Comment by Chase King on April 19, 2011 at 1:32am

I used to deal with the same situation a few years back in high school.  The area I was from had a very close-minded population where they believed you were a Christian or an imbecile.  I was hesitant to tell others that I met for a while.  I began to think about it, and I thought I should not fake what I am or how I truly feel.  If you think of certain religions, they have many members that tend to put up a front or sense of falseness to please others, so in my opinion, be yourself, and you'll find true friends who like you for who you are. :)

Comment by Okinawa R. on April 19, 2011 at 1:55am

to my friends ? i tell them..if they decide to stop being a friend because of that, then i would be fine..i would feel better knowing it sooner.

 

i'm not that friendly to my friends anyway because of past experience..most of my friends are a big liar or backstabber...

 

anyway a true friend will stick their lives for you for whatever you are :)

Comment by IEatDinosaurMeat on April 19, 2011 at 5:23am

Well, you only have one family and you gotta stick by them even if you don't always see eye to eye. However, friends are another story. If they end the friendship then you know where they stand and where they shouldn't. I'd think a real friend would respect and appreciate your being genuine, honest, and open.

Comment by Sarah Emmaly Burgett on April 19, 2011 at 2:14pm

If telling your friends your beliefs will cause you to lose them then they aren't very good friends in my opinion. I haven't told all my friends, only the ones who have asked (which is two of them) one of them was understanding and by the end of it I even had her agreeing with me on a lot of things... so that went well. The other one was a little harder to deal with. She's a closed minded Republican who believes in god and considers herself a Christian but also screws any guy that will let her... which I find entertaining. She called me stupid and I have just learned that I don't talk to her about religion or politics or morals.... I just don't, It's a battle that isn't worth fighting. She is one of those people that believe whatever their parents believe... which I find even more annoying than if she had come up with it on her own. The most annoying part about it is that she can't argue her point becuase the only point she has is "My Daddy is a Marine and he believes in god and loved George W. Bush and so do I" Therefore I just say "Whatever, lets play a board game and never talk about this again" but even considering  how much we disagree on. We're still friends. You're friends should accept you and love you for who you are. Don't be scared to tell them...maybe they'll react better than you're anticipating.

Comment by Tiago Martins on April 19, 2011 at 3:00pm

I'll have to go with what other's have already said. If they get mad and leave for you being an atheist, then they don't deserve to be your friends. I'm lucky to have best friends that are atheists, most of the rest just don't give a damn about these issues, so all is well.

One of my closest friends, however, is quite religious. However, besides some refreshing debates, how relation isn't affected by our religious views.

Comment by Reg The Fronkey Farmer on April 19, 2011 at 3:51pm

No matter how long you live you will only know who your real friends are when the chips are down, When it matters they will appear. You will be surprised at who shows up.

Comment by M on April 19, 2011 at 9:04pm

How good are friends who only like you when they thought you believed in a god?  I'd prefer to surround myself with people who liked me.  Period.

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