and diverse community.

You seem like such a warm and kind person, based on your thoughtful and caring comments. I think you've got what it takes to be a friend magnet!

SunshineTrin,
Thank you for posting. I am sure that it's very difficult to live in such a religious-minded area.
It's difficult, frustrating, and heartbreaking to have friends fade away, especially because of differing beliefs.
When discussing religion with yor riends, do you ask questions?
Some of them might be personal, like "why do you think I'm hindering your spiritual progress? Be nice about it (as I'm sure you are) but keep pushing, as it were by not accepting generalities for an answer..
The goal here is to make people think.
Or something like, "I'm reading thre bible " (actually, that fact alone might help you with your friend who's drawu=ing away) and this passage says thus-and-so. Can you explain it?" Again, don't let them get away with generalities or take something out of context.

Again, thank you for your poast.

I have never been a Christian. I was agnostic until 30 then turned Pagan. My wife is Presbyterian. My daughter is Christian/conservative/trump supporter. College will help you meet open minded people. Conservatism is on the way out. It took a huge death rattle in 2016. But it’s got one foot in the grave.

You say. "until I go to college in the fall." Great; your world is about to enlarge massively, getting a whole lot wider. Keep that movement going, travel and take the chance to widen your horizons as much as you can, Not just physical travel either, though that is important, but travel to other communities, join some clubs, read some books in the college library, which are not part of your courses. Anything and everything that takes you away.

And remember, that there are a lot of closet none believers out there, if you are brave enough to show your true nature, you may be surprised by how many come out of their shells.

Well,, this one hits home for me as well! As a kid I was told in school I had to attend church,, to choose my true following. Well on a Sunday I walked into the local Catholic Church,, it was quiet,, I heard a boy scream,, he was being sodomized,,,, freaking scary,, I ran out fast, after all what could an 8 year old do? I shunned churches,, then I sat with one preacher,, an oblate father,, I asked him if god/creator/Buddha was all loving why do they all put each other down and all say I will roast in hell if I don’t go! Well he looked at me and asked what I do,, I told him I sit on the ground and do my praying outside,, he smiled and said I was a better Christian than the ones running to church and putting their paychecks on the plate. I never talked further about religion, but silently became spiritual,, loving nature, cleaning up the trash of others, this in the sixties. Through the years religion has become a hiding spot for sexual deviants,, so much being exposed,, yet the Vatican still approves,,saying it’s a teaching???
I avoid religion for what it truly is fear monger manipulation of the sheep,, you always get to hear,,”The wrath of god” if he is all loving why fear him? Plain and simple, in the dark ages it was simple crowd control. Thankfully it is no longer working to the same extent. On my rant,, I thank myself every morning for waking to another day, many aren’t so lucky. So, stand up for your views, don’t let people box you up to their expectations.