Is it time to come out of the closet?

[Discord]

I'm talking about all of the closet Atheist's out there.

I know that there are many more Atheists out there than are willing to openly admit it. I have known, and had many occasions in my life where I have felt pressured to do so myself, many people who "fake" being religious to avoid conflict, confrontation, and persecution. I have known many who have done so because of the family in which they belong. I have known many who live in deeply religious communities who fake being religious out of absolute fear of violence or retribution. Or on the job because of the environment at their employment.

It is a form of discrimination, it is social persecution. We have been demonized by the religious right. When is enough going to be enough? Just something for all the closet Atheists out there to think about. Its not easy, but it may be long overdue that we stand up and be counted. Demand respect, and demand our rights be protected.

Want someplace to come talk to others who share your views?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=263

Hope to see you all there.


edited to add link

[ClassWarrior]

1. I thought you were talking about my spring jacket.

The answer to that is a resounding YESSS!!!

NGU.

[sam sarrha]

2. I'm just in here because i am scared... ...

[Discord]

5. scared of? nt

[enki23]

3. some days, i'm so glad i went the science route...

believing in god in the biological sciences is considered pretty suspect, though few would actually call you out on it.

yeah, i know. it's a vast conspiracy, you lurking rightwinger morons. boo. now, back to your regularly scheduled prayer life. don't forget to enjoy modern medicine.

[Marnieworld]

8. "don't forget to enjoy modern medicine."

So true! This always bothers me. Whenever there is some big litter of kids, or someone pulls through a surgery or illness everyone is always thanking God and calling it a miracle. How bout thanking the doctors who saved your ass or all of the scientists who figured it all in the first place? Or thank the insurance company and everyone else paying their high premiums so you could have a "miracle"?

Bitter atheist :P
Marnie

[Discord]

11. a very good point indeed.

And most of us are nowadays. your def. not alone.

:)

[KittyWampus]

23. How About Thanking The Molecules In The Drugs That Kill The Bacteria

or the molecules in your body that rebuild broken bones?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

30. MY kid is alive and healthy thanks to SCIENCE!

The ob-gyn was smart enough to decide for a C-section when the baby was having difficulty coming out. Turns out the umbilical chord was making TWO turns around her neck!

I will be forever grateful to that doctor. Yes, to HER, that fallible HUMAN BEING, who saved my baby girl. Not some invisible, merit-stealing man in the sky.

[Beetwasher]

27. I've Yet to Meet A Religious Scientist

I work w/ a whole lot of scientists, my best friend is a microbiologist...Over the years, I've yet to meet a single one who was religious and I have met many who are openly atheist.

[megatherium]

43. you must be at a really good college.

I teach at a commuter school in fly-over land, and many of my colleagues are religious, including certain biologists.

But I must confess, I'm somewhat religious myself (I'm Episcopalian). Of course, if I were any good at what I do (mathematics), I would be at a good school. <laughing>

More seriously, there are religious biologists out there. A well-known Brown University biologist, Kenneth R. Miller, is Roman Catholic. He's written a fine book debunking intelligent design, Finding Darwin's God.

[Beetwasher]

48. I'm Actually In the Non-Profit Sector

I'm not at a University. I'm sure there are religious scientists, I just haven't really met any (that I know of)...:shrug:

Actually, there really is no reason why someone can't be religious/spiritual and still be a good scientist.

[Lone Pawn]

52. And, as an atheist, would that be the Non-Prophet Sector too?

:evilgrin:

[Beetwasher]

56. *groan*

Ba dump bump! ;-)

[whistle]

4. Closet agnostic here, but I do believe there is a God....

...I just can't prove it and I find it difficult to behave as though there is a living, loving, caring, all present, all knowing God always doing the very best for all living things.

As for the complete non-existence of God, I really find that concept too incredible to believe, unless of course everything in the universe is just a dream or imagined in which case who is dreaming and imagining it?

[Discord]

7. not a dream. its science.

I believe in the vast wonders of the universe itself. Which, to me, if far more beautiful and wonderous than any diety could ever be. Not to mention the samll detail that I can witness the wonders of the universe ever day. Doesn't require faith. Its provable.

[flamin lib]

6. I was once adamant about being accepted, but now it

doesn't seem to be all that important. Let them believe what they want as long as they don't hurt themselves or those around them.

Not to say I won't give back what I get when confronted. Want to see a fundie swallow his tongue? Ask them why the practice ritualized cannibalism on Sundays. Or refer to the Bible as a charming collection of Hebrew folk tales. Or tell them you lost your last imaginary friend when you were six.

