Redditor Becomes Atheist After Brother’s Death, Wife Says His Views Embarras Her

"I feel like she is wanting me to place myself in the closet"

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• March 26, 2023

Traumatic events can have a profound impact on a person's beliefs and values. For some, a traumatic experience can shake their faith in a higher power or a previously held belief system.

This can be a difficult and confusing process, as faith often serves as a source of comfort and security in times of hardship and uncertainty. We have one of those stories today.

OP is a 35-year-old man who recently lost his belief in a god. This loss of faith has had a profound impact on his identity, causing him to change his political views and religious beliefs.

He used to be a Republican, pro-life, and Catholic, but he is now an atheist. He has struggled with anger towards those who are religious and has sought help from a therapist to control it.

Recently, OP was at a family gathering and was asked about his religious beliefs. He told a family friend that he was not religious, but his wife was.

On the way home, he told his wife about the conversation, and she became upset, telling him that now the whole family would know and that he should deflect when those questions come up in the future. She also told him that they wouldn't be going around family until he "fixed this issue."

OP feels like his wife is asking him to hide who he is and that if he doesn't, he could lose his entire family. He feels like he is being treated as if he were a gay child whose existence is an embarrassment to the family.

He doesn't want to hide but is conflicted about the potential consequences.

OP asks

OP is a 35-year-old man who recently suffered a terrible loss, which made him lose his belief in a god. This loss of faith has had a profound impact on his identity, causing him to change his political views and religious beliefs.

He used to be a Republican, pro-life, and Catholic, but he is now an atheist. He has struggled with anger towards those who are religious and has sought help from a therapist to control it.

Recently, OP was at a family gathering and was asked about his religious beliefs. On the way home, he told his wife about the conversation, and she became upset.

OP posted an edit to clarify some things:

OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the a-hole:

OP needs to sit down with his wife and talk things over

Maybe his wife is viewing this as a phase

Was OP supposed to lie?

OP replied:

Redditors see the correlation

"Both can be equally damning"

This is so tragic and funny at the same time.

For many, a traumatic event such as the death of a loved one, a natural disaster, or a personal tragedy can challenge their beliefs and make them question the existence of a benevolent deity. They may feel that if a higher power exists, then why did such a traumatic event occur?

This can lead to feelings of anger, frustration, and sadness and can cause a person to lose faith. In some cases, the loss of faith can be temporary, as a person may seek answers and eventually regain their belief in a higher power.

In other cases, the loss of faith may be permanent, and a person may choose to embrace a different belief system or no belief system at all. Regardless of the outcome, the process of losing faith can be a difficult and emotional journey.

It is important for individuals who are going through this experience to seek support from loved ones, counseling, or support groups. Talking about their experiences and emotions can help them process their feelings and find a path forward.

But you need support to do it, and OP clearly doesn't have it.

Damjan