Discrimination / Prejudice from people about me being Atheist

[Apparitions]

Yeah, so recently people have been finding out that I am an Atheist. People have been calling me things like 'stupid fucking Atheist' and stuff like that and I'm getting pissed with it. When I try and say why I don't believe in a God(s) and how there is proof that Christianity copies a lot from other religions and is based a lot on Astronomy they just ignore me and carry on. Even if they did listen they would be too biased to give a proper answer. This is a Catholic school btw so most people are religious. For some reason my friend who is Muslim has really changed towards me since he knew I am Atheist. I try not to say anything about people's religion but they still go on. What can I do about it? +Rep for helpful posts.

EDIT: Their proof of God made me laugh. I asked someone how he knows that there is a God and he said everything around me is proof. WTF?

[Brayden]

I'm pretty agnostic myself, but I wouldn't advertise myself as such. I don't really see the point, all it does is invite argument. Pointless, unnecessary arguments. I wouldn't bring it up unless someone pointedly asked you about it, and even then I'd decline to say anything else about it. It's your business, not yours.

Also, if someone if someone is talking to you about your beliefs, laughing in their face really isn't a good idea. All that's going to do is piss them off further which fuels the debate. The best policy is to live and let live. People are going to have beliefs (or in your case, lack there of) that are going to disagree with their own. Chances are you aren't going to dissuade them from their way of thinking, so why bother?

[UndecidedMatter]

mmm ye im atheist too.
people make fun of me too and it pisses me off.
i just try to ignore them but i get realy angry when they try to convert me.
my headteached is really tolerant though so he helps me out when they start acting out of control.

[Peace God]

This is a Catholic school btw so most people are religious.
well there's your problem... i would consider changing schools

sometimes i go through the same things but luckily my school is very diverse so i dont have to worry about being ganged up on

you should not start arguments... there's not much you can say to christians to change/deny there beliefs(although learning history did it for me)

are your parents tolerant? would they consider moving you to another school

[Atonement]

Despite going to a religious school, you still are allowed and entitled to be there safely. So, if it is seriously a problem, handle it. Speak up for yourself nonviolently of course, speak to an adult, or shut your mouth and conform.

[Apparitions]

well there's your problem... i would consider changing schools

sometimes i go through the same things but luckily my school is very diverse so i dont have to worry about being ganged up on

you should not start arguments... there's not much you can say to christians to change/deny there beliefs(although learning history did it for me)

are your parents tolerant? would they consider moving you to another school
I don't start the arguments. And no, I'm not going to move school just because a few people are annoying me. I don't want to change people's beliefs anyway, I just want to make my point.

I'm pretty agnostic myself, but I wouldn't advertise myself as such. I don't really see the point, all it does is invite argument. Pointless, unnecessary arguments. I wouldn't bring it up unless someone pointedly asked you about it, and even then I'd decline to say anything else about it. It's your business, not yours.

Also, if someone if someone is talking to you about your beliefs, laughing in their face really isn't a good idea. All that's going to do is piss them off further which fuels the debate. The best policy is to live and let live. People are going to have beliefs (or in your case, lack there of) that are going to disagree with their own. Chances are you aren't going to dissuade them from their way of thinking, so why bother?
I didn't really advertise it, I just changed my religious belief on Facebook to Atheist. I don't bring it up anyway. I don't really want to talk about what I believe to people as they never listen anyway. I didn't really laugh in their face, just I found it hard not to. I try and be respectful which is more than other people.
Despite going to a religious school, you still are allowed and entitled to be there safely. So, if it is seriously a problem, handle it. Speak up for yourself nonviolently of course, speak to an adult, or shut your mouth and conform.I am safe and everything, it's not like I'm going to get bullied or have fights over it. It's just something that is annoying me atm. Being told that I'm going to hell is getting tiring.
mmm ye im atheist too.
people make fun of me too and it pisses me off.
i just try to ignore them but i get realy angry when they try to convert me.
my headteached is really tolerant though so he helps me out when they start acting out of control.At least I'm not the only one...

Just want to add something, on Thursday in registration we were supposed to be learning about stuff we want to and religion, politics and something else came up. My form teacher asked who is Atheist and I said I was so people found out from that as well. I know that kind of sounds like advertising my lack of beliefs but I want to be honest and whatever.

[Kahn]

I use Buddhist philosophy, yet I am agnostic.

Respect other people's religion. I do not care that you are Atheist, I once thought I was as well, but keep in mind that religion is a touchy subject to people. Laughing in their face and telling them their god is not real is not by any means right, and they have a reason to be mad at you. Why do you find it hard not to? Do they laugh in your face because you are supposedly going to hell because you do not believe in God? No.. In their perspective they are trying to save you, not laugh at you.

