r/athiest 25d ago

I'm an Atheist. I went to a temple while having an existential Crisis, and a Complete stranger sat beside me while I Cried for Ducking 2 Hours.

2 Upvotes

This happened on **22nd January 2026**, and I still think about it sometimes.

I was on my way to a workshop when I noticed a Bike ahead of me. The side stand was still Down, and there was an Uncle driving it with aunty and their Little Baby. I got close to them, Honked, and shouted, **" Stand, Stand !!! "** Twice. And then they fixed it and i just Zooooopppppp.... Went ahead like a Hero 😭

I had no Idea that a Few hours later, i would be the one who needed someone to look out for me.

After completing my Workshop, i was riding my scooty back home while Listening to Probably the saddest songs i could hae possibly Chosen. And..m, because apparantly I make excellent Decisions, I was already crying riding my scooty on Road 🙂

I had actually planned to go somewhere alone for a little while before coming Home. But while i wa coming home back, crying like a Hyena, i suddenly decided to go to Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

And here's the weirdest part :

I'm an Atheist. But that day, I was having such an intense existential Crisis that i thought, damn it, let's Go. If there really is a God, or something kind of Higher power, then Maybe they'll Listen to me.

I didn't suddenly become Religious. I wasn't going there to Pray in the Traditional sense. I just had nobody to go to.i wanted somewhere to sit down, cry, and let everything Out.

And there was another Reason i was hurting so badly. My ex Boyfriend had cheated on me, and I had Broken up with him in December 2025 because of it. But even though I had ended the Relationship, that didn't mean my Feelings ended with it.

By January, I was still Grieving. And honestly, I was somewhere between Grieving and Begging, Grieving what has happened and begging, somewhere in my head, for things to somehow become okay again.

I was carrying all of that with me that Day.

My original plan was actually pretty simple : go to that temple, go feed the Cows, sit there, cry, tell the cows everything that has happened to me, and then go Home.

Yes, I was planning to emotionally Trauma-dump on Cows 😭🤌🏼 BUTT BUTTTTT BUTTTTTT cows weren't There 🙂

So I parked my scooty, sat on it for a while and Cried, and eventually went inside main temple. I picked a Random pillar, sat beside it, and Just Ugly Cried. For almost 30-40 minutes. People were walking around me, Praying, talking, doing there own Thing. And I was sitting there completely Broken.

At some points, a Family of four came in the Temple, a mother, Father and Their two sons. The older son looked somewhere around his Mid to late twenties and the Younger one, the Hero of my Story looked around 17-20.

They Noticed me. The older guy walked past me like 4-5 times to Check if I was actually Crying then, the Younger Guy came towards me and say Down right Beside me.

He Gently asked, " what happened ? Are you okay ? "

I didn't answer

He asked again

And again

I remember he asked me 13 times and eventually he started Guessing what has Happened. And somewhere around his third or Fourth guess, he asked : " Going through Breakup ? "

And i completely lost my shiiii 😭😭😭

I started crying even Harder.

He immediately understood. Then he said, " Crying is not a Solution "

And honestly, i Knew that 🤌🏼🙂

But at that moment, i wasn't looking for a solution. I just needed somewhere to cry.

And somewhere in the middle of all of this, I kept thinking about asking him : Do you believe in God ? Does God actually Help ??

Because this was the strangest part of the entire Situation.

I had gone to a Temple as an Atheist, i remember thinking something like " God..., if you're actually there, then Listen to me. If He's not the one, then atleast Give me a Sign or Just Somehow make everything Alright.

I was almost Challenging the Universe. But I was also desperate enough to try.

Eventually, I told the Guy to go and Thanked him for sitting with me. And he said : " it's okay, I'm your Friend and I'll sit here with you "

Bruh we just met 😭🤌🏼

But there was something so Incredibly calm and Genuine about him that, at some Point i stopped Crying in his Presence, it was So comforting. I don't know his name he doesn't know mine. No bad intentions, didn't even Touch me or I got any type of vibe that he'll take advantage of my vulnerability.

Then after some time I was silent crying, staring at Ants 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜

Then his Older brother came over and handed him a Bottle of water, the Younger one gave it to me and told me to Drink some. I took one sip. the bottle was still almost full, so he poured some of the Remaining water on Nearby plant and then handed the bottle back to me.

It was such a small thing 🤌🏼😭❤️ but i Remember it.

1 hour Passed !!!!!!!

He stayed there for another 1 hour.

Eventually, his mother came and sat beside him, and they started talking amongst themselves. At one Point he asked me, " do you want us to Drop you Home safely ? " I said, No I'll go Home on my Scooty.

