Atheist a question...............................?

Yes. It was a long process and pretty complicated as I had to sort through all of the input and teaching I'd received over the years (and still was receiving) and what I actually thought.

I haven't told my parents yet. I don't live at home (I've been out of the house and in college for almost 6 years now). I'm not sure how they would react except I do know my mom would be very upset. She believes that if her children aren't christian it reflects her failure as a parent.

People have varying reactions... it really depends on your family and those around you. If they are extremely religious you may want to hold off on telling them until you're closer or are out of the house. If they're more lenient and open minded you can calmly and rationally tell them now. Just be prepared to explain why and answer questions.

My family is Christian but my immediate family (parents) are not very religious. My sister is agnostic and I'm agnostic atheist so I've always been able to talk to her about it. I haven't moved out yet so I haven't exactly come out with it that I don't believe in god.(just hinted at it) Especially since my sister told me my mom cried when she told her she didn't. I also have a religious side of my family. Mainly my aunt and her kids and their family. so whenever I see them i do the same thing with my parents. Hint at that i don't believe in it and hope they will shut up and stop preaching to me. I am probably going to tell my family that I don't believe in god once I move out. That way I'll have a place to escape to if they freak out.

I guess it was hard. I mean I grew up believing that Christianity was the only way, and that if I didn't believe that, then I would burn in this fiery place for all eternity. I mean, that will scare the shitt out of you when you're a little kid. I didn't tell my parents, my sister did, and I kind of wish she hadn't. I didn't tell her either, but she found out by looking at my internet history(b*tch move right?). Anyways, the result was anything but good. So if you don't live with your parents, and you think you can handle their reaction, then I say break it to them as nicely as possible.

When I was little, my catholic mom and atheist dad divorced, and my mom won custody of me. It wasn't until I was in the 8th grade that I began to doubt my religion. I didn't tell my grandparents yet, because they're too religious and it kinda scares me, the thought of telling them. Although I told my mom and my uncle, who are less religious, and they don't seem to mind. My dad is proud of me, despite the fact I grew up in a really religious household. :D

what a great question!

my answer to the first question is that I simply just didn't believe anything that I heard in church, it is hypocritical, and it is intolerant and judgemental.

I hated the idea that christians have you should live your life for god and fear him blah blah blah.

And go to hell if you don't?

NO THANK YOU!

I never told my parents.

It was my decision, so I kept it quiet.

It would hurt them, and i knew they wouldnt understand.

i'm sure you know at least one atheist!

many people are closet atheists lol.

But there's abosolutely nothing wrong with your decision that there may not be a god.

It just means that you can entertain the idea that religion isn't everything, and that you are a wise skeptic who doesn't believe everything they are fed.

congratulations!

you are not alone!

We were forced to go to church as kids, but our parents didn't go. A bit hypocritical? Yes. They just did it to get us out of their hair, I believe. But they do believe in god, they just don't go to church.

I never really came out and told my dad, he just picked up on it from little comments I would make back when I still considered myself agnostic. He would say things like "cool it you little atheist"....I would say "I'm not an atheist. Yet."

My mom never noticed. We talked about god when my grandmother died, and remember pretty much saying the words "I don't believe in god." but she didn't pick up on that. Until she asked me a question regarding god, and I told her I was not the person she needed to be talking to about that subject. She was shocked.

But I'm grown, so they both got over it. They don't have much choice in the matter.

I don't think it's anything to be ashamed of. But I never told my grandma. She was one of the most important people in my life, but I never once told her I didn't believe in god. If she were alive today, I still wouldn't. For the simple fact that she put her faith in what she believed, and it would have crushed her if I had told her.

Nah it wasn't hard. I don't think I ever really took God seriously in the first place.

No I haven't told my parents and I never plan to. It would cause a WHOLE lot of unneeded problems. Every time I'd see them I'd have to endure continuous and over dramatic attempts to win back my soul. My grandma would probably cry every time she sees me.

It wasn't difficult to come to the conclusion that I didn't believe in any gods, it was just difficult accepting that.

I never told my parents, but they figured it out pretty quick.

Tell people if they ask. No use being dishonest.

Well my mother's very religious, as are most of her side of the family. Luckily my father is also an atheist so it wasn't too hard for me.

I still have relations who try to convert me but they obviously fail everytime and they're slowly giving up trying.

I grew up on going to church, and when ever we moved we stopped going. after a few years I started to doubt wat i believed in, and at the time I was going threw a LOT of trouble so I decided i'd continue life as an atheist. I still haven't told my family, I'm afraid I'd be shunned out.