I have a problem and would greatly appreciate any advice. I don't want to hide in the shadows anymore. I want to stand up for equality without doing so over the internet in secret. How can I explain to my overly religious parents that I am an atheist? I know that declaring so will make many people hate and leave me. I have seen my parents react negatively towards gay rights and other things. My father is a strict creationist and I am afraid of what he will do if he finds out I do not believe in any god (until evidence proves his or her existence). I do not want my family to stop themselves from asking questions and learning new things. I want to be free to respectfully speak my mind and hear different perspectives without being punished for it. I will be out on my own soon, however the career I long to be a part of isn't even supported by my family. I love my family, but sometimes I wonder if they love me enough to let me go my own path and explore without threats of going too hell. It is very lonesome sometimes because when I want to talk about a deep and philosophical or scientific subject, they don't even comprehend what I am talking about so I have to "dumb down" my words, so to speak. I do not want to hide forever and miss out on all the potential my brain could possibly have that had been hidden from me for so long. Any advice?
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