To be astonished that a grown woman has never before encountered the concept of atheism?

[Stangirl]

I was having a chat with a Sainsbury's checkout lady about Xmas. I was buying the Xmas edition of Good Housekeeping and she asked me whether I thought many people really understood the religious basis of Xmas. I replied that I thought most people were aware of the baby Jesus aspect but as an atheist i was happy to just have an excuse for parties, food and presents and liked to think of it more in the old Winter solstice/seasonal cycle terms. She said "Sorry, what did you say you are?". I said "Atheist." She asked what that was and when I explained she expressed amazement that someone didn't believe in God and said she had never before heard of the term or the concept. We ended the exchange with me saying "Yup, I just believe we live and die and that's it." The lady in question was in her 30s I'd say. AIBU to be shocked by this?

Weird..

good grief

Almost definitely on the Sainsbury/Amish Community Christmas exchange programme.

Are you sure it wasn't Farm Foods and not Sainsburys?

Some people lead very sheltered lives. They never watch the news, read newpapers, solicit other peoples' opinions or explore the world outside their own little bubble. It's a bit of a shame as there is so much stuff to experience but I'm not entirely surprised.

Great link Unquiet! I want that on a flashcard in RL.

I've had this once before at Xmas a few years back and the 40-something lady in question (a new colleague) started accusing me of therefore being a devil worshipper. I tried to explain to her that if I don't believe in God, then I certainly don't believe in Satan, but she couldn't grasp either that concept or the basics of Atheism. I've had the ridiculous 'so you must worship the devil' crap quite a few times. Really does make you worried at how some people's minds work (or, rather, don't work)!

I thought that about the link too! There used to be a great book about management based on the principles of Star Trek called "Make It So".

I suspect she does know that plenty of people don't believe in God - how could she not - but was simply unware of the word athiesm.

Scorpette - I attend a sewing course at my local children's centre where all the other attendees are either Muslim or Christian. We were having a lovely chat about the different holidays, how they are celebrated and what they mean when I explained I didn't believe in any God at all. The other ladies were completely fascinated by this and a couple claimed they were aware of atheism but had never met anyone who said they were. I felt wonderfully exotic.

I wonder if she was religious herself, and started the conversation because of that, as an opener. Maybe a Jehovah's Witness?

I'm absolutely baffled! Even my (self-confessed) very thick best friend would know what "atheist" meant!

lot of hignorance out there

Try having conversations with locals in other countries. I've had this conversation with locals in Morrocco, Israel and Turkey.

I have been accused of having no morals and been confused with an anarchist!

It seems particularly odd given the fact that she asked you whether you thought many people appreciated the religious basis of Christmas.

Was she English speaking? Could it be she just never heard the word before?

the Christmas Good Housekeeping is out?!!!

Yanbu btw, but some people do live in a complete bubble.

YANBU, by the way. Is she part of a cult? Or just truly ignorant?

Odd - she obviously realises that many people never ever go to church, even at Christmas, for them to "not know" about the religious significance of Christmas. Does she just assume that they all believe in God but don't do anything about it then?

Hmm - as a few of you have noted, she may have been of the evangelical bent. It happened in Brixton and it's very that way around here. I can barely move by the KFC without someone trying to save my soul.

I think so. When Jehovah's witnesses come round I have stopped telling them I'm an atheist. It gives them something to get their teeth into if I do. (I am very polite though)

KFC is the Evangelical HEART of Brixton.

Which is odd.

susitwo I wouldn't rush to get it - not many new recipes if you're off a Christmas recipe bent...

Gah - "you're of" for goodness sake!