My sister is an evangelical (luckily not a Trump supporter), and so is my best friend. They both are well aware of my atheism.

We handle it by not talking about religion. When religion does come up (usually my sister), I tell my opinion. Then the inevitable "but the bible says so" b/s come up I just remind them I don't believe in the bible.

I've never had an issue doing that.

First of all, do you need your family help? Are you prepared in your family not wanting anything to do with you after you come out?

Sometimes, it angers me when my mom sends me religious messages. For example, yesterday, she told me, “God woke me up this morning.” I told her “No one woke me up this morning!”

With responses like that, in their mind, they will fell you are “backsliding,” but there have been times where I got so mad that I will tell her I don’t believe in it.

If you are getting frustrated, “I’m assuming it will get to the point where you do the same.”

I mock the religious in a fun way and it works for me.

I live 400 miles away from my nearest family. It is a mixed blessing.

I had one date with a man and when I told him I was an
atheist he said: You can't be, you're such a nice person! I vowed then and there to tell everyone I am a non-believer to let them know Atheists don't have horns!

Just rip the band-aid off in one swift motion. Then he prepared to stand firm in the face of all kinds of bullshit from then on.

No reason to hide it. From a personal perspective, it is much less annoying be asked about not believing than assuming I believe. After a while, they will stop trying to convert you. I do not argue, per se, I simply explain I do not believe that line of thinking and based upon their response, I reciprocate accordingly. If they become an ass about the subject, I excuse myself. Absolutely pointless attempting to change someone's mind.

I know what you mean. We had some close friends whom we met in the 70’s at church (when we use to go) . We grew apart. I became so sceptical I stopped going. My wife lingered on so longer. Every time we got together since they talked referring to Jesus sprinkled through the conversation. I was sick of it. Meal times were preceded with lengthy well thought out prayers to the Lord and a circle of hands. I felt like a hypocrite. Finally a couple years ago upon meeting them I blurted out that I was an atheist. It was rather out of the blue but it was always on my mind and I had to get it out of the way. There was almost an audible gasp between the two of them and I haven’t heard from either since.

Good luck. I’m only talking to one relative anymore, and they are less religious than some. The mindset does make them afraid of nonbelievers. The struggle is real, but life is better without all of that junk.

I, for one, have not loudly trumpeted my atheism to my friends, or family. On the other hand, I have commented that I do not believe in magic, to a friend who was once almost a nun. She is the wife of an old friend, and, in fact they were here for the recent New Year celebration.
How you come out may be calibrated to the intensity of your family members', and friends' beliefs and you have to expect some push-back. I think it is best not to respond that their perspective is bull shit, but that it does not work for you, that the bible is self-contradictory, and so on, and that we need to allow one another's beliefs to be accepted, yours included.
The issue has come up, around various religious holidays, and I mention that I do not participate in any religious activities.
One does not have to beat one's friends over the head with ones stance, nor sneer at their beliefs, is my stance.
You might consider a respectful negative comment about some church's outdoor sign, when with someone to whom you want to come out. One does not have to have a "reveal" party, but can let it slip out.

Honestly, I push the Satanist angle, just to piss them off. I'm a metalhead, and already lean heavily goth in my street clothes...so I like to slap a baphomet or a pentagram here and there, just to make them uncomfortable.

Used to annoy me, then I realized brainwashing is tough to overcome much less to reason with, thus I decided not to give a crap. They know I don't believe in any god or any religion but I did not come out or confront anyone, if they ask me I tell them I don't believe in any god or any religion, usually they ask you why? My response is always the same: none of your business. If they insist, I just look at them and ask: Really? What part of none of your business was difficult for you to understand? After that they stop.

Bearing false witness is a biggie, one of the top 10. It is right up there with killing, coveting your neighbors (or his wives) ass, and way above being gay.
So being truthful with your relatives, is exactly what their imaginary friend would want you to do.

I have got family and friends that are not religious and they do get on my nerves from time to time, just as I am sure I get on theirs.

My wife of 56 years is a Christian and she says she prays for me every day because she doesn't want to be in heaven without me. I attend church with her weekly but I never say a word. My Sunday school teacher knows I am an agnostic. All my relatives know I am agnostic along with some of my friends. I don't go around advertising my beliefs, but if asked I will tell the truth. I live in the Bible belt. I would like to start my own Freethinkers Society, and I might. People will get used to you after you come out but it takes a while. I have had family tell me they hope I go to hell, but they get over it. Try not to lose your temper and let what they say go. Don't take it too seriously.

The thing to remember is that belief in a religion that can be proven false is cheating yourself and is self defeating to your personal human growth.

Depends on the size town you live in. If you live in a larger city, you'll be fine after coming out. If you live in a small town, it'll cost you.

Why hide your atheism? No need to be militant about it but if asked say something like;"I find religion to be something akin to massive Stockholm's syndrome, everyone captive to a belief system easier to accept than critically engage eventually lowering the bar of public discourse." The rest of the meal should be fairly silent while the look up Stockholm's syndrome and the other big words.

My friends, co-workers and family know. I let it be known if the subject of religion comes up...another subject that brings my atheism to light is death because of others beliefs of eternal life, heaven, hell or a soul.

One of my best friends was catholic (died from cancer) he knew I was atheist and it did not bother him we had a live and let live policy. We focused on all of the other similarities we had. Please note he was not a go to church every Sunday catholic. When his father died and I went to the funeral sitting at the back as I did not know his father very well he told me I could move further forward that I would not go up in flames. I joked back that I was more worried about the church going up in flames. At the end of the service he came up to me and as we hugged he told me that I had survived, he was glad there were no lightning bolts to distract from his father's service. Once when I said "oh my god" near him he pointed out that I could not say that if I did not believe in a god. I forget how the rest of the conversation went but it ended up with him becoming my own personal god to the point that was how I stored his phone number in my phone. If I used the word god around him he replied with a "Yes my child?" Depending on the people maybe using humour could help. I know with a friend (who does get on my nerves) I walk away she does not have a well developed sense of humour and gets offended easily. There are some people I work with that we just do not mention it as we are pretty much diametrically opposed. But as I understand it in America the people tend to be more militant about believing. Good luck with it.

All my friends know iam an Atheist. We often argue about religion.

I tell all my friends. If we are really friends, we will still be friends after they know. Hard to say with family. I let most of my family know, except for a select few that I know for a fact won't take it well. I don't pretend to act religious in front of them, I just deny church offers and don't bring it up

How do they get on your nerves, unless you allow them ?

I'd rather cut off my hand than engage my handyman Christian contractor in a debate over the existence of god!
He'd probably end up storming off mid-project!
No thanks!
(That goes for every Christian I know.)