For many atheists, god becomes like santa clause and the awakening seems to be like when you find out Santa isn't real.

Up until that moment it was just a worry propegated by people that just didn't "know", or perhaps not even a worry he "just is!". Once you find out of course, it is emotional, but so many things suddenly make sense about the myth.

It's very hard not to pity theists. When they tell you about gods rules, or plans, or whatever they mean it with such conviction and are so sure it's right, but it sounds exactly like kids describing the letters they wrote to Santa or how Rudolf is a good deer. Just as the kids are blissfully unaware, so are the adults. There is a sense of guilt associated with it too, you want to tell the kids and you want to tell the adults, but at the same time you have to wonder if they are ready for the news.

Sad indeed.

I wish I could pity theists, instead of thinking of them as...... well, nevermind. I won't get into that. I'm civil to them, and that's what matters. Right?  

I've actually been contemplating a post on this same kind of topic, but I'll just comment here, instead. One of the most striking things about "coming out" as an atheist for me was talking to other atheists. When I talked excitedly about some logical progression or another that clearly proves this or that aspect of theism false, my new atheist friends would respond with a very nonchalant, "Yeah?" It took me a while to realize I was just late getting to the game.

Simple logic proves theism to be nonsense. Really simple. It's difficult to put into words how odd it is to watch otherwise intelligent people write volumes and volumes about thermodynamics, entropy, abiogenesis, cosmology, etc... twisting about in gigantic logical circles trying to discredit something as simple as "Supernatural is incoherent. God cannot exist."

I realize sometimes that we as atheists have to meet theists at their level... that is, breaking down every single convoluted attempt at apologetics, going into great detail to explain multiple levels of misunderstandings and misconceptions... before we even get to the point of addressing the emotional ties theists have to their invisible friends... but yeah, it's really difficult sometimes, when you just want to throw your hands up and say, "Look, it's very simple. It's a fairy tale! Grow up already!"

I feel your pain. That's one of the reasons I love this place. No matter where you are physically, there are people here who you can speak freely with.

I think one of the biggest difficulties in "coming out" is overcoming the "explanations" theists will offer. You'll be labeled as a backslider, or "angry at god" or any of dozens of other pseudonyms that allow theists to brush you aside and not listen to anything you say anymore.

There really is such a thing as being blackballed by the theist community, too. When I went public, I was a music teacher, teaching both classes and private students. The local teachers' union, made up almost exclusively of church musicians, effectively drove me out of the business -- I stopped receiving referrals, and many of my existing students quit. One mother told me that she couldn't have her daughter taught by someone without morals.... she said that to my face, mind you!

I have always been terribly grateful that I grew up in a secular family. I've never really been a theist (I believed in an ambigous sort of god character without really caring until I was about eight), and I'm so happy for that. I feel bad for theists, too. I want to shake them, make them see the light, don't they see how OBVIOUS atheism is? How nothing else makes sense? I want them to free their minds and think without rationalizing. I want them to stop living according to some terrible dogma.  I've seen the individual pain religion has brought to friends of mine. I've seen the irrational thought processes it causes. I've never been a religious person, but I've seen enough to know that atheism is absolutely preferable.  

I can relate 100%.  I wish I would've 'seen the light' earlier, took me until my mid-twenties.  I can't imagine what it would be like to be married, have kids, and work in a church, and THEN coming out. 

But yeah, it seems so obvious.  I used to believe a virgin woman had a baby!  Its nice to not have to rationalize that. (as well as the other countless 'miracles&#39

You don't have to imagine it - I can tell you.

I didn't come to grips with my agnostic atheism until my late 30s - early 40s. By that time, I had married a theist (she tried to use Pascal's wager to bring me back) and was deeply involved in the church music program and basically built the church theatre program. 

I began my questionaing around age 5,perhaps even earlier,it started with the simple question of"Where did god come from",and NO ONE could logically answer it.Mom tried the coput of "god came from his parents"then id counter"well he was the first being in existance,so no one created him,so hows that possible?,so id get the usual responce of it just was,always has been,whatever

so Id then ask well if god could just pop into existance,and thats completely logical,why couldnt life have just come into existance?Never got a good answer to that.Actually no answer,other than he is god,and that settles it!
skeptic ever since.

now i dont put off the possibility of a god,just deem it illogical in rational thinking.Just show atleast a bit of proof,and ill consider it.

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I understand this well.  My parents and family are fundamentalist, pentecostal christians.  My mother used to tell me this while growing up:

"If you're not going to serve the lord in your life I pray to him that he might just as well take you home".

I would reply:  "You mean you want god to kill me"?

She'd shrug her shoulders and say: "Well, if you're not going to listen to him you're never going to get to heaven and there is no point in living this life anyway". 

But, on a cup half full note, that was my first step in recognizing the bullshit surrounding religious belief.

I still get a little nervous when I go to visit them, however.