be a happy and proud atheist

Gives me panic attacks. So I’ve found.

I was watching my fiance’s brother and sister (10 and 8 respectively) today. They kept bringing up the topic of God and Jesus and Bible stories, etc. Sometimes they would ask my opinion. I didn’t know how to respond. Mainly I just tried to change the subject. It seemed to work, but it gave me great anxiety and inner conflict.

I don’t want to lie to them. But explaining my own beliefs would just open up a can of worms that I would rather not open at this point. I don’t like worms. And I respect their parents’ influence and religious teachings to their own children.

*sigh. How am I ever going to handle children of my own? And their friends of faith?

One of the most important things that someone can do, in my opinion, is take the step past the murky “agnosticism” and accept a life without the need of a spiritual crutch.

I have been an athiest all my life, and am damn proud.

It makes me so fucking irate when people are so sad that you’re an atheist.

When you tell your mom you want a SECULAR wedding. Not an “atheist” wedding. Just a secular ceremony, in the outdoors with a JOP. And all she has to say is “[Tisk] Ohh, sis, you don’t mean that.”

YES MOM. I MEAN IT.

@#$%!!!!!

I think this goal will be complete when I put together a smashing secular ceremony for my fiance and myself. We are both atheists with partcularly religious families. Luckily the wedding will not be for a couple more years, so we have time to plan everything.

Has anyone out there ever had/been to a secular ceremony that could give some advice?

I am making the second highest grade in my “Intro to World Religions” class. Not that it’s a hard class or anything, but I am very happy for this.

At the beginning of the semester my professor was discussing a paper we have to write where we compare the writings and teachings of a “world” religion to our own beliefs. He then said jokingly “I assume there are no atheists in the class”.

I knew I caught him off guard when I shyly raised my hand and shook my head, because he said quickly, not thinking, “Well, you can discuss your parents beliefs or the beliefs you grew up with if you want.”

Yeah. So I’m just glad that he knows that I know my stuff. It will make the paper writing/grading etc. go alot smoother.

Asi son las cosas…
No importa demasiado si puedes creerlo o no, en el fondo, sabes que es cierto.

I want to either wear it like a badge on my sleeve, or treat it like it’s no big thing. Or both at once! And I don’t want to be scared or ashamed that people might treat me different or not like me anymore (which is usually not even the case, so I hear). I want my parents to accept it too.