I know no other atheists, very few veggies, no open feminists, very few animal lovers and even fewer pacifists, in my close social circle we have deeply religious friends who talk about their religion and the positive aspects of it all the time, I do not contribute to these comments, in fact very few of my close friends know I am an athiest. I get openly mocked for being a veggie, sometimes turning up to gatherings where there is nothing for me to eat (I know take my own), my feminist/anti violence, animal rights views I never really express.
Am I just a weirdo or is there other like minded souls out there? I suppose since atheists do not congregate at a place of worship they do not get to know each other and have the same sense of community as the religious faithful. My DC are being brought up RC which has its own problems for me but their is a good sense of community within the church/parish/school and although I am a part of that I never really fit in so to speak.
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Any other athiest, feminist, pacifist, vegetarian, animal lovers out there?
sweetkitty · 19/11/2014 18:09
Hi sweetkitty,
I consider myself to be all of those things and no, you are definitely not a weirdo! Rather, you have a stronger conscience that most and want to make a positive difference in the world which is something to be proud of.
It can be really difficult if you don't know many other people who your views. I live in a very mixed community where it's not that unusual to be vegetarian but still get negative comments and at work recently, after expressing a view on page three a colleague left a copy of the sun on my desk every day 
so I appreciate how difficult it can be!
I've found one great way of meeting like minded people is through becoming involved in the causes that you believe in. For example attending free seminars, rally's or protests or simply contacting organisations to volunteer. I am a rep for my local trade union and have an opportunity to meet like minded people that way, but other examples would be stop the war coalition, women's rights organisations like the Fawcett Society, environmental groups or local animal rights groups depending what is running in your local area. There is a list of local events on humanism.org. Facebook groups can also be a good way to start or you can check events on Twitter or the organisations in questions web page.
Most of all, be proud of who you are and what you believe in 
Hello all! This perfectly describes me too! Nice to meet you all!
It's so nice to know I'm not alone. I guess I've always been different, I am NC with my NPD mother in part due to the fact I never agreed with her views, growing up was very difficult for me in a small town where if it doesn't happen there it doesn't happen! The rest of my family are just so different from me I guess I'm the black sheep, first one to go to uni, decided I was veggie at 12, had views so different to their own.
I've never really fitted in, DP and I have differing views especially on the religion front but over the years we've learnt to respect each other's views and we run along together nicely, we often joke we are ying and yang.
Anyway again lovely to meet you all 
Hello, me too :) I don't know if I exactly qualify on the pacifist front, though I do think it is appalling that war is even necessary in this day and age and would far rather see a non-violent solution. Does that count?
I too turned veggie at 12. By and large I'm lucky that my friends and family are lovely, though I am considered odd for over-thinking things sometimes
Sometimes I'm not a real vegetarian 
I hope to do better.
I tick all the other boxes though
Vegan, feminist, atheist, yeah yeah yeah, and OP, am in Dundee, so maybe not that far from you? That said, I feel as different to vegetarians as I did to meat-eaters when I was vegetarian (i.e. very).
I have a 4yo DS.
Agree with a PP that you need better friends!
And vegan parents, there's a newish vegan parents Fb an page if you are looking for vegan-specific support/friends. www.facebook.com/groups/270959229775655/?fref=nf
As an atheist, I could not have my child raised RC. I went to catholic schools myself (convents, no less!), and hell, no! That's not a compromise I could make. Good thing DH is also vegan and atheist! Although maybe the strict religious upbringing made me into a better atheist! 
Lentilasanything - my thoughts were I have no religion but DP (yes we are not married!) attends church and it was important to him the DC were brought up RC, to be honest it's not all fire and brimstone in their school it's more about love and respect. I do do an awful lot of tongue biting. The older DCs already know I don't believe and a bit of why but as father are older they will be encouraged to make up their own minds, DP has agreed to this. The parish priest is fantastic, he know we are not married, baptised our children, he has never once tried to preach to me, he's a lovely man and I help out at a few church and school functions.
I'm not justifying myself given the choice I would have preferred the DC to have a secular education.
Having our small DC my social life kind of revolves around them and their children's parents so I don't get to meet many people like me, maybe they are just hiding like me
It's so lovely to know I'm not the only one
I'm not dissing my friends I love my friends, I respect those who find comfort in religion, would never dream of mocking it despite what I personally believe. I do love our differences it's just that sometimes it's hard to hide your beliefs all the time, I have one friend who has a real problem with me being a vegetarian which I find baffling in this day and age it's not that radical.
I guess I just feel like the odd one out so started this thread in search of others like me
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