An example of something you might say would be “I know that the rest of the family is religious, but I simply do not believe the same things. ”
For example, you might start by asking your uncle “Why is that you never go to church with everyone else?” Keep in mind that it may not mean he is atheist at all, but you can now steer the conversation in that direction by saying something like “Church is awkward for me because I am atheist. ” If you have a friend or family member that is openly atheist, it might be a good idea to have a conversation with them about how they came out.
Saying something like “I need to talk to you about something, and I wanted you to hear it from me,” is a good way to start this conversation with a loved one. Naturally, they will ask what it is, and you can continue with “I am an atheist. ” Failing to tell those closest to you may alienate them. The task of telling them you are atheist can be challenging enough without added tension.
A good time and place to discuss this might be at a family dinner. On the contrary, it may be a bad idea to bring it up at your parent’s workplace, or even worse, in their church.
Try saying things like “I personally do not believe that God is real,” in place of things like “Believing in God is absolutely absurd. There is no proof!”
Saying something such as “I am not religious and prefer not to discuss religion,” is a good way to end the conversation most of the time. Keep in mind that some people will still continue to ask you questions, and you can still insist that you would prefer to talk about something else.
If you are asked what religion you observe during a job interview, you can easily redirect the question with something like “I do not feel like my spirituality is relevant to this interview. ”
Remember that employers (and future employers) will have access to the information you share. If you fear that being openly atheist will damage your career, be careful about social media.
If the conversation does come up in an uncomfortable way, it is usually best not to argue or debate with religious co-workers. Instead, say something like “If you’d like to discuss atheism more, we can have coffee sometime, but I am pretty busy right now. ”
For example, if someone says “Bless you,” after you sneeze, this is no reason to go on a rant about how you are an atheist and do not believe that there is a God to bless anyone. A simple “Thank you,” will do. If an acquaintance is genuinely interested in your views, it is okay to discuss them. Just make sure to keep the conversation respectful on both ends.
Once you are ready to end judgemental relationships, simply say something like “I have a right to live my life as I see fit, and I will no longer allow other people to decide what I believe or how I portray myself. ” Keep calm and do not fight or argue with the person. Say what you need to say and don’t go back into that relationship.
It is nice to have a support system of other atheists, but you can also rely on the support of your open minded friends and family.
You can respectfully leave any conversation that makes you uncomfortable by saying something like “Excuse me, I think I should be going now. ” If someone is not respecting you, it is best to get out of the situation rather than engage in an argument about spirituality.