[Discord]

10. well, the touble is, as long as it it percieved that we

have few in numbers, it disuades others from "coming out".

Theres alot more of us out here than any of us think.

People must be encouraged to stand up and speak out. The more that do that, the more likely that others who have been in hiding will come out as well. We all just need a little encouragement ya know.. lol

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[renaissanceguy]

12. Well said. If atheists and agnostics don't start

speaking louder, and if they don't start demanding THEIR rights to THEIR beliefs, then their rights to believe as they do will be taken away pretty soon.

Don't fall for the false political correctness the religious right tries to use. They want to do away with all free thinking and expression, and they're doing it by pretending that THEY are the persecuted ones.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.20383853

[Discord]

16. while you are correct in your views, without fighting

public perception, we come across as a large group of anti-religion loose cannons. We are all angry and frustrated, but we cannot fight unwinable fights. We simply need to battle public misconceptions about Atheism, and work to have general public repect and acceptance in our communities. We need and want our voices and concerns heard and understood, and we will simply never get that by attacking religion as opposed to defending Atheism.

[Discord]

13. Well, just so ya know... this is to unite Atheists who share

the same beliefs, not to simply oppose the rights of others to believe in whatever they wish. Now if some fundamentalist comes up and tries to recruit ya... then by all means... have at it.

But I would like to work with Liberal Religious people to stop the persecution and fight the demonization of Atheists. We might not agree with them, but we need their help as well.

[beam me up scottie]

14. This is why there really is no accurate

way to get a census of non-believers.
It's easy to wear another label just so that you don't become one of "them". I did it for years because I don't like confrontation. Now it's simply a matter of survival. Stand up and be counted. The reichwing needs to know we're a force and we will fight back when we hear something like this:

"I think people attack me because they are fearful that I will then say that you're not equally as patriotic if you're not a religious person," Mr. Bush said. "I've never said that. I've never acted like that. I think that's just the way it is. "

[Marnieworld]

20. Where is that quote from?

I've seen a quote of daddy Bush saying that atheists aren't citizens but I've never seen such a bold junior quote. I swear if I won the lottery I would just protest all of the time. Billboards. Ads in newspapers. Hand out fliers. Yell things at the White House. They make me so mad. In grammar and high school I studied this country's history. I felt accepted. Now I'm thinking of leaving because the country is changing and I am now considered unamerican by my president.

[beam me up scottie]

21. Washington Times, one of the reichwing's favorite rags.

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20050111-101004-3771r.htm

I'm with you on the protesting, if I could, I'd join Greenpeace and never look back. I still might...

[demnan]

15. It's very uncomfortable admitting you're an atheist

in "polite" society. Like admitting you have socialist ideals.

[Discord]

17. yes, it is true, but thats why eventually we all have to

just come out and face them head on. It will never change unless we all work together to make it change.

[Modem Butterfly]

18. Silence means approval, Silence = Death

[Discord]

31. A familiar but true paralell indeed.

:toast:

[YankeyMCC]

19. I think I've been out for some time now

But I'll stand and be counted here.

I recently lead a book discussion on "God's Politics" it was a great discussion. (I was very glad to have read the book)

Yet the focus was on welcoming religious discussion and language into politics. And that seemed to lead to the idea that "religious people are somehow discriminated against". I agreed that we should not keep people from talking about where they get their values. But when I reminded people that even among dems it is atheists who are forced into the closet there was silence.

For all the talk about the reluctance to accept religious people in the Dem party it is unlikely a candidate will cause themselves political damage to walk into a church but it is political suicide to associate with atheists.

What does harm is a candidate being disingenuous about his or her values regardless of the religious or non-religious roots.

It will harm a candidate if he pretends at being religious but it will kill his or her career to admit to being an atheist.

[onager]

24. Another one here...

I'm "out" to everybody I work with. One of my bosses is a near-Fundie type, though not obnoxious. Whenever he compliments me on work, I tell him it's "my atheist work ethic."

[arewenotdemo]

54. "Atheist work ethic". I like the sound of that.

[KittyWampus]

22. There's A DU Forum Built Especially For You & This Discussion

just so you know.


Edit to include link in case anyone wants to investigate/participate in the discussions there:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=263

[beam me up scottie]

32. Are we not allowed to post in gd now?

His thread was asking for closet ags and aths to come out into the open and was not directed toward those of us already out, just so YOU know.

But thanks for playing.

