I hear you, it really is stupidity, that they go around spreading their "godawful...oops spelling....gospal" mumbo jumbo and we're too offensive to them for saying that we are atheists.

It has nothing to do with "being a sane, forward thinking, intelligent, scientific-thinking woman." It has a LOT do do with being in a powerless position among ardent Xtians! It took YEARS for me to find the courage to ''come out''...and that happened at the time so many of our gay friends were standing up and acknowledging their true natures. Now, I'm at an age/experience level that it's no longer scary to '' come out'' myself. BUT...I can recall many years of fear of losing my job, losing a certain standard of respect, etc.

Sorry you have to work in that environment!

History shows clearly that anyone who was NOT a believer (Faithfool) or even thought to NOT be a believer was usually 'rounded up' and condemned as either a Witch, Heretic, etc, etc, tortured and then 'purified' by fire, etc.
All of this done in 'the name of their Invisible and Imaginary God' by those so-called, loving, caring Faihtfools and under the direct permission of the Churches.
So I suppose that such fears are still harboured by many to this day BUT times they are a-changing people, slow as the change may be but they are changing and WE can come out of the closet now, stand tall and proud, look the Faithfools squarely in their eyes and know that they are becoming toothless tigers at last.

Never an issue for me.

It’s just not an appropriate subject for work. If you have a modicum of wisdom then you would not talk about politics or religion at work. This is common sense to me.

I’m sure I work with people that are religious & not religious. I would not know because people don’t talk about it. I do the same. I’m not hiding anything. If someone were to ask, I’d have no problem answering.

Who's hiding? If I were any more open about my atheism, I'd have it printed on my head.

But you're right. Atheists and those of us who have a clear, open attitude on religion, namely, totally rejecting and criticizing it, should boldly state it. That is what is happening now more and more. Sadly, there are equivocators who are half baked in their non religious view, half apologize for it, still have a yen for religion, and can't quite find the confidence to stand up clearly against religion. I'm hoping that will change.

I just never make an issue out of it, like my vegetarianism. They eat they eat, I eat what I eat.
Same thing.
If they say something like, "Have a blessed day," I say, "Thanks."
If they, "Jesus loves you," as if expecting me to reply in kind, as if to return the 'secret handshake,' I might say, "That'd be nice."
If they pursue it (rare) and insist, "You don't think so?" I might rejoin, "Well, it'd nice, right? That's what I said." And laugh.
I just don't engage.
If you want to, go ahead.

I simply prefer to not discuss/hear about your religious views, I was raised in a time when politics & religion were off-limits, as common courtesy.

It has nothing to do with being ashamed of how I think - it is about not needing to share it. It's not my place to tell people that I disagree with their faith nor do I feel the need to wear a t-shirt that advertises my lack of faith into a convenience store where the owner might be a person of faith. I am not here to be a teacher - I'm here to live my life as best as I can. You insulted people of faith twice - there's no need to do that. Live your life and let them live theirs - if you can't get that and if you feel the need to insult them at every turn - you're not any different than those on that side that seek to dismiss and minimize.

Identification protects our expectations that someone abides by the simplest of social order rules for a local community. We choose the community of context based on the social situation. Insecurity makes us choose smaller and smaller groups in which we identify in order to find a happy median. When you make people feel uncomfortable about their religious beliefs, even by your mere presence, you automatically kick their insecurity into gear and get the associated limbic system backlash including irrational fears and lack of use of the PFC. It's pretty complex and is really only overcome by education and/through experience.

I believe that most are suggesting that it is a bad idea to poke the crazy people with a stick because they have a tendency to act out in the most deplorable ways. I poke them anyway, sometimes just for fun but mostly to try and jar the ones that aren't too far gone into their delusional world of an imaginary that will make everything right for them while causing eternal pain and suffering to everyone else. Sometimes it seems to work and sometimes it doesn't but it does tend to keep most of the more annoying delusional types at bay.

The christians are the ones that should feel ashamed.

Why bother to respond? Perhaps your colleague was being factious, perhaps she wasn’t, either way, unless you make light of it you’re making the proverbial rod for your own back.

I agree. I never use to tell anyone I was an atheist for fear of how they would treat my children. No one knew except family and close friends.
Now my kids are older and I don't hide it any where, not at their school, doctors offices, general public or work.
I encourage everyone who feels they can to let it be known. To come out of the proverbial closet.
Most of America think we are green eyed, deviled horned monsters.
The more we can show we are their mailmen, teachers cops, doctors,store clerks, construction workers and such the less they can believe we are monsters.

The majority of the mentally ill do not like "others" that can not be classified. They are an outlier that the insane see as a threat and they will actively target.

I don't like it, I've lived with it my whole life. And when you are honest as many others based on sexual identity, sexual preference, and or sky god faith. The majority are brainwashed to see you as a threat no matter the quality of your character or the good deeds you may accomplish.

We shouldn't hide that aspect. When the topic comes up in context I declare myself to be a 'Devout Agnostic'. Adding 'devout' seems to change the way that the message is received and parsed rarely unfavorably, possibly because the label mirrors the jargon that the diests embrace and identify with.

I don't hide it. I've told people at work. My mom now understands that I don't do Easter. I haven't had any negative response from anyone yet.

I don't think it is okay. In fact, I tell people all the tme. If they insist on trusting their beliefs on me I feel it opens the door to allow me to share mine. Of course only when it suits me as I don't always feel like having the ensuing discussion.

I don't think it is okay. In fact, I tell people all the tme. If they insist on trusting their beliefs on me I feel it opens the door to allow me to share mine. Of course only when it suits me as I don't always feel like having the ensuing discussion.

Having lost dozens of jobs during my public life as an American Atheists leader I have encouraged workers to keep a diary and wear a tape recorder to preserve workplace religious bigotry that leads to wrongful discharge and failure to promote/win salary increases....it's always a risk to suffer retaliation from bigots who are simply told religion is wrong and Atheism is true

who is doing this expecting? i never hide who i am. i never have.

g

I usually say nothing!

I pity them for having to fall back on religion to have morals or ethics!

Weak minds breed weak hurtful enemies out of the fear they are so wrapped up into!!!

Welcome to 'merca, a christian nation. LOL.