Atheists & Agnostics

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57. " Atheists are very feared. . ."

Fri Oct 24, 2025, 08:22 AM

Yesterday

I will try to keep this story short. I was sitting on a bench in a small shopping center, looking a bit like Aunt Bea from Mayberry, (IYKYK) and a woman approached me. I learned that she was trying to get a ride from anybody in the shopping center who would agree to take her home.

When I heard this, I remarked, "Isn't that dangerous?!" Her immediate response was to draw herself up straight and declare, "I believe in God --"*, whereupon I cheerily chirped, "I don't!" As she hurried away, I sweetly called out that I would be happy to tell her about all the things wrong with the Bible.

Woman was willing to step into a car with a total stranger, but she couldn't get away from me quickly enough. It was hilarious.

* She was clearly marshalling herself to proselytize.

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Are You a Closeted Atheist, or an Open Atheist? I mean, do you fake it sometimes? [View all] NNadir Oct 5 OP

I am polite and respectful. My family is also. Srkdqltr Oct 5 #1

Out as an atheist. joshdawg Oct 5 #2

I certainly respect your view. I'm not there myself, but I respect it. NNadir Oct 5 #6

I say I'm not religious, I'm philosophical about my morals Nigrum Cattus Oct 5 #3

My family was also seriously catholic buzzycrumbhunger Oct 5 #4

"... the easter bunny left me a book with tarot cards in my basket..." CrispyQ Oct 5 #9

LOL at that last toon! Bayard Oct 5 #17

Darn... GiqueCee Yesterday #58

Yeah, I set my images to delete in 2 weeks, but here you go. CrispyQ Yesterday #61

THANKS! GiqueCee Yesterday #63

Wish I had the ovum to be a bitch. Collimator Oct 5 #10

I think being female adds another layer... buzzycrumbhunger Oct 5 #22

Standing up for yourself isn't "bitchy" IbogaProject Oct 6 #41

Over the course of my life every Atheist I have met BigmanPigman Oct 6 #45

In some certian circumstances i will show respect gay texan Oct 5 #5

I certainly am not "closeted" with complete strangers. I'll do it to avoid pain for people I love. NNadir Oct 5 #8

Yes..... gay texan Oct 5 #25

I used to work with a Sikh. The Madcap Yesterday #53

All of them were so very kind gay texan 19 hrs ago #64

I am pretty much where you are rurallib Oct 6 #40

exactly!! samnsara Yesterday #50

If you really want to get them fired up The Madcap Yesterday #51

Seems only other heathens would be aware that you didn't bow your head. CrispyQ Oct 5 #7

I do a fair amount of woodworking for churches. Woodwizard Oct 5 #11

"When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called a twodogsbarking Oct 5 #12

I like that locution. Hopefully you will not be offended if I steal it regularly. NNadir Oct 5 #13

Epicurean paradox is another zinger IbogaProject Oct 6 #42

I am out as an agnostic NewHendoLib Oct 5 #14

I feel safely out with professional colleagues, but very closeted with family. Religion strong on both sides of the tree eppur_se_muova Oct 5 #15

I suspect that Thomas Jefferson was an atheist. I also believe, although he clearly was changed by the Civil War... NNadir Oct 5 #19

with TFG... NewLarry Oct 5 #36

Closeted. I'm afraid if MAGA and the crappy fundies. AllyCat Oct 5 #16

I am an out Atheist. Eko Oct 5 #18

Closeted agnostic anciano Oct 5 #20

utterly out mike_c Oct 5 #21

Unapologetic atheist. no_hypocrisy Oct 5 #23

An interesting story. Your father could accept your atheism just so long as you weren't Muslim. NNadir Oct 5 #24

Oh, there's more. I "came out" to my mother. no_hypocrisy Oct 5 #26

I consider myself agnostic Skittles Oct 5 #27

That's pretty close to where I'm at. n/t. NNadir Oct 5 #31

I was closeted when my parents were alive. Girard442 Oct 5 #28

If they are obnoxious in my place, they cannot do what animals do. GreenWave Oct 5 #29

If ask I often say I'm a Red Letter Christian. multigraincracker Oct 5 #30

There is a blogger known as "Captain Cassidy". . . Collimator Yesterday #55

I openly admit I'm an Atheist LogDog75 Oct 5 #32

Out. sinkingfeeling Oct 5 #33

Open atheist. tblue37 Oct 5 #34

Closeted church musician atheist oberle Oct 5 #35

Every Christmas, my wife and I travel up to Bethlehem, PA for the Lehigh University Christmas Vespers. NNadir Oct 5 #37

I'm respectful to others, but... wysimdnwyg Oct 5 #38

Yep I don't seek it out but I will participate if I go IbogaProject Oct 6 #39

It's rather amazing that our experience is so similar. NNadir Oct 6 #44

I am out because I want to normalize non-believers Envirogal Oct 6 #43

" Atheists are very feared. . ." Collimator Yesterday #57

Proudly Open Faux pas Oct 7 #46

very much out Brainstormy Oct 10 #47

I am much more out now than I was 20 years ago. Cuthbert Allgood Monday #48

nope! There are folks I dont flaunt it in front of because I respect their beliefs... samnsara Thursday #49

Been 'open' since I was a teen... MiHale Yesterday #52

I don't flaunt it... buzzycrumbhunger Yesterday #54

I think that we don't proselytise with our atheism because we are not... NNadir Yesterday #56

I've always referred to myself... GiqueCee Yesterday #59

I've been an open (and sometimes loud) atheist since '75 -misanthroptimist Yesterday #60

I will tell people I'm a non-believer, but will be respectful of their rituals. sinkingfeeling Yesterday #62