The Non-prophets

Finding local atheist community is nerve-wracking for new non-believers who fear rejection and marginalization from friends, family, and society. The pervasive "Christonormativity" or "Theo-normativity" makes atheists feel inherently "weird" for simply existing, which fuels widespread fear despite modern communication tools. Straight white men are often more likely to adopt the atheist label, while women and people of color face compounded isolation, fearing negative "second and third order effects". Building small, local tribes through efforts like charity work is vital to combat the perception that atheists are uncaring. Ultimately, the goal is reaching a secular world where non-belief is viewed as just as natural as not being racist".  News Source: Kristina Lee: Building Atheist Community By Robert Bernstein for Ed Hat Santa Barbara September 22nd, 2025