Esplin

I have always been into science. Astronomy, biology, chemistry. Growing up I was questioning everything and I realized that lots of questions about the universe can be answered without invoking a deity. During my time in college I spent time studying all religions and realized that none can live up to logic and reason for me. The universe is a beautiful place and I see no tangible evidence for a deity. I have no problem with those who do believe. I just want them to stop trying to convert me. I will gladly answer questions about my atheism they may have but I just wish for them to respect it. I am happy with my position and see no reason to believe. :)

I thank everyone who posted here. It is hard to listen to them say they are going to pray for me. But I am doing my best to ignore it. It just seems they think there is something wrong with me if I don't believe. I am just telling them I don't wish to talk about it anymore. Some religious folks need to realize that trying to push religion on others drives them away more then it brings folks in. Thank you again everyone for the kind words. :)

Thank you for the wonderful suggestions and helping me feel much less alone. :) You are wonderful people.

I was raised in a Christian home and came at an atheist at 16. Ever since then I have been dealing with pressure and bullying from family and people who were supposed to be my friends. They keep telling me that the only way to be happy is to find God and Jesus. I keep telling them that my ideals are my own and that I respect their right to believe what they want and they should respect me. But lately it has gotten really bad when my cousin made it his mission to try and convert me back. He has been harassing me constantly about how atheist are horrible people who don't care about anyone at all. This is sending me deeper into a spiral and I do my best to respond rationally. But now he is making me feel like less them a human just because I don't follow a deity. And he now has convinced some members of my family that I am only an atheist because I am mad at God. How can I be mad at something I don't think exist? How can I convince him to be happy with who I am and stop trying to change me? How can I get the rest of my family to understand this as well? I accept them for who they are! Why can't they accept me? Does anyone have any advice on how I can get them to understand they are not helping but hurting me even more? I thought that at 24 they would understand my atheism is not just a "phase". But part of who I am.

I feel useless and like I am drifting unconnected from everyone else.

I have battled with depression and anxiety for a good part of my life and it is getting worse as time goes on. I am now 24 and unemployed. I am taking care of my aunt while I look for work which since I can't seen to find anything is making me feel worse. I feel like I have turned into a loser who is doomed to rely on others for the rest of my life. I don't even want to leave the house anymore and sometimes freak out when I do. I have not hung out with anyone in some time and I feel ok with that now. I feel trapped in my own life and don't know what to do. I can't drive because it freaks me out and that leads to me feeling even more trapped. I fear my entire family has written me off as a lost cause. I can't take meds because I am currently uninsured. I am trying hard to cope with life as it comes along but I feel like I am spinning my wheels and not going anywhere. I feel like just curling up in bed and sleeping the days away and I need to fight that. The only thing that keeps me going is taking care of my aunt and my cat. Edit: Hello everyone. I forgot to do that part of the message. :) I hope I can meet some folks here who might be able to help. I am in Southeast Michigan and it is a very beautiful day out. I just can't bring myself to go out and enjoy it.