I'm from a very conservative rural community in Indiana, where you're more likely to be a democrat than an atheist. I was raised in a christian family, and was expected to be at church and youth group every Sunday and Wednesday until I was 18 (when I made the conscious decision to never willfully go to church again). Even though I grew up going to church I had always had my doubts. Around two years ago I had an existential crisis which led me to books like Nausea (Sartre), The God Delusion (Dawkins), and even God, NO! by Penn Jillette. I had also listened to Podcasts and watched videos and read articles, and I had concluded that I was an atheist. A little before I had my existential crisis I met my girlfriend whom I've spent over two years with (we are high school love birds), and as the title implies, she is a devout, superstitious, unapologetic, hardcore catholic. We are so compatible in so many ways, and we completely understand each other, and our religious beliefs (or lack of) are the only thing that we disagree on. The only problem..? She doesn't know that I am an atheist. In fact nobody knows I am an atheist, this is the first time I am openly stating that I AM an atheist, and I'm not going to lie, it feels pretty damn good.

I don't want to keep lying to my girlfriend about what i believe, and i know if i told her she would be crushed. I really need some advice on how to handle this situation, how i can break it to her without hurting her, and how i can come out about being atheist to my family etc. I've never really been able to talk to anyone about this so any and all input on this matter is appreciated.

Thanks,
-A concerned closeted atheist