Ask the Atheist

Correction: there are only 3 in your batch who are openly atheist. A little public exposure of atheism might bring more out. I bet they're just as scared as you.

There's no way to say that you think another person's belief system is without basis so that he/she can't possibly take offence. The very existence of atheists is a slap in the face to some people. On one forum I met a fellow who always put 'atheists' in quotes, to imply we're really something else.

You have to remember, and let people know, that you are not criticising them personally. It's only the religion you've rejected. You don't want to offend people, so that means you're fully aware that your reasons are not intended to offend. If someone does take offence, you should take them to task and explain why that was not your intention. An argument is much easier to lose if the point you concede is that you're not being insulted.

You might have to brave a few short debates at first just to find out what kind of arguments are being thrown at you. After that, you can have some short replies ready to shut them down when they are used again. Just having short, simple answers to common arguments says to the world that you really have thought about this, you've made an informed decision and reciting a few platitudes at you won't have any effect.

A few examples:

"So you hate God?"
"How would I hate God if I don't think He exists? That's like hating Darth Vader." (insert other fictional characters at will)

"You must worship the Devil."
"If there's no God, how could there be a Devil?"

"You can't prove God doesn't exist."
"No, I can't. But I don't see any good reason why He must."

"Why don't you believe in God?""
"There's no available evidence." (There might be follow-up questions, but you know why any of the things they'll bring up are not evidence.)

"If you're wrong, you'll go to Hell."
"If I'm wrong, there are a zillion possible gods to worship and I've got almost no chance of picking the right one."

"So where did the universe come from?"
"I don't know. Nobody does. God's one answer; there might be others."

"Atheists just want to do what they like without being called to Judgement."
"If that's true, why aren't I out stealing and killing? Why am I still being a good person?"

Get the idea? A short statement which not only refutes the argument but makes it sound a little bit misguided. There are comebacks to all of the above, but once you've established that convincing you would take some work you can simply say that you'd appreciate it if they respected your conclusion of atheism the way they'd expect you to respect their faith in Catholicism. (Personally I don't know why faith in itself deserves respect, but they think it does.)

If some people still want to engage you and bring you back to the fold, why not point them to websites like this one? Firstly it will likely have instant answers to much of what they would have said to you, and secondly it will show them that you have your own community behind you and they're not just up against one person.

I honestly don't think you can avoid some confrontations coming out as an atheist in such a staunchly Catholic community. The best thing is to tough it out and learn how to make them as short as possible without insulting people. Those who take offence for no good reason will do so no matter what, so don't think you're not still a nice person if it happens.

Good luck.

- SmartLX