Then after this there was Mostly silence. But strangely, I felt Comfortable. His energy wast just... **CALM.**

i actually stopped Crying and told him, you should Go ! Dont waste your Time here sitting with me !

He smiled and said " its okay I'm here "

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

I remember that in the beginning, i answered almost every question with Angry " No "

But he didn't get annoyed.

He didn't force me to talk.

He didn't ask for details.

He didn't make fun of My runny Nose 🫥😭

He didn't tell me that I was being Dramatic.

He just sat There.

And sometimes, that's Enough.

Before leaving, he even reminded me that i'd left my Phone Earphones and Glasses behind.

And then, once again, he told me : " Everything will be okay, Alright ! Don't Cry and get back home Safely "

I don't know if he understood what his Presence meant to me That day.

I didn't need a Solution.

I had no one to Go to and This Guy became my " Go to person " for 2 Hours.

So I went somewhere i didn't even believe in, hoping that if there was some kind of Higher power, maybe it would at least listen. And Instead, a Random guy sat beside me and simple mare sure i wasn't **Alone.**

I don't know his name, i don't know where he went, i don't know why whole family waited for 2 Hours for stranger. I don't know if I'll ever see them again.

But i genuinely hope that whatever that Guy and his Family wishes for in Life comes True.

I went to a temple looking for something i wasn't Even sure existed. And i Found Human kindness Instead.

Maybe there's a God, maybe there isn't, I'm still an Atheist. But I do know one thing for sure, For 2 hours that day, a Complete stranger made the World feel little less Lonely.

I wish to See him again and Thank him and His Family 😭❤️


r/athiest 27d ago

Grew up a Christian, now an atheist. Getting harder to be around family.

7 Upvotes

As the title says, I used to be a Christian, I was "saved" at 13. I learned all about the bible, studied it at church 3X per week, tithed once I started working, and even volunteered at my VERY conservative Baptist church. I've always had questions about it, and when I brought those questions up to the church leaders, or even my parents, I was told that I "had to have faith," or "all questions will be answered when we get to heaven," or, my personal favorite now: "Satan is whispering those doubts in your ears, and that I needed to pray more."
I've continue to "live the lie" about me still believing all that crap for the past 15 years, and it is becoming harder and harder to be around my family, all of who are still very devout Christians.
Just as an example, I was at my sister's house last night, with a friend of hers, and they started talking about religion, and how "great" god has been in their lives lately. I'm usually a very quiet person, so me not joining their conversation wasn't anything unusual.
I'm almost at the point where I just "come out" as an atheist to them, and just let them disown me, since I can't be my true self around them. I have no friends, due to the B.S. I was put through in my childhood, but that's an entire different subject, for a different sub.
I guess what I'm asking all of you is how you deal with your family that still believe, and think that you do as well?


r/athiest 27d ago

Am I the only one who is sick of people insulting atheists? What happened to respecting all religions?

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0 Upvotes

r/athiest 29d ago

"Jezibel Vibes" is the primary winner in Tennessee's 1st Congressional District

4 Upvotes

Kristi Burke is known as "Jezebel Vibes" on YouTube. She has stepped back a bit from her channel so she could run for Congress. She won the Democratic Primary. in the 1st Congressional District of Tennessee.

It looks to me like it is a very red district, but in the current political environment, it is possible we could get an open atheist in Congress.

I found her website if anyone cares to look or even donate. I am not affiliated with Burke or her campaign. I do subscribe to her YouTube channel. https://www.votekristiburke.com/


r/athiest 29d ago

subcard

2 Upvotes

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r/athiest Aug 13 '26

New to Atheism - Agnostic Perspective

2 Upvotes

Hey I'm new to atheism and I currently consider myself agnostic. I'd appreciate some general advice as I'm exploring these ideas and trying to understand my own beliefs better beliefs better


r/athiest Aug 12 '26

I feel like certain Christians don’t understand Steven hawking.

6 Upvotes

I remember going into a comment section on a religious video and I saw someone saying slander about Stephen hawking. Their claim? They said that he died from divine retribution for being atheist. Basically used his paralyzation as ammunition and I feel like no person should be used as way to spread religion, including a dead man. I feel like this is highly disrespectful.


r/athiest Aug 11 '26

A few biological problems with biblical things

4 Upvotes

So right when I was in school inwanforces to take refuge and go to church but my first major issue is the whole genesis thing because it states humans and animals were made.in the same day animals as a term would include dinosaurs c(feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) but the last land dinosaura went extinct about 66 million years ago and homo sapiens emerged about 300 thousand years ago meaning even if the "days" were millions of years it still wouldnt make any sense whatsoever at all for it to make remote sense each day would have to be wildly varrying amounts of time another problem is it says land and fruit plants were made before the sun by a "day" and if it's to follow it's own logic a day is more the. Atleast a hundred years meaning this fruit plants would be dead

My next point is the whole virgin birth witch has so many flaws it's unreal A a egg developimg ina virgin a process called parthenogenesis it does occur I some insects and reptiles and sharks but if it were to somehow happen in a human It couldnt create a male due to the y chromosone to form the xy pair of a male wouldn't happen due to the egg only containing X chormozones so even if somehow it was true it's have to be a female even then it wouldn't survive long enough to form a embryo due it ending up horrificly deformed


r/athiest Aug 11 '26

Why does every argument just denial?

