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Comment by Broken_Hippo | Hacker News Reader

Lies. They don't exactly accept folks that are openly atheist and tell them their rules for life are crap. You have to act like the religion is correct, even if you don't believe it.

A lot of them won't accept you if you are queer in any form. I'm bisexual, and refuse to act like half of me doesn't exist.

Some of them won't accept you if you do not dress well enough, though I realize some are more lax.

Some consider me a sinner simply for being divorced: Others, because refuse to birth children.

I'm not in that group they care about, in other words.

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I'm an atheist, and I've attended years of AA meetings. I've never even remotely experienced anything like what you described. But I live in a big city on the West Coast.

AA reflects the character of the people and culture who are implementing it... If those people are judgy religious assholes, then I can't expect their AA meetings would be much different. But it would be a mistake to assume that your local sample defines the entire movement.

"A lot of them won't accept you..."

There are tons of religions out there. You have to find one that works for you. Atheist? Join an atheist group. There are options.

Again, though, you are pressing religions. I've looked, and I'm not willing to change myself for a religion. Kinda by definition, atheist groups aren't religious groups.

I'm from Indiana: How many atheist groups do you think are in a town of 3,000? or 50,000? You know, in person spaces.

I'm no longer in Indiana, but I no longer share a native tongue with locals and religion isn't a big thing here. I'd just go and get actual medical care here and do hobbies I like. These aren't atheist groups, just non-religious.

"Kinda by definition, atheist groups aren't religious groups."

Kind of by definition they could be. There is still debate by scholars as to what defines a religion. But something as simple as shared beliefs and world view can meet that definition, especially if it deals with the presence or absence of rituals or objects related to supernatural beliefs.

"you are pressing religions."

Nope. Follow the comments back. I'm not pressing people to get into a religion. I'm merely clarifying why AA includes religion - for the sense of community.

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