Throw quotes from the bible at them. Tell them you're an athiest, if they believe in what the bible says, then they'll know "strangers" (non-Christians and argueably, hmosexuals) are more welcome than Christians in the eyes of God.
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Throw quotes from the bible at them. Tell them you're an athiest, if they believe in what the bible says, then they'll know "strangers" (non-Christians and argueably, hmosexuals) are more welcome than Christians in the eyes of God.
I agree with FlyingJesus - unless your freinds wear a crusifix around their neck, whip themselves and rape the bible, there is no point in bringing it up.
I don't really see how you are "lying" by being an aethiest... I mean if you don't believe in Christianity and don't want to follow it thats entirely up to you and is nothing to be ashamed of.
We are individuals and are freely allowed to believe what we wish - hence the huge variation and number of religions within our societies! When you were born your parents obviously wanted you to believe in Christianity, and therefore had you christened under that etc. However, you have no say over this and it is your responisibility as you get older and mature etc. to form your own personal opinions and viewpoints and decide on such matters yourself. Your parents can only do so much for you.
Personally I believe everyone is entitled to believe in any religion they wish. If you ask me, if you tell people your religion and it causes you to lose friends and stuff - then your really better off having they sort of people out your life. I don't really understand why someone wouldn't be your friend because of your religion. I am a christian but have many muslim, aethiest, hindu and many other religious friends.
The girlfriend thing is a bit different though as obviously if your with a Christian it would be awkward not to go to mass with her and whatever. However, theres no point stressing about that sort of thing just now. Just take life as it comes I say, and you'll see how it goes.
It's your decision what religion you follow, and the you part is definitely the key to it. Don't let others pressurise you.
However, I also agree with FlyingJesus that you do not need to publicy voice your opinions and beliefs. Perhaps if someone asks or something then just explain your viewpoints, but I don't see a need to go barging round telling people what you beleive in and stuff.
It's all your opinions though!
Don't listen to them they're just rednecks.
I've only been to Church a few times, with School, we don't really go as a family, I had my holy communion and all that so I'm still classed as a Christian but you don't need to go to Church every Sunday to be a good person. :P
I don't see why you're atheist, how could you not belive in God? How else would the Earth been made and humans. ;)
Some of you are making very good points about keeping your opinions to yourself etc. But some of you are missing what he's actually asked, he wants to be able to voice his opinions when asked, and not loose his friends in the process. In a society in which you live, it seems very hard to be truely ones self as so many social constraints are there so voicing an oppositional opinion to the social constraint can lead to negative reactions of your friends and family, the only thing I can really suggest at the time is just gradually bring your opinions out in the open, and as I said earlier, if your freinds aren't willing to accept your beliefs, they aren't true friends. Not sure what to do about your family :P
Also GearsOfWar, I like your question there :P and just in passing, many religious figures no longer believe that God created the earth, they now believe he more closely terraformed it (usually assosiated with God being a UFO (not saying he is for the purpose of this reply), and altered the plain of the planet to accomodate the natural create of life, after thus, he waiting until human evolution took a more independent stage before leaving to do what ever. So in a sense, he didn't create earth or man, he changed the planet to allow man to be born.