r/athiest

As the title says, I used to be a Christian, I was "saved" at 13. I learned all about the bible, studied it at church 3X per week, tithed once I started working, and even volunteered at my VERY conservative Baptist church. I've always had questions about it, and when I brought those questions up to the church leaders, or even my parents, I was told that I "had to have faith," or "all questions will be answered when we get to heaven," or, my personal favorite now: "Satan is whispering those doubts in your ears, and that I needed to pray more."
I've continue to "live the lie" about me still believing all that crap for the past 15 years, and it is becoming harder and harder to be around my family, all of who are still very devout Christians.
Just as an example, I was at my sister's house last night, with a friend of hers, and they started talking about religion, and how "great" god has been in their lives lately. I'm usually a very quiet person, so me not joining their conversation wasn't anything unusual.
I'm almost at the point where I just "come out" as an atheist to them, and just let them disown me, since I can't be my true self around them. I have no friends, due to the B.S. I was put through in my childhood, but that's an entire different subject, for a different sub.
I guess what I'm asking all of you is how you deal with your family that still believe, and think that you do as well?

I remember going into a comment section on a religious video and I saw someone saying slander about Stephen hawking. Their claim? They said that he died from divine retribution for being atheist. Basically used his paralyzation as ammunition and I feel like no person should be used as way to spread religion, including a dead man. I feel like this is highly disrespectful.

I notice that when an argument happens between an atheist and any religion, they always stall you with questions rather than providing proper evidence. I mean the Bible could be evidence but in that logic a book like the odyssey would be real too.

I feel like everywhere I go, I’m confronted with the insanely awkward and uncomfortable question of, “Do you believe in God?” I’ve tried faking it to make the conversation more pleasant, but I can only fake it for so long. I genuinely cannot stand the Christian lingo or the way people sometimes talk when they’re talking about their faith, and I feel so uncomfortable pretending that I relate to it when I really don’t.

I wasn’t raised religious, but growing up I actually wanted to go to church with my friends and go to church camps during the summer because I wanted to hang out with them. Putting up with the religious stuff just felt like part of the trade-off. I genuinely tried to get into it, too, but I could never actually believe what they were telling me. Eventually I realized that I’m completely comfortable and happy not having religion in my life. Maybe that will change someday, but honestly, I highly doubt it.

My main point is that I feel like I cannot escape it. My parents, who used to be avid atheists, are now leaning more toward religion, and I have other family members who pressure me about my beliefs. And now I’ve started a new job where I’d really like to make a friend or two, only to realize that they are ALL extremely Christian and bring it up in almost every conversation.

I don’t want to be rude or disrespect anyone’s beliefs, but how do I tell them that I don’t believe in God and would really rather not participate in anything religious without making things awkward? I don’t want to be invited to church, Bible studies, prayer groups, etc. I’m happy to hear that it’s important to them, but I don’t want to be involved myself.

I just want some normal, friends who I can hang out with without religion being a recurring topic of conversation. UGH.

How do I politely set that boundary without completely isolating myself at my new job?

I'm 15 years old and I'm an atheist I've been an atheist for almost 5 years now but my whole family are hardcore Christians.

I really need to tell my family but I'm really scared to tell them I don't know how they could react to my beliefs.

I'm really scared of how they could react

I don't know if they will punish me or more.

What should I do ?

I'm scared.

Idk if this is the right place, so if its not tell me and ill delete it. So im at best(worst?) Agnostic, I switch between that and atheism bc of the amount of evidence supporting it over religion( fossils, the fact Noah's arc doesn't make sense, the fact some Christians believe in "micro evolution" but not macro evolution' etc.). But the one thing that's throwing me off in the prophesies that came true. Is there any information to help with this?

I suppose in practice in doesn't matter bc even if he does exist, he's not a God I want to follow, but I would like answers about this

nicely? I don't want to piss off a fellow camper, but her repeating 'women serve men because we come from the rib' bullshit is annoying!!!?

How do I get there?

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In the US there have been a LOT of anti-muslim propaganda in the US this past year. Like a horrendous neo-nazi amount of propaganda with people seemingly very happy to harass and threaten Muslims just minding their own business. Suggesting murderous things. All justified by the idea due to the existence of Muslim extremists - even if the muslims they are targeting are innocent.

Now one thing I have been seeing recently is a lot of people (mainly Christians) comment on is how "Islam isn't a religion, it is an ideology!"

Does anyone know where this is coming from and why they are saying that? I believe they are making that excuse as a means to disassociate from Islam as a religion, as well as claim that freedom of religion doesn't count for Muslims because "it's an ideology not a religion", thus being able to find ways to go around the constitution and ban Muslims. (Not to mention justifying the genocides in other countries done by Israel)

But it's strange because usually these things are gradual ideas that spread, but this has been all at once. So where exactly is this coming from?