So I'm an atheist and I'm going to be in hight school this year. So my problem is that I'm surrounded by people who think being an atheist is the absolute worst thing imaginable. Let me just first say that I respect all religion and don't discriminate against anyone. Unfortunately, they don't have the same opinion about me.
For example, I had this friend, whose name I won't mention, anyways she's a very religious Catholic and one day in class a few of us were talking and religion became the subject. So I was asked, and when I said I was an atheist she was absolutely shocked and horrified. She never really talked to me much after that.
I've anonymously asked some kids at school I know about their opinion on atheists on ask.fm. They all said how they thought it was horrifying and make the sick. This is my problem. I live in a community were nearly everybody goes to church regularly and think of atheists as scum. They all (like the friend mentioned before) won't likely want to hang out with me if they know about my religion.
Of course, not everybody is as..."dramatic" as some of those I've mentioned, but still...
Again I just want to say that I don't have any problem at all with religious people.
Answers & Comments
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The only way primitive religion exists today is through the child abuse of forcing it into very, very young children but thanks to better education and growing intellects so many teens are able to discover the truth, throw off the indoctrination and step into the real world!
So there are people who think we Atheists are horrible because we refuse to accept as fact something for which there is not one single tidbit of evidence. So what? Who cares? I became an Atheist 45 years ago and believe me, there are many Christians who will simply think you are wrong but won't think you are a horrible person and there are many out there who claim to be Christians or just don't ever mention it who have major doubts themselves. You certainly aren't alone. Most surveys now show nearly 10% of Americans are Atheists and as much as another 30% have major doubts but answer that they are Christian. And those percentages are higher in most other Democratic nations, in many MUCH higher. In any case, Atheism is on the increase, it's simply a slow transition. Few theists live the religious lives of those a century ago when Church was attended numerous time per week and people prayed multiple times per day. Few Americans live that type of religious life today.
Well there's no question here, but I presume you're just looking for advice or support?
To be honest, High school is bs in the sense that people try so hard to fit in. My suggestion is to find some sort of balance between being yourself and fitting in and making friends. Once you have a solid group of friends (this is inevitable. High schoolers are so "cliquey.") feel free to lay back a little and focus more on being yourself and less on fitting in.
I know what some people will think at this point, "no! Just be yourself, **** those people." It's NOT that easy. Your well-being partially depends on being yourself as well as fitting in with other people. Being a social outcast is detrimental to your well-being. This is why I go back to what I said earlier about finding a balance between being yourself and fitting in.
Once you get past high school, however, life gets much easier. You can focus more on being yourself without risking social relations.
Yeah, it sucks. Christians love to play the persecution card, but they are more often the ones doing the persecuting. I just listened to a podcast about atheist teenagers who experience the same thing you are experiencing. If you go to the link below and scroll down to "I'm an Atheist Teenager" posted in May 2012, I think it will help.
"So my problem is that I'm surrounded by people who think being an atheist is the absolute worst thing imaginable" -> That's not your problem, that's their problem. Learn their pitiful arguments then destroy them. Hell, you can even humiliate them further by insulting them, but ad hominems should be used after your successful refutation of their crap. Below is a list of all creatard arguments and their refutation plus some general information on logic.
Go pwn.
I'm an atheist in highschool too, but where I live, most people are pretty tolerant. There is the occasional insult from the really religious kids, but I don't really have too much to deal with. I'm sorry your situation is horrible. It sucks having to be a closet atheist.
Best you can do is try to explain your reasoning and ask them questions about their religion. Christians LOVE to answer questions about their religion, but if the question makes them stop and reflect (something they've probably never done before) then you might have an edge.
Here's a good list of questions:
http://thomasswan.hubpages.com/hub/40-Questions-to...
If you've ever been curious to know who asks you anonymous questions on ask.fm, you can find out by using this ask.fm anonymous finder. http://bit.ly/1rQmbra
It reveals the username of the anonymous on ask.fm!
You're very young and have chosen to be atheist. Why? Do you like negative attention, because you're going to get it. You make the choice, you live with the consequences.
Cool Story, "Bro"..
I'm sure the middle school kids will be impressed by this post..