r/AskBlackAtheists

Im 18, haven’t told my family i’m an atheist. I have nigerian parents and if i even hint at not wanting to go church they’re gonna get so mad. Even when i used to be christian it still felt like a waste of time, because they gloss over most parts of the bible and they say the same fucking thing every sunday.

Anyways i’m wondering if any other black atheists still have to go to church and what it’s like for you guys lol. I live with my parents still so i pretty much have no choice 😭

I usually turn to music. I was curious about other methods.

Just Curious from a White Antitheist.

Hey everyone, I have a question for my fellow Black atheists.

First off, for context, I live abroad. I also speak three languages, and although English is my native language, it’s actually the one I use the least in daily life.

Recently, I’ve gotten into the habit of saying “Inshallah.” When talking to my friends and family on social media. Lol, my family is overwhelming Christian, but they haven’t mentioned it.

At first it was kind of ironic, but over time I’ve found myself using it sincerely, not because I believe in Allah or God, but because it expresses something that English doesn’t quite capture for me.

When a friend tells me they’re hoping something important works out, saying “I hope so” can sometimes feel a little too light, while “God willing” feels like I’m making a statement of belief that I don’t hold.

“Inshallah” somehow lands in the middle for me.
It got me thinking about other expressions we inherit from religion.

For example, I still say “bless you” when someone (I personally know) sneezes. I don’t attach any religious meaning to it anymore; it’s just become part of the language.

Do any of you have phrases like that? Religious expressions you’ve kept using even after leaving religion because they’ve taken on a secular, linguistic meaning for you?

I’m curious what everyone else’s examples are.

**edit: I just remembered that you can say “fingers crossed” in English.

I guess I can always go back to that, if anyone should ever have an issue with my use of “inshallah”.

I’ll start. Christianity is intertwined with white supremacy.