Atheist Attic Visitor Profile
What is your name? (Real or pseudo)
What is your date of birth?
What is your gender?
What is your race?
What is your e-mail address? (optional)
What is the name and URL of your homepage? (optional)
Where do you live? (City, State, Country)
How would you best describe your form of freethought? (Atheist, Agnostic, Humanist, etc.)
Were you raised as a freethinker or to be religious?
Even though my family is not very religious, I was raised to believe in the Xian God.
What originally set you on the path to freethought?
2nd grade. I got in trouble for writing a cussword on the chalkboard. The teacher asked me why I did it. I told her to ask God, since he was in control of things. She said God doesn't work like that. That's really what got the ball rolling, being told two different things. One from my Bible school and the other from my Elementary school.
When did you "come out" as a freethinker to family/friends/public, and how did it go over?
In 10th grade, we kept a journal for writing class. In one entry, I finally admitted to myself, I do not believe in any god. I wrote several paragraphs about it. Somehow, my journal came into my mother's possession. She was upset over what I had written, but I told her it had nothing to do with her. We got into a big argument that night, and since then she has denied my atheistic ways. Occasionally, she still asks me to swear to God. I try not to bring up religion in her presence or in any other of my family members. The fact that I was adopted also makes it a little bit harder to face up to my family, because even though I have been in the family since I was three months old, I still feel like the outsider. But if it ever gets down to where it is either them or my beliefs, I will no longer have a family. I will not compromise.
Do you feel it necessary to continue to hide your beliefs in any circumstances, and if so, why?
Outside of my family, no.
Have you ever been the victim of discrimination or abuse because of your beliefs?
Not really. Not in any violent nature or anything. I have found pamphlets and Chick comics on my car, though. That and the promise that I am going to Hell.
In what types of freethought activism, if any, do you participate?
What do you feel is the best part of being a freethinker?
What do you feel is the worst part of being a freethinker?
Everyone treats you like you are in a different country.
What is the societal atmosphere for freethinkers where you live?
Our town newspaper has religious articles scattered around the paper throughout the week, along with the two page religious section every Friday. Not to mention the 20+ churches we have around here.
How do you define "freedom of religion" and do you think your country attempts to grant this?
Freedom from religion, for me, is not having to deal with it every day in my life. Religion should stay at home and in the church, and not be anywhere else.
I am afraid with Bush in the White House, anything is possible. Just remember what his dad said about atheists.
If you could share one thought with whoever might read this profile of you, what would it be?
Just be careful. Non-believers are a minority. We need to watch out, our very freedom is at stake.
