The moment you realized you were an Atheist...

[Boomer]

12. That's probably why I don't relate to the Atheist Movement

Organizing around being an atheist never appealed to me. It would be like joining a club for people who don't climb mountains or people who aren't deep sea divers. It's not an interest, it's a non-interest, and it's so broad that there's no real commonality with other people who hold that same non-interest. In all other respects we could be diametrically opposed.

For people who left their religions, I think there actually is more of a perception of common experience. That whole process of absorbing, then rejecting, a certain set of values and principles and assumptions can provide shared emotional histories. But I can't directly relate to that myself.

I do, however, see the need to fight against specific intrusions of religion on my secular life or violations of the separation of church and state. So although I don't participate in organization that are focused on "being an atheist", I have contributed to specific causes in which religion has impinged on my civil liberties.