How would you convince a closet atheist to "come out"?
1
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7 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.The only way is to just be "out there" oneself. Even many YT atheist channels use 'avatars' for many reasons; careers, locality, privacy issues, etc. I have a collection of "Atheist" t-shirts that I wear regularly (along w/ my "Atheist Atom" tat on my right forearm) that I wear to both let my "freak flag" fly & maybe start a conversation. But, every individual has to assess their own situation, just as in anything else, such as homosexuality. "Outting" someone is never cool, it has to be a personal decision.
phxbillcee
Level 10
Nov 24, 2018
0
oh no...definitely, outing someone is wrong, in all senses of the word. But if one were struggling with the apparent consequences from friends/family/co-workers, and they happen to come to you for advice, how would you talk to them about it?
@Twisted185 I would explain that to me, a very "out there" individual, being visible but still genial, helpful & kind, am a real human being & a real person, & if you have the personality to pull it off, go for it! It's liberating & exhilarating! If not, baby steps. I have always taken life in big bites, & have "suffered" for it at times (prison, hospitalization, being my family's black sheep), but I have lived life as fully as I could. Moderation is for monks, as Heinlein said, take big bites!
Don’t...just let him reveal it to others himself when it feels right.
Marionville
Level 10
Nov 24, 2018
2
i wouldn't. i don't know everyone's circumstance. what if it was nazi germany? would you encourage a jew to come out and be killed? there are still places in the united states where it is not safe not to be openly and loudly christian, much less to be an atheist. it is not my decision whether someone else comes out of the atheist closet. there is strength in numbers but people need to be physically safe.
g
genessa
Level 8
Nov 24, 2018
1
all right.
g
On a questionnaire that is kept private? You'd think people would answer truthfully.
But some folks are very conscious of possible privacy invasion. And with good reason. People have been burned at the stake for differing beliefs.
Would I try to force someone to reveal something they weren't comfortable revealing yet? Never. That can be harmful.
RavenCT
Level 9
Nov 24, 2018
2
I wouldn't. They have to decide to do it on their own.
I can only offer acceptance and support.
KKGator
Level 9
Nov 24, 2018
4
@Sealybobo You cannot "turn" anyone into an atheist. Talking to someone about non-belief will not make them become an atheist. That's a decision they have to come to on their own.
Who you choose to tell is your call, you have your own reasons for sharing that information, or not.
I'm completely open about my atheism. I'm also not afraid of anyone's reaction to it. From where I'm standing, I don't give a flying rat's ass if they don't like it. I certainly don't respect their beliefs in things that do not exist.
I'm not going to let anyone disrespect me because I don't share their delusions. I don't have a problem saying so either.
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