(Via Andy Barnes)
I’m certain I was the only child in my rural, Midwestern community who was raised by an agnostic mother and a vitriolic Atheist father. To further complicate my story, and my life in Bargersville, IN (which, 25 years ago wasn’t the bustling metropolis it is today!), I decided in the first grade that I was ethically opposed to eating meat. My Atheism coming out story is really a result of my Vegetarianism coming out story.
An all-day class field trip in the second grade was scheduled to have lunch at McDonald’s. Most of the class was very excited about this prospect, but as I no longer ate at McDonald’s, I asked the teacher if other arrangements could be made for my meal. The teacher informed me that I was too young to have formed such an opinion, and told me I could eat with the rest of the class. Later, another student scolded me for not eating meat, because “God put cows on the Earth for us to eat.” Naively, I responded that I didn’t believe in any gods. Her eyes grew to the size of silver dollars, and she didn’t talk to me much after that, but other students often asked me why I was a Satanist. I didn’t really know what that meant, but I knew, even at age 7 or 8, that I was being ostracized for my (lack of) beliefs.
To this day, I very seldom speak of either my Vegetarianism or my Atheism (I still live in Indiana, afterall). I don’t really feel the need to ‘come out’ Atheist – it’s hardly a secret, and I don’t think of it as being any great rebellion – but I like to share my story with like-minded people.
Tags: vegetarian
August 5th, 2009 at 9:12 am
Children have the right to their thoughts and this includes their thoughts about religion. Your story perfectly illustrates the disrespect our society pays children. This attitude must change. I completely identify with you because I grew up as a freethinker and was constantly baffled by the reaction of people to my views. Fortunately, you and I are strong enough to remain confident in our beliefs. It is the others around us that are whack!
September 13th, 2009 at 7:39 am
Similar story here. I'm a vegan atheist in the south, not at all self-righteous or militant, but people still ostracize me for my choices.