While writing the below post about coming out as an atheist, a thought crossed my mind. That thought was that closet atheists exaggerate the potential fall-out of admitting to atheism.
I must admit that the majority of my maternal relatives disowned me over it. However, looking back, I have been disowned over several things. I ran off and joined the Army instead of getting married and having kids. I dated a black man. I married someone else without approval. I divorced the same man without approval. I moved to Texas. I lived with someone else. All reasons to disown in their book. So, it really was not that big of surprise.
The friend I mentioned was always somewhat of a judgmental prick to begin with. It just became more pronounced when she found a god to approve her judgmental prickness. In truth, it was just a matter of time before everything hit the fan.
Thinking about all the run-ins, most of the time the writing was on the wall. The only ones who have really managed to surprise me are the ones who are otherwise discriminated against (wrong brand of religion, wrong colour, wrong gender, etc.).
Sure, things can get tense, even hostile when it comes to publicly stating you’re an atheist, but I can’t get over the notion that if theists were half as scary as they’re rumoured to be when it comes to atheists things would be a lot worse than they are.
Thus, I think the fears are largely exaggerated for the most part. I am not saying there is no reason at all to fear, just that the majority of us may not have a reason to fear on the levels that we do.
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