I came out to my family as an atheist

In the 2008 year I came out to my family as an atheist. I agree with some atheist homosexuals I know that coming out as an atheist can be more taboo in some families than finding out one’s son or daughter is gay. Perhaps it means that people truly understand that a person is unable to alter their sexual preference, unlike one’s religious or non religious standing.

It did not help my family to console them with the notion that they to a certain extent are just as atheist as I am; I just take it one god further. As in most families, news such as this spreads like wildfire. I was fairly certain that every one of my extended family members knew I was openly non-theistic by the time a family wedding took place. My partner and I flew back home for the event, so our arrival was packed with family and friend visits.

To my astonishment, many people who would never wish to open their mouth and let the word religion spill out of it, approached me with religious questions or topics on atheism. 5 family members of mine and 1 family member of my partner engaged in discussion with me on the topic of atheism. 3 friends also spoke in length about religion and atheism. Although, I may have instigated the conversation of a one or two of those. I was pleasantly surprised by the whole visit. At the family wedding I was the atheist magnet, ushering out questions from family whom I suspected were not on the religion merry-go-round, but have not yet made the move to “come out”.

I can only encourage those who have not let it known how they stand to friends and family to be the voice of reason. If you can defend your position, can defend your worldview and competently debate claims of sky-gods, you will be a vital resource to others who might not yet have the knowledge or courage to be a lighthouse for others in your circles of friends and family. You might be as pleasantly surprised as i was that weekend. Your odds are growing just as fast as the percentage of non-religious Americans increases (8% in 1999 to 16% in 2008). At that rate, we might catch up to Europe’s 48% non-religious sooner than you know!