Hello

[Chimera]

Hey everyone, I'm Chimera. I'm from Washington, in the northwestern USA. I found this place through Google...I've been looking for a forum for like-minded individuals who might be able to offer insight and advice to some of the issues I'm facing personally as a closeted atheist living with evangelical Christian parents. I was a fundamentalist until about 2 years ago, when I returned from a missionary trip to India and began to seriously challenge and question the teachings and beliefs I was raised to accept. I've been hiding my personal convictions from my family (except for my sister, who also left the church) because my parents are adamantly anti-atheist/agnostic/any religion besides Christianity, and I don't know what might happen if I came out with the truth.

So anyway...sorry for the tome...haha. It'll be good to get to know you all.

- Chimera

[McQ]

Welcome, Chimera. You will find people who can relate to your issues very well here. Thanks for the introduction. You're in a tough situation, to be sure, but not impossible. Talk with the folks here and you might get some good ideas for living with it and how best to handle it.

I'm not in the same boat as you, as an adult atheist with no parents, but several here are.

[susangail]

Welcome Chimera!!

I'm going through what you are. I was a hardcore evangelical until about 5 months ago. For me, it was a minor mental breakdown that made me start questioning (but that's a different story...) Anyway, I had to tell my parents, and it's really awkward now, but like McQ said, not impossible. I know how it is to hide your opinions and beliefs. I'm pretty much a closeted atheist with one foot out. I can definitely relate to your situation as I'm sure others can as well. Take a look around. This is a really friendly and helpful forum.

Happy posting!

[Chimera]

This is so great. It really means a lot for me to be able to connect with people who know what I'm going through. I've been battling depression...well, for years, really, but more intensively for about a year. Every now and then I have an "episode" where I just freak out and kind of scare everyone, and my dad seems to be convinced I have demons or something. Every time I have another episode, my parents start really heavily pushing me into going back to church. I'm usually pretty successful at begging off or just skirting around the issue, but today I was practically dragged to a Bible study and church service by my parents. They acted like it was some kind of miraculous answer to prayer that I went, but the truth is I didn't feel like I had a choice.

On the way home, we passed another church with a readerboard outside that read, "One nation under God." My dad commented that he wished he could really say that, but he didn't feel it was true anymore because of the "atheists, agnostics, Muslims, and Hindus" who have "taken over" the country. I was able to keep my mouth shut rather than point out the obvious contradiction in his reasoning (that if there really were an all-powerful God, surely he wouldn't let a bunch of dissenters destroy His "hold" on the nation), but I got ticked when my mom added in her own belief that all non-Christians should just "move to a country where they can believe what they want." Without hesitation, I reminded her of the Constitutional guarantee of religious freedom for all. They both got quiet after that, and I fumed silently to myself over their ignorance and intolerance, and over the frustration that I can't tell them the truth, although I so dearly want to.

[curiosityandthecat]

Welcome!

I wondered how long it would be before someone showed up on the ROFLCOPTER!  

[susangail]

This is so great. It really means a lot for me to be able to connect with people who know what I'm going through. I've been battling depression...well, for years, really, but more intensively for about a year. Every now and then I have an "episode" where I just freak out and kind of scare everyone, and my dad seems to be convinced I have demons or something. Every time I have another episode, my parents start really heavily pushing me into going back to church. I'm usually pretty successful at begging off or just skirting around the issue, but today I was practically dragged to a Bible study and church service by my parents. They acted like it was some kind of miraculous answer to prayer that I went, but the truth is I didn't feel like I had a choice.

I've been through depression many times so I'm there with you again. I still sort of believed at the time, but I didn't go to church either (and was almost forced to). I always danced around it as well. I haven't been since January. Stay strong. Avoid it when you can, but don't worry if you have to go. Not much you can do if they make you.

On the way home, we passed another church with a readerboard outside that read, "One nation under God." My dad commented that he wished he could really say that, but he didn't feel it was true anymore because of the "atheists, agnostics, Muslims, and Hindus" who have "taken over" the country. I was able to keep my mouth shut rather than point out the obvious contradiction in his reasoning (that if there really were an all-powerful God, surely he wouldn't let a bunch of dissenters destroy His "hold" on the nation), but I got ticked when my mom added in her own belief that all non-Christians should just "move to a country where they can believe what they want." Without hesitation, I reminded her of the Constitutional guarantee of religious freedom for all. They both got quiet after that, and I fumed silently to myself over their ignorance and intolerance, and over the frustration that I can't tell them the truth, although I so dearly want to.

I get this all the time from Christian friends. They insist that America is becoming an "atheist nation". I want to scream at them! Is there anyone you can talk to about all this (like in person)? When you have to keep it all inside at home it really helps to be able to let it out sometimes. I vent to a couple friends as well as my journal (or even here). Be sure to get it out somehow or you will blow up eventually (I have before, it wasn't pretty).

[Chimera]

I have a friend who is also an atheist and sometimes we have rant sessions together. Her family is non-religious, so she doesn't totally understand what I'm dealing with, but it's nice to be able to have someone else around to vent to. She lives in another town though, so I don't see her a lot.

[Evolved]

Hey Chimera.  Awesome name.  Welcome.  I hope that you find this forum to be a safe haven for your brain.  I do.

Might I ask how your sister is handling the situation?  You mentioned that she has left the church as well.

[MommaSquid]

Welcome to the forum, Chimera.  

We seem to have several new members seeking advice on how to come out of the atheist closet...is there something in the water?  I always advise caution in sharing atheistic tendencies with the parental units.  What they don't know can't be used against you!

[Chimera]

Hey Chimera.  Awesome name.  Welcome.  I hope that you find this forum to be a safe haven for your brain.  I do.

Might I ask how your sister is handling the situation?  You mentioned that she has left the church as well.

She's doing fine. She's married and lives away from the rest of the family, so she doesn't have to put up with it as much as I do. She still believes in the supernatural and is a practicing Wiccan, which she hides from our parents, so she understands where I'm coming from when I say I'm afraid to come out to my parents.

[Evolved]

Hey Chimera.  Awesome name.  Welcome.  I hope that you find this forum to be a safe haven for your brain.  I do.

Might I ask how your sister is handling the situation?  You mentioned that she has left the church as well.

She's doing fine. She's married and lives away from the rest of the family, so she doesn't have to put up with it as much as I do. She still believes in the supernatural and is a practicing Wiccan, which she hides from our parents, so she understands where I'm coming from when I say I'm afraid to come out to my parents.

It seems like you have some great support from your friend and your sister.  Hang in there!

[MariaEvri]

Hello chimera welcome to the board
I love that little clip you ahve in your siggy. Can't stop watching it.

[Chimera]

Haha, thanks Maria. I got it from a friend