There are many more atheists in the world than people who are willing to admit to being an atheist. In large part because of the social stigma attached to disbelieving in gods, many people prefer to hide their atheism and pretend to be theists. What does it take for them to come out of the closet?

Vamsi in India is one person dealing with being a closeted atheist:

I don’t consider myself as a believer. But still, I visit all the temples with my parents. What I do there? I still don’t know. Just a look around and appreciate the architecture around. Idol worship, in my opinion, is one of the most foolish things that a person can ever do.

It always amazes me when someone asks me – Why don’t you believe in God? Why are you trying to behave in an out-of-ordinary way?

It should be the other way around. I mean, it should be I who should be asking them – What makes you believe in something like that? Not believing sounds perfectly logical. I have never seen Him, never felt His presence and thus will not believe in Him. It is a believer who needs to answer the world. It is he who is behaving in a weird way by claiming that some force is leading them through the dark.

It’s very often easier to just “go with the flow” and “not rock the boat” by revealing that you disagree with some of the most fundamental beliefs, attitudes, and assumptions of those around you. This isn’t just limited to religion, but I suspect that we may encounter it more often in the context of religion than other things — perhaps because of how much more passion and religion can inspire in people.

Read More:

• Atheism 101
• News About Atheism & Atheists
• Rebuttals to Attacks on Atheism