How am I supposed to come out to my fundie parents (as an atheist)?

I am one of five children in a Southern Baptist family, and my dad is a pastor within this denomination. Throughout my upbringing, he has very vocally spoken out against teens who leave the faith in college and, as a homeschooled student, they have incorporated creationist misinformation into the curriculum that both me and my brothers used. Eventually, after I got my own computer, I was able to access all sorts of information, from both sides, and came to the conclusion that God doesn't exist. Still, I haven't told my parents yet, basically out of fear for my life, and have decided not to do so until after I have transferred to an out-of-state, out-of-region liberal arts school. Telling my parents the truth about myself is something I definitely want to do, but at the same time, I know that they will not take it well. From what I've heard them say before, I'm thinking it will feel like nothing less than a cold slap in the face to them. My dad especially may feel like a failure for not having all his kids end up with perfect congruency to his beliefs, which, while irrational, may not be something I can talk him out of. To compound these feelings, his sister, my aunt, strayed off the religious path herself back in the 80s, and hasn't looked back since. Around twenty years ago, she also came out as a lesbian, which devastated her parents and my dad. Because of these things, she is now the "black sheep" in the family, and she herself seems to be fairly unhappy with her life in general, which only seems to further my parent's delusion that all nonreligious people are sad individuals. I feel like they'd think I'm "running from God" and that I have a lot of bitterness inside, no matter what I'd say. They'd probably also worry about how I'd influence my kids, should I decide to have any. What's the best way to break it to them?|||Tell them their job was to tell you about God, not force it on you. Its your decision what you want to be, but be gentle when you tell them|||Don't! It's not worth it. Just get on with your life religion free. Otherwise you'll have to deal with all the religious BS every time you have family gatherings etc. And they'll try and convince you otherwise or have interventions etc. Not worth the hassle.|||Don't worry, you will be back. God doesn't believe in atheists. Just tell them so they can show you the bad logic and indoctrination you found on the internet and in school.





Good luck.|||I wouldn't unless you have to. I wouldn't know from experience since my mom and dad are both atheists, but still. Judging from things I've read.|||That is a tough situation. Maybe write them a letter when you are away at college.|||Religion tears family's apart, My recommendation from personal experience is don't.|||Don't.|||Sometimes concealing the truth from the ones we love is the kindest thing you can do. Darwin waited until his wife died before he published his famous "Origin of the Species". He did this not because he doubted what his research pointed out, but because he knew his wife could not bear this information. He loved his wife so much, that he gave up his life's work for a time to protect her feelings.





Discretion is the greater part of valor.