I grew up in Alabama, so I guess I'm an Alabohemian by nurture.
In my 20's (I still hadn't immigrated to the United States from Alabama) I made it clear I didn't believe their bullshit.
I spent the last three years there utterly alone over it.
It was worth it, the only thing worse than being alone is having a bunch of nosy opinionated Christians fucking with you all the time.

Hello and welcome, enjoy the site.
Remember, that you are under no obligation to tell anyone about your atheism. It is your own private inner state, which is no one else's business, unless you care to make it so. You can even go to church and sing along if you wish, as an atheist you must know that it is meaningless.

If you do choose to tell people, then you will discover, perhaps, that you may lose a few friends, but they were not good friends anyway. It will be the best which stay. And remember there is an ever growing atheist community, where it is not hard to find honest friends.

Welcome to the asylum. Enjoy your stay.

I live in southern Georgia. Definitely part of the bible belt.
I'm out, and I haven't lost any family or friends.
At least none that I've noticed.

You are the only one who can decide what is best for you.

Why would you want to tell everyone ? I don't but if i'm asked, i'd tell them without any reservations at all.. Live your true life...

I’ve found that simply behaving as an atheist speaks as loud, and often better than words. Skip church, skip a couple words in the pledge of allegiance, work on Sundays, vote Democratic, don’t say ‘grace’ … yet be the friend and family member all can count on.. Let them make the choice to respect you, or lose you ~

You will, and why do you feel a need to tell if you are going to be persecuted? Just do your own thing and if anyone asks say you are an agnostic. That you belong to the church of agnosticism, as most of them are very uneducated they will not understand but believe that it is some kind of church.

...if that happens (lose friends), were they really your friends? Real friends won't judge you. They have a cult if they're going to judge you for not praying to make-belief gods.

No great loss in the long run...

The friends that really have your back will stay. The family members who really love you, it won't matter to them.

You may be surprised to find that some of your family and friends have the same reservations that you have. By coming "out" you will find new friends just as we all here have, but most of all the inner feeling of freedom you will attain is unmeasurable.

I knew I was an atheist in my teens and said so to anyone who asked by my 20’s. Lost people in my life, but I can’t change and I guess they couldn’t either.

When I first made the decision that I was an Atheist, I kept it to myself mostly, but if people asked me what church I go to, (that's big down here in Texas) I would tell them I don't belong to any church because I am questioning my belief in a god. It usually went a little smoother because then they think in their mind, that you will come around and find that you do believe. That is their assumption and I let them have it. If they kept asking, I just said I was still thinking about it. You don't have to be an open book with anyone. It's not their right to know your personal beliefs. Do what works for you and don't worry about it. Those who are true friends won't judge you, and it's the same with family.

Anyone who would disown you for something you can't control wouldn't be a loss to lose. Fuck 'em.

Perhaps you will loose some or many friends, but you will gain an excellent friend, and in many respects, the best friend that you will ever have: an honest and self respecting YOU.

First, I never just tell anyone. If asked, then I am honest.
Second, a real friend will not care. Someone who is not your friend will have a problem. Better off without those people.

Only because she kept trying to "sell" me god, did I reveal to my Sister, what I thought about god things. Though we still express love to one another, our communications have lessened, and there is a wider gap between us - especially with her three grown, super holy kids and their families. I can live with that.

As for friends - if they can't handle my truth and still be my friend, then no great loss, as I see it.

I live on the Missouri Arkansas border. I revealed I was an atheist before Jr high. The friends or family that didn't like it weren't worth my time. You'll learn that in time. Religion is toxic and getting toxic things out of your life is a good thing

You will lose friends and family if you do. That much is a given. Now let's examine the desire to tell others you are atheist. Why would you want to do that? It's not a good idea if you work for believers and it's not good to brag about your beliefs. I work for a corporation of believers and when religion comes up I state that earlier in my life I studied for the ministry as a Pentecostal but today I do not even go to church. If someone adds to that and makes up what they thought I said, I stop them. I get away with this because I work with a bunch of believers that also no longer go to church. We are all back to a common ground without any argument and I keep my job.

Welcome and good luck to you.

All the best, i hope that if you do admit your lack of faith the best people stay with you

I advise caution. Only reveal to those that have no control over you. Coming out at the workplace is a bad idea if you have levels of supervision above you.

Atheists are gaining in numbers, but the level of hatred is still thermonuclear. Quite a few of true believers can't handle exposure to the subject. Maybe rightly so, they view atheism as a repudiation of their beliefs. They are like Muslims seeing someone with a Muhammad cartoon. Be careful.

Please kindly make yourself known, it is better to tell the truth than keep deceiving one's self.

family i can't say. friends, not if they're REAL friends. but i understand.

g

If they do not want to be your friend or have you in their family because you are being honest with yourself, then they were never your family and friends to start with, they were simply users and scumbags.

Make some atheists friends and family first. Build a support structure.
Pick a place where your job is secure from that sort of prejudice. Public Univeristies are pretty good.
Also there are many many Christians tupically in big cities who have no problem with atheists. Some of them are nonreligious and call themselves christian out of respect for their family.
If you can move to a big city and find your local atheist or secular meetups that eould be a great first step.

Suppose it is like whether you have an innie or an outie, it’s really nobody’s business, but eventually, some one will ask. You get to choose how and when to share...