As of tonight, I am out.
I acknowledged the publication of my book and publicized a radio interview coming up on Sunday to my entire friends list on Facebook, which includes professional and political associates.
For my entire career, I have kept my religious life out of my professional life. It doesn’t belong there, and the last thing I would want to do is to make anyone uncomfortable.
But now I’ve written the book, and I’m about to do an interview that could be heard by thousands of local residents, and honestly? I just don’t care any longer.
I’m out of the Atheopagan closet.
Now, I live in a progressive, tolerant, largely civilized area. This revelation is unlikely to hurt me. Not everyone has such a luxury, and I am fully cognizant of this.
But it’s an interesting moment for me. I have kept a careful partition between my personal life and my professional life for a very long time, in the name of maintaining my credibility.
But again: I don’t care any longer.
Ours is a worldview substantiated absolutely by science. A set of values that are moral and valid. And a practice that is meaningful, humane, and kind.
Nothing to be embarrassed by. Nothing to be ashamed of. However radically different it may be from the Christian substrate of this country, our way is one to be proud of.
So I’m out.
I’ll let you know how that works out for me.
If anything, your status as an author enhances your credibility. Congratulations.
I also noticed a few years ago that I no longer cared what people thought of my lifestyle. Celebrating one’s own deep felt truth is rewarding that way.
Well, I hope so. Although the subject matter may weird some people out, or cause them to dismiss me as some kind of New Age weirdo. But I agree: I’m at a place now where I feel I have established my credibility and don’t need to pretend any longer.
I think you’re going to find that authenticity will raise your credibility far more than any carefully cultivated projection aimed at “respectability”.
You’d be surprised. I worked in politics for many years and my opponents would have seized on any opportunity to frame me as “weird and crazy “. It’s sad, but people do play hardball and appeal to widespread prejudices.
Oh I know it. And there will almost certainly be people who will still use it against you. Even in the most liberal regions and professional circles, you may find doors closed to you because of atheopaganism. But if you openly and consistently own your core beliefs, you will become something much more than a politician. You will become a leader.
Good for you! I have no choice about being out, as my name is very unusual.
It’s always worked out for me (with a tiny handful of exceptions).
Congratulations on the book.