"Don't go wearing that thing! You're pushing your atheism in other people's faces."
More drama from my theist fam on Saturday night. I was wearing an American Atheists pendant which I thought was harmless and [from personal experience] I had noticed that no theists I had met had recognized the meaning of it. However, my mom and dad were telling me not to wear it because "they were concerned about my safety." My dad said something to the point of "you never know when you'll advertise your atheism like that to the wrong person," and "the last thing I want to hear is that you've been sent to the hospital, or you're dead, and I'll know why!" - Given the fact that I never wear any atheist material that has any words, even the word "atheist" on it outside the house, because I know that it pisses people in this conservative town off, I was stunned by that statement. The pendant itself was EXTREMELY discrete. I tried to tell them that it never had attracted any negative attention from theists, who almost never know what it means. In fact, pretty much the only people who DO know what it means ARE ATHEISTS!
For anyone doubting me on how discrete it was, this is what it looked like:
Okay... so any disagreement? I would really like to know.
Secondly, my father told me he didn't want me to be an activist. I told him that it is my need and my duty to stick up for my civil rights.
He responded that he didn't want me to get hurt. And that I wouldn't be able to make any friends. [I don't reveal my atheism off the internet to people I don't know well enough to know if I can trust them with the info]. So I was just rolling my eyes.
I am grateful that they love me enough to care about my safety.
However, does anyone else think they're going overboard?
This particular incident didn't make me angry, it just made me question whether I SHOULD be activist and to feel a little afraid of being so. After all, although I discourage "Emotional reasoning" [saying something's true because it feels good], I couldn't help doubting what I thought was my duty due to my natural animal fear of pain or death.
So, any thoughts... what should I do?
For anyone doubting me on how discrete it was, this is what it looked like:
Okay... so any disagreement? I would really like to know.
Secondly, my father told me he didn't want me to be an activist. I told him that it is my need and my duty to stick up for my civil rights.
He responded that he didn't want me to get hurt. And that I wouldn't be able to make any friends. [I don't reveal my atheism off the internet to people I don't know well enough to know if I can trust them with the info]. So I was just rolling my eyes.
I am grateful that they love me enough to care about my safety.
However, does anyone else think they're going overboard?
This particular incident didn't make me angry, it just made me question whether I SHOULD be activist and to feel a little afraid of being so. After all, although I discourage "Emotional reasoning" [saying something's true because it feels good], I couldn't help doubting what I thought was my duty due to my natural animal fear of pain or death.
So, any thoughts... what should I do?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by elaine kilshaw on -
Simon You are to me, and I am not gay, although I wouldnt mind if I was.
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Permalink Reply by Jon Heim on -
Simon, if you lived in my hometown, you'd probably be stoned to death.
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Permalink Reply by willailla on -
Nice pendant. Maybe rednecks, Christians and other assorted loonies will back off thinking the -A- stands for ANARCHIST and that you are a dangerous psychopath. For backup carry a six inch switchblade in your purse and wear a gg Allin tattoo on your forehead.
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Permalink Reply by elaine kilshaw on
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willailla dont be silly. Wearing a cross you may think you are one who approves of crusifixions. There were at least 20 or more a day, so obviously I think of a cross as a sign that one approves of tourture. Not a nice thing to be crusified.
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Permalink Reply by Jon Heim on
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Christian activists never feel afraid because of the people they are.
Why should we?
first amendment rights are something to be active about!
if someone is hostile to you because of your atheism, it just goes to show you that activism really is needed.
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Permalink Reply by Skycomet the Fallen Angel on -
ha ha ha! Actually the more hostile they get... the more agressive and antitheist I become. I agree with Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens... religion is a poison.
Don't worry about me becoming meek. lol. I'm a fallen angel! It's my JOB to stir up trouble with theists and FORCE them to notice us. lol
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Permalink Reply by elaine kilshaw on
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I wear my pendant with pride.
I have noticed in my town centre shopping two people wearing a wooden cross about 5 inches, try to miss it if you can. Last week I had on my pendant in a department store and saw one of the asssitants wearing one of these, so went up to her and asked her where the bandages were, you ought to have seen her face, so why is it ok for her to wear this and I am told I might offend someone if I wear my atheist pendant.
I presume they are wearing these as the POpe is visiting UK in Sept.,
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Permalink Reply by Michael Sizer-Watt on -
An acquaintance of mine had to get a security camera to watch over his van because it kept getting egged. It has two bumper stickers on it, one is the typical darwin fish we all know, and the other reads "intelligent design is neither".
The fact of the matter is that being a minority necessarily increases your chances of being harmed, and I'm mindful of that, but I won't allow fear to control my everyday actions. Theists live their lives that way, not thinkers.
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Permalink Reply by ThoughtfulTheist on -
You can wear whatever you want.
Do you get offended whenever you see a cross around someones neck? Is that shoving their Christianity on you?
Where is their faith? Do they think if they see an American Atheist pendant, that the truth concerning Jesus will just wither away?
As a Christian, I think they are going seriously overboard.
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Permalink Reply by Keith Johnston on -
Yes. Thats the point about the anti Atheist types. They are like homophobics. Secretly they are what they despise. They believe if they remove the people the feelings will go away. Of course they are wrong.
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Permalink Reply by Victoria Santiago-Menedez on -
I think that it is right for some1 parents to b concerened bout their kids safety espically when it comes to religons that piss ppl off. Myself i dont have a problem telling ppl that im atheist(if they ask) or it comes up in conversation, cuz i really dont care what they think of me. but sometimes itz just good to keep it to yourself cuz it has been many times ppl have known i was athesits & statred fights cuz i wasnt christian or some other religion. but others time itz good to stand up in what u believe.
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