As I read more and more of the forum discussions, I see lots of people mentioning either they are an "out of the closet" atheist or "still in the closet" atheist. Often coming out isn't planned and is on accident. What decisions have you made to either "come out" or "stay in"? For those who aren't "out" yet, do you have any plans to change that? For those who are "out", can you share what happened?

Innie, no, I don't hang out in Inns, yes, My belly button is an innie, and I'm a closet atheist

my dad's parents use to be part of a missionary group, my mom's parents are the kind of people who plaster "God is Love." stuff all over their house... one of my uncles ran into drugs.....now he's super religious, wouldn't even see Bruce All Mighty, because he said it makes fun of god.... My Dad goes to church once and a while, my mom doesn't any more because she hates all the people there, but she still seems religious in a, I'll praise god from my couch kinda way.....

There's also an uncle on my dad's side, whose wife, and three sons are also super religious, every time we visit them they stand in a big circle, hold hands, say grace, and make me feel way out of place while they talk to God like he's an older brother, while the rest of my family plays along perfectly...

If my parents do ever cook, and we all end up eating together the same thing happens, hardly ever, but still....

Navel: Innie.
Atheism: Outie.

While I don't plan on putting up any billboards on my cubicle walls anytime soon, I'm at the point now where I'm going to answer honestly if anybody asks or if the situation clearly calls for it to be mentioned. I'm very fortunate in that I have never, not once, had someone of my own generation react poorly to it. I've also successfully sweet-talked my lovely wife who is into jewelry making, to make me something with the scarlet letter / Dawkins "A" on it. Stay tuned!

I'd also like to take this opportunity to state how grateful I am to Lori and Niles, who appeared in the Gazette article which brought me to the A-Team originally. Back then, I had no idea how people would react and I wouldn't have dreamed of letting it be known. To me, they're the first ones locally to publicly stand up for what they believed in, and while I now know that many others have done the same, I think this will always stick in my mind as a turning point for me. I'm more grateful to the two of you than you will ever know.

I'm like Nick. I don't advertise, but if it comes up, I'm not shy about expressing my POV.

As for the jewelry, check out Surly-Ramics. It's run by a Skepchick named Amy Roth. She does a lot of science-themed pieces.

Nick - thanks. The article was easy for me. I admire Lori.

We moved here 13 years ago. In corporate life, I worked for a company that had more local visibility than Rockwell has, in Cedar Rapids. I also had a job that made ME very visible, within the corporation, pretty much world-wide. It was hard enough being a super-liberal Democrat, in a conservative Republican company, without discussing atheism. I hid that part of me.

When we moved to Cedar Rapids, I had a consulting contract with that firm - a real job, not a title - and I worked out of my home.

I also started writing letters to the editor, and being outspoken about my atheism. My wife asked, what is it about Iowa that has made you so outspoken? I told her - nothing about Iowa. I send in my work once a week - if they like it, they pay me. If they don't like it, they fire me. But, I am measured by the quality of my work. They are not reading the Cedar Rapids Gazette. My next door neighbor is not my co-worker. Life and work are not connected in any way.

My wife has had to - at work - somewhat separate herself from me. Nobody explicitly knows her views, but when there is a letter to the editor, she will say words like - "Oh, that is Niles" - sounding like a joke, and shrugging it off. I have written atheist letters for MANY years. When the Gazette contacted me, through a reporter I knew, my views were pretty well known.

For me, it is easy, now. My job is not connected to my views, and they cannot fire me. Currently, I am retired, so they REALLY cannot fire me.

I admire Lori who is public, as well as the others on this post who use REAL names, and even REAL photographs. Some may not be concerned about work, but this is a small town - what about neighbors, friends, relatives. My friends knew - even back then. My family was atheist. But, in a large city, you are "hidden" which gives tons of freedom in its own way.

I "came out" in Cedar Rapids, but in ways in which I admire Lori, because she did what I could not. I would not have done that - in fact, I did not do that. My next door neighbor was surprised at some of my original letters. We remain"good neighbors," which works out well.

Thank Lori for all of this, and her courage - I did not have it, when I was working.

Nick - thanks. The article was easy for me. I admire Lori.

I think you're all a bunch of yahoos.
JK

I admire Lori who is public, as well as the others on this post who use REAL names, and even REAL photographs. Some may not be concerned about work, but this is a small town - what about neighbors, friends, relatives. My friends knew - even back then. My family was atheist. But, in a large city, you are "hidden" which gives tons of freedom in its own way.

I have strong feelings about this. We all BOTH keep secret and disclose depending on the people/situation/day. It's an extremely personal choice that may continue to change. For each of us, there are very different consequences in the basic realms of work, family, social. I admire all of us for supporting each other in those individual choices. The gay community saw the ramifications of positive/supportive encouragement/pressure to come out, all with the best of intentions, forming an unspoken hierarchy between those who are "in" and those who are "out".
Admiration is great, but it should span as wide as the diversity we are.

completely out, except with my parents. they will probably figure it out someday...

I remember very clearly the way mom teared up when I explained that I didn't believe in god anymore. She's still not happy about it, but she and Dad, as well as the rest of the family, have been nothing but loving and kind after I told them. It took me awhile to work up to telling them, since I feared the knee-jerk fear reaction a lot of people have when they hear the word atheist. I know I'm really, really lucky, and I've thanked them for not reacting in fear and anger the way so many families seem to.

At work I'm pretty out about my atheism/humanism. I don't club people over the head about it, but if someone asks I don't hide what I believe. Part of the reason I'm willing to do this is that I have absolutely no desire to see my current job turn into a career, as well as the fact that promotion possibilities are virtually nil in my job no matter what you believe.

As far as friends go, most of my current close/close-ish friends are part of the A-team. I think this is because most of the A-team members are willing to talk about almost anything. As I've said before, the fact that I've seen a card-carrying member of the Socialist Party of America, a Ron Paul supporter, and a Green Party supporter have an animated conversation about politics and walk away friends says a lot to me about the maturity level of the people involved. I dislike having to tiptoe around the usual conversational landmines of politics and religion when talking to someone, and I've never felt like I had to do that at A-team meetings.

I think you're all a bunch of yahoos ... We all BOTH keep secret and disclose depending on the people/situation/day.

I think both these statements are succinct and insightful.

I'm In-N-Out, too.