Being an atheist is like...

[Feral Atheist]

What is being an atheist like to you, in terms of your personal relationships?

If a relationship requires religion to be meaningful, it means your relationship is meaningless to begin with.

This applies to a lover/significant other, or casual friends.

[Atheon]

In my immediate family and in the communities and schools in which I grew up, being non-religious was the norm, and few people proclaimed their religion (one exception was a Jewish girl I knew who came from a rather religious family). And my extended family were mostly mildly religious Lutherans who didn't talk about hell or damnation. So being an atheist wasn't hard for me (though I didn't call myself an "atheist" until my 30s). And even now, the people I hang around with and work with don't care about religion.

[Sal1981]

I'm similar to OPs situation. I'm the only professed atheist, and probably the only atheist in my family that I know of. However, the social environment I attend has plenty of atheists, which is also part why I like to hang out in those places (plus the beers which I enjoy there ...).

We usually don't discuss it, but it happens - and I usually just point out some obvious fault in the Bible, and it usually ends there.

[aitm]

I still use the term "epicurean existentialistic skeptic"…..most people get a curious look but very much like seeing a Jehovah Witness walking up the sidewalk have no desire to get engaged into something like that. I just smile, sometimes I say, "I have some brochures in the car". LOL…oh lordy the look they get.

[the_antithesis]

I've found it easier to be openly bisexual than to admit to being an atheist.

However, the term "nonreligious" or "searching for my own path in life" goes over so much nicer than atheist.

I should make a t-shirt that reads:

"I'm not an atheist.
I'm just not buying your bullshit.

[SkyChief]

For me, being atheist is like being in room full of folks who believe in gods and various miscellaneous spiritual beings. The two things they all have in common is that they find it difficult to tolerate others who don't believe in their particular flavor of religion. And they ALL hate atheist.  They believe atheists are minions of Satan or some such nonsense.

And I just want to scream out HOW CAN ALL OF YOU PEOPLE BE SO FOCKING DELUSIONAL?!!!!  But I don't. I suck it up.  I just smile and pretend that I'm one of them.

Ya,,. It's kinda like that.

[Mike Cl]

For me, being atheist is like being in room full of folks who believe in gods and various miscellaneous spiritual beings. The two things they all have in common is that they find it difficult to tolerate others who don't believe in their particular flavor of religion. And they ALL hate atheist.  They believe atheists are minions of Satan or some such nonsense.

And I just want to scream out HOW CAN ALL OF YOU PEOPLE BE SO FOCKING DELUSIONAL?!!!!  But I don't. I suck it up.  I just smile and pretend that I'm one of them.

Ya,,. It's kinda like that.

Yep--know that feeling. :))

[Givemeareason]

They believe atheists are minions of Satan or some such nonsense.

That's because when they see us in action we look like a bunch of hate spewing assholes.  Sometimes it's hard to see that we are kind considerate people as well.

[Mike Cl]

That's because when they see us in action we look like a bunch of hate spewing assholes.  Sometimes it's hard to see that we are kind considerate people as well.

Either you were looking in a mirror when you wrote that--or you are getting us mixed up with christians.  Or you are tripping over the 'they' in your head again (still).

[AllPurposeAtheist]

To me being an atheist is just like sitting in a chair on the front porch not giving a rats ass what anyone else thinks about it..

[Solitary]

I just walk around with my Mohawk and scare the crap out of the Christians wearing my punk T shirt with Rock N Roll rules on it. A 73 year old guy that has a Mohawk makes them either laugh or run and hide.  Solitary

[the_antithesis]

That's because when they see us in action we look like a bunch of hate spewing assholes.  Sometimes it's hard to see that we are kind considerate people as well.

The same can be said about christians. They are such dicks.

[Givemeareason]

To me being an atheist is just like sitting in a chair on the front porch not giving a rats ass what anyone else thinks about it..

Is it better to sit in smug complacency laughing at the world or is it better to jump in and make a complete fool of yourself as I often do? "I keep asking myself that. :-)

[Givemeareason]

The same can be said about christians. They are such dicks.

Yes, but who are the grown ups?

[Solitary]

Some people think they are grownup and mature when they are just arrogant old pricks.  :fU: Solitary