There is a lady at work that I avoided for years because she is one of those "church-y ladies". Goes to church every Sunday, talks about how God has blessed her, invites people to her wonderful church, etc. I avoided her mostly because I figured a) we probably didn't have much in common, and b) once she found out I am Atheist she would think I was "unworthy" of being her friend.

One day we were put in a 'partner' situation where we spent most of the day working together. There were times when we could chat, and we did! She didn't even blink an eye when I told her I was an Atheist. In fact, she said, well I still think you are a good person. I told her, of course I'm a good person. You don't have to believe in god in order to have morals, standards and ethics. She nodded, and agreed with me. I was surprised. Then she asked me if I liked movies and would I like to go with her sometime when she went out because it's more fun to go with a friend.

I don't automatically discount Christians as friends anymore. I wouldn't say my friend is open-minded, exactly, but she is forthcoming and speaks her truth without expecting me to agree and she actually listens when I tell her MY truth.

Very few people know I am an Atheist, especially where I live because I gebuinely fear what these fundamentalist Baptists would do if they knew. I am already being harassed by the new ones across the road and they would only be worse if they knew. The wife is on a campaign to get me to move off my farm and sell out.

No, they only care about god and loving him.

I've been debating believers online since I got my first Internet account in 1999. I have encountered many who, if they were not interested in my viewpoint, were able to flawlessly fake it. You might keep in mind that many of us atheists used to be believers, and for most of us the only reason we stopped believing is that we were able to pay sincere attention to opposing viewpoints.

That's because they often see atheist as irredeemable, they think agnostic means being more convincable. Most theists I've talked to don't want to hear what I have to say and just like hearing themselves talk, especially when surrounded by others that share their beliefs. Perhaps they are conflating not actively believing in any deities with believing that there are none.

Come to think of it- no..

Mostly, they "listen" while formulating circular arguments. It isn't true interest in my thoughts as much as interest in converting my thinking to their brainwashed state.

There is a little variation within the Christian faith. The more fundamental become very angry at athiesm. My experience with the bible bashing door knocker has been varied. Mormons tend to view me as an iconoclastic anti-Christ but the Jehovas Witnesses tseem to take pity. Incidently I've noticed a pleasant change in the Jehovas. At the last encounter they didn't try to shove a Watch Tower on me a beat a hasty retreat. They had literature on community welfare and we had a pleasant discussion around those issues.

I have found that in the last few years many churches, especially charasmatic ones, have put forward the atheist (not satan worshippers as in the past) as the real enemy of god. I see reports daily about churches blaming atheist, gays or abortion for any trouble under the sun. I am an atheist and would not tell anyone I'm agnostic as that would be immoral. I do believe that most believers don't know what an agnostic believes and would be more willing to engage with you.

I have found the following reactions:

1. People are interested in how you believe such a weird thing like there is no god.
   Strange as it may seem this has happened a number of time when one christian introduces me to another christain and tells them (maybe as a warning) that I am an atheist.
2. Outraged that you dare imply that they are wrong and that god does not exist. Sometimes the outrage is replaced with surprise.
3. The ones that try and convert you

I think it's import that people know when you are not religious or atheist. Probably for the same reason religious people want you to know. If you want to know about christinity then you will find a openly christian person to talk to. It's the same with being an atheist. If people know you and see you are a good person but yet you are an atheist they will ask you about it and then you can tell them what they need to hear. You will never get someone away from religion unless they are ready to go.

As an atheist I do sell logic, reason and freedom from religion. This makes the religious correct in calling us their enemy...

I remember a conversation I has last year with one of the nicest people on earth, she happens to be very religious, perhaps due to the loss of her son some years ago. Anyway, we got to talking one day about churches here on the island, and I had to tell her that I'm atheist. She was visibly taken aback, and then admitted that she's so sheltered she doesn't think she's ever met an atheist. I know she's always thought of me as a nice person with good values, and that didn't change. In fact, she left a flower on my doorstep after that conversation. She's still one of the nicest people on earth. We didn't argue our difference in beliefs - it simply didn't matter.

I think some of it is out of fear...like you are a devil worshiper. I have one devout believer who has engaged in genuine curiosity.

I've not yet encountered a single open-minded white evangelical Christian. My United Methodist and Lutheran friends are liberal, and act like agnostics.

Most evangelicals I've met misunderstand agnosticism as an "I'm not sure" uncertainty that sounds to believers more like active interest and openness to their beliefs. By contrast, they misunderstand atheism as hatred of god and god followers, rebellion, possibly Satan-worship, baby-eating, etc., and therefore as much more a personal affront.

The irony is that I identify as an agnostic atheist so I could go either way. With most active theists who aren't total asshats, I would probably avoid the atheist point of view. I would talk about how there's no way to intersubjetively know that god does OR does not exist, because god is both poorly-defined and not examinable. Not about how I have personally rejected belief in god. Let them think I'm waffling if it makes them more comfortable.

I do have one friend that will actually listen out of curiosity till I finish my sentence, but he certainly doesn't consider its truth. Immediate rebuttal is all he does. But the conversations are entertaining...

No, but I found a lot of atheists that want to talk about religion 24/7, they just can't let it rest. Figure those odds.

I have - a few Christians and Muslims, more than a few Hindus and Sikhs and quite a lot of Jews

I Never tell religious people that i am a non believer .I see no point in doing so for the reasons you mentioned

No

When I tell people that I am an Existentialist then suddenly the have a rather confused look on thier faces.

No all they want to do is convince you that their skydaddy is real.

yes, 1.
She is 25 now, raised as a Joho.
She still goes on about being a christian, but she is no longer homophobic, and she visits often to ask questions about the world and is questioning her belief. Her partner of 4 years is an atheist as are all her friends, though her workmates are christian as of course is her family. Her father is a preacher or something.

I'm just not interested at all. I have more interesting things to talk about like paint drying.

I have had people offering me a bible, calling me ignorant....getting up from their seats and moved away from me....but no one -in their blessed ignorance- has shown any interest about atheism.

Never truly interested in what I have to say, just simply accepting of my position. Sometimes I notices an uneasiness following the shocking revelation, but most people around here are live and let live for the most part. Though I've seen my fair share of passive aggressiveness from them, and just throwing out offhand statements like how many atheists they seem to meet are "assholes". I don't get offended by the criticism of ideas, and I generally just tell them that no opinion or idead is outside the realm of scrutiny.

I have, but he became a non-believer shortly after our chat.
I suspect that chatting with me was reassurance to what he was already thinking, that he was already beginning to doubt what he had been told.

There have been a few others that have asked a few questions, but they were mostly so that they could argue, not actually discuss anything in a civilized manner.