[KittyWampus]

34. What The Fuck Is Your Problem? I Posted The Info In Case People Were

interested. Damn. Chip on shoulder much?

[Discord]

36. I had to re-read your post. I was about to post something

similar. Just the wording on your post comes across as supressive, assuming thats not what you intended correct?

[beam me up scottie]

38. Little peckish today?

your post "What The F*ck Is Your Problem?" shows it's not me that's got a problem.

[Modem Butterfly]

41. Prickish perhaps?

I thought the original post was a not-so-subtle encouragement to shut up about it.

[beam me up scottie]

44. That was my take.

I applaud Discord for his effort, I'm just in no mood for this crap after last night.
yeesh

[beam me up scottie]

45. It is a damn good example of what we have to put up with

when we dare to stray out of our cave.
:evilgrin:
mission accomplished?

[Discord]

35. and already linked to our forum in the op nt

[beam me up scottie]

40. We're supposed to read the whole thing?

The word atheist has that effect on some people.

[Bouncy Ball]

25. I honestly do wish more atheists would be out and open about it.

I think it would be great. Fundies kind of think they run things right now and it would give them a better idea of how things really are.

[Beetwasher]

26. I've Always Been Open About My Atheism

Never had a problem w/ it, but then again, I live in NYC and I can also be quite intimidating when I want to be, so I doubt anyone would give me any shit anyway. :evilgrin:

[Longhorn]

28. I've never been in the closet about being an atheist

but I rarely get into discussions about it. It's usually a waste of time. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind and no one is going to change my mind so I'd rather just agree to disagree, unless it's an issue of rights.

[Discord]

33. thats the problem, it is now affecting our rights,

religion has crept its way into politics. financing RW religious agendas. the push towards theocracy.

We never thought we'd have rigged elections, attacks on our soil, invade a soverign nation on a campaign built on lies murdering 100,000+ Iraqi in the process, exploitation of private family matters for religious political agenda, blatant overstepping of states rights, endorsing violence against judges, slews of uninvestigated ethical scandals, and violations of the seperation of church and state... but it all happened didn't it. Now they are proposing the CRA, which would define us as a christian nation. when do you think its time to stand up and defend our rights and the rights of millions of others?

[tinonedown]

29. Out of the closet?

Have you seen the threads here whenever Christianity is a topic? We need a Christian coming out party at DU.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

39. i think the op is talking about coming out in "real life"

not about coming out as an atheist on DU.

[beyurslf]

37. Atheist here, but I am "out." I rather enjoy it when someone makes some

comment just assuming you are a Christian (like Happy Easter) and I get to say, "I don't celebrate Easter. I'm not a Christian." They of course look perplexed and have to ask what I am then (and they mean what kind of godless heathen are you). And when I say athiest, the look is just classic. It warms the darkened pit I must have for a soul :)

[Discord]

42. It is just unfathomable by some people.

They just don't know any other world BUT that one. Conversely, most Atheists were religious at some point in their early years.

We've been on both sides of the table, I can't recall meeting too many Atheists who converted to religion, well, not truthfully anyways. Some decide to play along because its easier, but don't think in their heart they actually ever believe it.

[beyurslf]

49. Exactly. And most other atheists I know are well versed in many religions

Most Christians don't know jack shit about anything but Christianity (and most don't know much about that one either!)

[fshrink]

46. Since exchanges invariably

turn to mystical elucubrations anywhere else, that's where I went. Waiting for better tomorrows.

[Discord]

47. we can keep hoping.

I hope that its sooner rather than later... or worse.. too late.

[Ladyhawk]

50. I'm an out-of-the-closet atheist.

Imagine how well that went over in my fundy family. :)

[beam me up scottie]

53. Details, please...

Have they recovered? Do you think they'll try to re-brainwash you?

[Ladyhawk]

55. Of course they haven't recovered and of course they've tried to

...re-brainwash me. :) Why, just last year I was "demon-possessed." And shortly after I cut off relations, my mother tried to have me committed to a mental institution. :) Wheeeeeeee! What fun!

[beam me up scottie]

57. You know, I think I remember you posting that

in another thread.
It's too bad that your parents don't treasure your love as much as they seem to treasure your soul.

You seem to have kept your sense of humor, we definitely need it to stay sane.

:toast:

[nolabels]

51. How about a "Keep your religion out of my civil rights" coming out party?

Gads, why don't these fundies ever study history anyway?

Happily married in the CASINO of our chosing

http://www.riversideresort.com/