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rug

(82,333 posts)
Wed Jul 10, 2013, 07:34 AM Jul 2013

Ask Richard: Young Atheist’s Parents Face Bigotry and Harrassment in Small Religious Town

July 8, 2013
By Richard Wade

Dear Richard,

My name is Kaitlyn. I’m 15 years old and have been an atheist since I was 10. I’m fortunate enough to have parents that are very open minded and irreligious.

I happen to live in a small, extremely religious town. (There are 19 Christian churches here, and we just reached a population of 2,000 last spring) I’ve become somewhat notorious for my atheism because I’m really open about it. Most people have gotten used to me, I guess. I’m not targeted much anymore.

However, this is not so for my family. My father is a doctor and owns the only clinic in my town. He can’t get through a day without one of his patients commenting about me, criticizing his parenting, or “coming after him” about forcing me to go to church. He has lost business over me. A certain pastor has even advised his followers not to go to my dad, saying a man with an atheist child shouldn’t be trusted.

My parents say that it’s not a big deal but I get the feeling that they’re tired of the harassment. I can’t help feeling guilty sometimes. I’m just wondering if there’s anything I can do to protect my family. And if coming out so openly in such a religious town was a smart thing for me to do.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/07/08/ask-richard-young-atheists-family-faces-bigotry-in-small-religious-town/

Richard answers at the link.

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Ask Richard: Young Atheist’s Parents Face Bigotry and Harrassment in Small Religious Town (Original Post) rug Jul 2013 OP
Child Abuse HockeyMom Jul 2013 #1
People say much more frequently around here that raising a child in a religion is child abuse. cbayer Jul 2013 #4
The letters at the end of the advice are great. Very interesting. Thanks for posting, Rug BlueJazz Jul 2013 #2
Am 65 yrs old and when I go to the doctor's office I have never talked to them about southernyankeebelle Jul 2013 #3
His response is good, albeit a bit long. What is really striking is how cbayer Jul 2013 #5
 

HockeyMom

(14,337 posts)
1. Child Abuse
Wed Jul 10, 2013, 07:46 AM
Jul 2013

Someone on our "favorite" other site actually said that if parents don't raise their children in a religion (wonder which?), they are quilty of child abuse and their children should be taken away from them and raised in a good religious home.

They want a theocracy, plain and simple.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)
4. People say much more frequently around here that raising a child in a religion is child abuse.
Wed Jul 10, 2013, 01:51 PM
Jul 2013

That came from one of the atheist gurus and is very often repeated.

I've never seen anyone here say that raising a child without religion is child abuse.

But I'm not sure what any of this has to do with the article at hand.

 

southernyankeebelle

(11,304 posts)
3. Am 65 yrs old and when I go to the doctor's office I have never talked to them about
Wed Jul 10, 2013, 08:29 AM
Jul 2013

religion or their beliefs. I don't care to know that information because it isn't my business. I sure wouldn't want a religious doctor not taking me because I was a non-believer. It is very silly. As long as a person is good I don't care what he believes.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)
5. His response is good, albeit a bit long. What is really striking is how
Wed Jul 10, 2013, 01:55 PM
Jul 2013

you could substitute sexual orientation in both the letter and the response and have to change very little of the rest of the text.

I like the approach that religiosity or lack of it are not things one chooses, but a part of one's identity that one recognizes.

I know that many disagree with me about that here, but I think seeing it that way will lead to greater understanding and acceptance, just as it did for the LGBT movement.

And before someone says that "atheism is the default position", ask yourself how it would sound to say that "heterosexuality is the default position".

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