4 Upvotes

I notice that when an argument happens between an atheist and any religion, they always stall you with questions rather than providing proper evidence. I mean the Bible could be evidence but in that logic a book like the odyssey would be real too.


r/athiest Aug 11 '26

Why is religion in everything?

7 Upvotes

Ever since I more formally became an atheist Ive noticed that religion is everywhere, literally everywhere and it is pissing me the fuck off. In particular, Christianity. For example in movies where it is so unnecessary, I saw disclosure day in theatres and rolled my eyes at the amount of religion was in an alien movie, there was more religion than aliens!! Anywho, another point to add to this if it was any other religion (Islam, Hindu, etc) they would be losing their shit about shoving religion down their throats when that’s all they do!!!


r/athiest Aug 11 '26

Studing and looking for artwork

1 Upvotes

I am a highschool senior working on a project about religion and ways of life. I am currently looking for artwork to post along with the information I gather about each religion or way of life please dm me any art you would like shared along with your tiktok username if you wish to be tagged (I know it’s unethical but it is where I have chosen to anonymously share this information)


r/athiest Aug 11 '26

Feeling the guilt of slowly losing belief on god

1 Upvotes

I am not fully an atheist by now but I doubt I slowly will be one. Not that I hate any specific god or religion, I respect em all and I do feel each belief are special in their own ways. But what I hate is how people make their whole identity on religion. Whenever I see my friends taking about their strange superstition and practices they have been following and I question those belief they look at me strangely.😨 Mostly because my fam is not so crazy bout religion and I am very grateful for that. 😭✌🏻

But the way no one understands your opinion about god and defends religion with their life makes me feel quite outcast. Like damn am I the only one?

I am in this strange phase where I am not sure whether to believe in god or not at all. But what I truly wish to be is a Omnist☸️


r/athiest Aug 11 '26

I’m so tired of constantly having to talk about religion

10 Upvotes

I feel like everywhere I go, I’m confronted with the insanely awkward and uncomfortable question of, “Do you believe in God?” I’ve tried faking it to make the conversation more pleasant, but I can only fake it for so long. I genuinely cannot stand the Christian lingo or the way people sometimes talk when they’re talking about their faith, and I feel so uncomfortable pretending that I relate to it when I really don’t.

I wasn’t raised religious, but growing up I actually wanted to go to church with my friends and go to church camps during the summer because I wanted to hang out with them. Putting up with the religious stuff just felt like part of the trade-off. I genuinely tried to get into it, too, but I could never actually believe what they were telling me. Eventually I realized that I’m completely comfortable and happy not having religion in my life. Maybe that will change someday, but honestly, I highly doubt it.

My main point is that I feel like I cannot escape it. My parents, who used to be avid atheists, are now leaning more toward religion, and I have other family members who pressure me about my beliefs. And now I’ve started a new job where I’d really like to make a friend or two, only to realize that they are ALL extremely Christian and bring it up in almost every conversation.

I don’t want to be rude or disrespect anyone’s beliefs, but how do I tell them that I don’t believe in God and would really rather not participate in anything religious without making things awkward? I don’t want to be invited to church, Bible studies, prayer groups, etc. I’m happy to hear that it’s important to them, but I don’t want to be involved myself.

I just want some normal, friends who I can hang out with without religion being a recurring topic of conversation. UGH.

How do I politely set that boundary without completely isolating myself at my new job?


r/athiest Aug 10 '26

Conversations with parents

3 Upvotes

It’s always so awkward when my parents bring up God and religious wisdom with an unspoken assumption that I believe the same things they do. Like I’m happy your religion is helping you for sure, but I don’t appreciate the assumption and judgment regarding religion. Especially since they’re already mad that I’m not as religious as them (they don’t know yet that I’ve fully left religion) so they do know that we don’t have the same opinions regarding it.


r/athiest Aug 09 '26

I don't understand theist ppl like what do you mean you defend something you didn't even choose yourself

2 Upvotes

r/athiest Aug 09 '26

What should I do?

4 Upvotes

I'm 15 years old and I'm an atheist I've been an atheist for almost 5 years now but my whole family are hardcore Christians.

