Openly Secular

[GSOgymrat]

I saw an ad on YouTube that April 23 is Openly Secular Day, which "is a celebration of secular people opening up about their secular worldview, and an opportunity for theistic allies to show their support for secular friends and family. This is a day to help others understand our values and how we think. You can participate by attending a local event, making a video, or posting on social media, or you can get involved in other ways." They are encouraging atheists to share with one person that they are atheist, agnostic, humanist, etc. I'm willing to tell at least one person who doesn't know I'm an atheist, although friends and family already know. I could do a Facebook post but I'm a bit leery because the majority of the people who are Facebook "friends" are people from work and people from high school, some of whom I don't know at all. I never make political or religious posts.

Anyone heard of this or willing to participate?

http://www.openlysecular.org/

[antediluvian]

I learned of Openly Secular Day on Twitter.  There are many tweets on the subject from atheists, humanists, secularists.  I have no problem tweeting my position.

[stromboli]

This is how big brother finds you. 

[Solitary]

I would never join a group that would accept me!  I think it is a good idea to get secular views out there before this country becomes a theocratic government with the inmates running the show like it is in the Middle East and anywhere else that religious idealism reigns supreme.  Solitary 

[aitm]

yeah. no. I just found out my company president was hesitant about bringing me back because "he doesn't seem to want to grab christ as the rest of us have".  So coming out would be the axe for me. Yeah, so I am probably on borrowed time here. Damn shame too, love the money. HA!

[Mermaid]

yeah. no. I just found out my company president was hesitant about bringing me back because "he doesn't seem to want to grab christ as the rest of us have".  So coming out would be the axe for me. Yeah, so I am probably on borrowed time here. Damn shame too, love the money. HA!

This makes me CRAZY.
How is this ever ok to say out loud?!

[Mr.Obvious]

Almost everyone I know well enough knows I'm atheist.
I can't tell any of my clients though, because we shouldn't bring up religion in my job and it hardly ever comes up anyway.
And I'll be honest, I'm not going to call up my grandpa or grandma, just to tell them that. If they ever ask, I'll be honest, but I'm not going to make that effort if it doesn't matter to them.
Then again, Belgium isn't quite as religious as America.

[doorknob]

it scares me that we still live in a world where we have to fear being fired over our views.  We shouldn't still be living in the dark ages over here.

[SGOS]

I would caution anyone about revealing too much about themselves to the wrong people.  I understand the purpose of Openly Secular Day, and even applaud it, but remember, this is not a day where anyone is given a free pass.  There can be serious consequences to coming out, no matter what day it is.

[GSOgymrat]

yeah. no. I just found out my company president was hesitant about bringing me back because "he doesn't seem to want to grab christ as the rest of us have".  So coming out would be the axe for me. Yeah, so I am probably on borrowed time here. Damn shame too, love the money. HA!

That's terrible. I know I wouldn't get fired but some people would be put off. My boss is very religious and I think she holds some kind of office in her church. I remember telling a coworker during a team building exercise (tell your name, job, and one interesting thing people may not know about you) that I was atheist and she was really upset.

[stromboli]

Honestly this is a good idea. As well as we are able we should make our voices heard. It is a shame in this day and age that we have to be quiet about simply being open minded thinkers. I am honestly so fucking sick of religion and the harm it does that I want to go out in the street and scream at people. I think at my age how many years I wasted being caught up in the utter idiocy of it that I really do get angry about it.

I stay on here for a reason. It gives me a place to talk to intelligent people and not go to a Mormon church and scream at them until I get thrown in jail.

And I am participating.

[aitm]

The company president actually thinks and said so during a meeting that the reason we could not get two projects through permitting was because Satan was actively trying to dissuade us from our christian duty to make money "for the glory of god"......hoo-boy...thats some whackadoodle do I work for.

[SGOS]

The company president actually thinks and said so during a meeting that the reason we could not get two projects through permitting was because Satan was actively trying to dissuade us from our christian duty to make money "for the glory of god"......hoo-boy...thats some whackadoodle do I work for.

This is not the person you should come out to.

[doorknob]

I'm all for coming out But I'd still exorcise caution. Many people grow upset over things like atheism. I don't know why but it's such a source of contention around here. Especially the elderly. The older they are the more stubbornly they cling to their beliefs and the ruder they are too.