[Apparitions]

I use Buddhist philosophy, yet I am agnostic.

Respect other people's religion. I do not care that you are Athiest, I once thought I was as well, but keep in mind that religion is a touchy subject to people. Laughing in their face and telling them their god is not real is no by any means right, and they have a reason to be mad at you. Why do you find it hard not to? Do they laugh in your face becasue you are supposedly going to hell because you do not believe in God? No.. In their perspective they are trying to save you, not laugh at you.
I didn't actually laugh in their face. I was just amused by it. When I said I laughed at them I didn't actually do it. It was just me saying that I found it funny. Anyway, I understand that they think that they are trying to 'save' me but I don't think they have to be so rude and in-your-face about it.

[staying_alive]

Dude that's rough. Sorry you have to deal with that from people...

I mean i have to say since it's a catholic school i'm not surprised. I used to go to catholic school and they're basically all like that...I had my 5th grade teacher say this to me: If someone is buddhist but hasn't come in contact with God then they can still be saved, but if they realize the catholic religion exists and doesn't convert then they're going to hell. Even in 5th grade i was like WTF?

Anyway, people will move on. Being atheist isnt' a big deal and people will get over it. Tell them that God wouldn't appreciate them criticizing and embarrassing another human being.

[INFERNO]

I had some of that in my high-school and although it was not religious, many people were religious. I tried to explain myself as you did and it worked a bit for some but others wouldn't let me finish or even get half-way. Happily there weren't many hardcore religious people but many seemed to have a bias towards atheism and for the ones who didn't, there was an additional problem of people hopping on the "I'm an atheist" bandwagon without really understanding atheism.

I found that explaining is useless because they're unwilling to budge from the stance that their belief is not 100% correct and that always kills your attempt to explain.

The way I found to be successful was to turn the argument around on them, call them the atheist. The reason is they're monotheistic, and this implies being atheistic to the majority of beliefs. If you define to them atheism is the disbelief of at least one god, which has the same meaning as conventional definitions, then they fit into it. If they argue, then use evidence of their belief, such as saying that their god claims they must believe in him and no other gods. What you end up doing is trap them into either concluding yes they are atheistic also or they breach one major requirement of their belief that is considered a sin.

I found that the above argument worked damn near every time and when they continued insulting me, I just remind them they asserted atheists are stupid, I'm an atheist and they've admitted they're an atheist, hence, we're both stupid and both at the same level. It nullifies the argument by bringing it to an end and any time they attempt to say "atheists are ____", resort to the same argument.

Alternatively, quote something such as Galatians 5:19-21 regarding their anger being sinful.

[Apparitions]

I had some of that in my high-school and although it was not religious, many people were religious. I tried to explain myself as you did and it worked a bit for some but others wouldn't let me finish or even get half-way. Happily there weren't many hardcore religious people but many seemed to have a bias towards atheism and for the ones who didn't, there was an additional problem of people hopping on the "I'm an atheist" bandwagon without really understanding atheism.

I found that explaining is useless because they're unwilling to budge from the stance that their belief is not 100% correct and that always kills your attempt to explain.

The way I found to be successful was to turn the argument around on them, call them the atheist. The reason is they're monotheistic, and this implies being atheistic to the majority of beliefs. If you define to them atheism is the disbelief of at least one god, which has the same meaning as conventional definitions, then they fit into it. If they argue, then use evidence of their belief, such as saying that their god claims they must believe in him and no other gods. What you end up doing is trap them into either concluding yes they are atheistic also or they breach one major requirement of their belief that is considered a sin.

I found that the above argument worked damn near every time and when they continued insulting me, I just remind them they asserted atheists are stupid, I'm an atheist and they've admitted they're an atheist, hence, we're both stupid and both at the same level. It nullifies the argument by bringing it to an end and any time they attempt to say "atheists are ____", resort to the same argument.

Alternatively, quote something such as Galatians 5:19-21 regarding their anger being sinful.
Thanks, that advice sounds awesome. They won't know what to say when I use it. +rep coming your way.

[TheFame]

At my school we all shit talk god. (Im extremely apologetic to people who seem offended.)

Your best option is to go along with it and say "yeah your right god did make me."
Its not that big of a deal to hide that you dont belive in god

[Adam17]

The problem is is that your trying to force your opinions on them by trying to convince them that god doesn't exist. If they call you shot don't go down to their level and run your mouth about what they believe. If you don't try to tell them that their religion is fake they will leave you alone about not believing.

[xXl0sth0peXx]

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