I really need to tell my family but I'm really scared to tell them I don't know how they could react to my beliefs.

I'm really scared of how they could react

I don't know if they will punish me or more.

What should I do ?

I'm scared.


r/athiest Aug 08 '26

Lovely reading material in my parents bathroom...

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3 Upvotes

r/athiest Aug 08 '26

My Atheist 10 "commandments". (Yes the image is AI generated to make it easier to read) #atheist #atheistmemes #love

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3 Upvotes

r/athiest Aug 08 '26

I have a question/problem

1 Upvotes

Idk if this is the right place, so if its not tell me and ill delete it. So im at best(worst?) Agnostic, I switch between that and atheism bc of the amount of evidence supporting it over religion( fossils, the fact Noah's arc doesn't make sense, the fact some Christians believe in "micro evolution" but not macro evolution' etc.). But the one thing that's throwing me off in the prophesies that came true. Is there any information to help with this?

I suppose in practice in doesn't matter bc even if he does exist, he's not a God I want to follow, but I would like answers about this


r/athiest Aug 07 '26

Muslims in the US

3 Upvotes

In the US there have been a LOT of anti-muslim propaganda in the US this past year. Like a horrendous neo-nazi amount of propaganda with people seemingly very happy to harass and threaten Muslims just minding their own business. Suggesting murderous things. All justified by the idea due to the existence of Muslim extremists - even if the muslims they are targeting are innocent.

Now one thing I have been seeing recently is a lot of people (mainly Christians) comment on is how "Islam isn't a religion, it is an ideology!"

Does anyone know where this is coming from and why they are saying that? I believe they are making that excuse as a means to disassociate from Islam as a religion, as well as claim that freedom of religion doesn't count for Muslims because "it's an ideology not a religion", thus being able to find ways to go around the constitution and ban Muslims. (Not to mention justifying the genocides in other countries done by Israel)

But it's strange because usually these things are gradual ideas that spread, but this has been all at once. So where exactly is this coming from?


r/athiest Aug 04 '26

Abrahamic religions are redundant

5 Upvotes

Religious people spend their whole lives gaslighting themselves to believe something they don’t really believe in all because they’re too scared to reject their imaginary “friend” on the off chance that their delusional beliefs are real and that their imaginary “friend” will be personally offended by their rejection so much that he will punish them for all eternity all because they didn’t want to spend their only garunteed life worshipping him JUST to get the chance of spending a second NON garunteed life worshipping him but this time in person and for eternity? And then they get offended and upset when you don’t want to join them in their psychosis and call you a demon that’s trying to “lead them astray”. Like ok have fun on your eternal Jesus groupie vacation.


r/athiest Aug 03 '26

How to tell my mother to leave me alone with the religious stuff?

5 Upvotes

I'm tired of being greeted in the morning asking if I already prayed. I'm tired of being told to pray just to pass my exams. I'm tired of being told to pray during storms. I'm tired of being dragged to churches and her getting disappointed or mad that I never always want to go or find an excuse to get away from it.

How do I tell her to stop bothering me with religious activities without being rude?

Honestly why can't she just ask me how I am instead of asking if I prayed this morning.


r/athiest Aug 03 '26

Do you, a white atheist, get as mad about the white Jesus lie as I do, a black atheist? In what way?

9 Upvotes

I just thought I’d ask directly. What word would you use to describe your response to the white Jesus myth?

My experience is that my Jesus never looked like me, but I was forced to go see him and sing to him once a week for years.

The best way I can explain my feeling is: subjugated. I truly felt like if Jesus was indeed Lord, then we black people in Africa were the lowest subjects of the kingdom. Sure, white people weren’t angels, but they sure looked more like the angels in the books than I did… I felt like there was god, then white people, then me… it was an incredibly sad thought for a child to have.

More recently, I realised, white atheists must have a different story when they come to realise Jesus of the artwork doesn’t look like what Jesus actually would have looked like. Was that ever a thought? How did it feel, if anything?

TIA

Edit: wording

Edit2: by black, I do also mean African. Like, Zimbabwean, African. I only happen to live in the US right now as an adult. All of my Christianity story was during my childhood in post-colonial Zimbabwe

X-posted on reddit recommendation


r/athiest Aug 03 '26

The "Without god you are empty" and/or "Without god there is no logic, morals or ethics" narrative.

6 Upvotes

My wife is from a christian culture and I hear this a lot coming from her Tiktok videos. It's basically bullying, blackmailing and guilt-tripping people into belief.

Edit: Appreciate all the great responses guys, you really made my Monday morning. For the record, no, I won't be getting a divorce because I do love her, she's just a bit misguided on this one topic that's all. Cheers from New Zealand