Okay, first of all, you need to talk to the people at college. You chose that college, signed their statement, and now you're there under false pretenses. Becoming an atheist shouldn't mean that you feel free to ignore contracts. You might want to look into the law and arm yourself before having this conversation; I'm not sure what your rights are.

Someone once said that atheists should have the courage of their lack of convictions, anyone remember who?

You don't have to tell anyone else unless you want to. Not choosing to talk about your religion, or lack of it, isn't the same as lying. What you believe isn't your parents' business and it isn't your friends' business.

However, it sounds as if you may feel that telling them is necessary for your own peace of mind. I have to say that there's no way to guarantee a good outcome. Ask yourself what the best possible outcome is, and the worst, and then ask yourself if you can live with the worst.

I would suggest that you find some new, like-minded friends before trying to introduce the old ones to the new you. If your friends do close ranks against you, at least you won't be completely alone.

Finally - you didn't ask for this sort of advice, but - it may help, in talking to these very religious people, to remind them that many people in the Bible questioned God. The Bible is full of people, some of whom are described as some of God's favorite people, like David, and Job, and the author of Ecclesiastes, who argued and complained and wondered how belief in God could be reconciled with the visible world. Speaking as a Christian myself, I think a honest atheist is a lot more pleasing to God than someone who talks about Christ all the time while refusing to admit that he's secretly terrified there's nothing out there.

Then what does it hurt to play along? It makes other people feel better and doesn't hurt you.

I've been merrily playing Christian since I became an atheist at 8. And I'm a minister's child! It just came to me one day that this was all bunk. I've sought evidence contrary to this view spent years on it in fact, but thus far haven't found anything conclusive to convince me otherwise. But as there isn't a higher power, really who does it hurt for me to play along?

My family are happier thinking they're going to pie-in-the-sky and I'm happy to let them. I'm a proud member of a liberal evangelical/protestant denomination and I support my church financially and with my presence. In fact, I'm thinking seriously about picking up some sort of degree in Religious Studies - one thing I do know from all my searching and seeking in hopes of a God or an afterlife and that's religion!

If you haven't turned your Atheism into some sort of religion all on its own, what does it matter? Live and enjoy your life fully.

No relationship, with parents or otherwise, is worth having if a person doesn't accept you for who you are. If you want that acceptance, then you will have to shout who you are in a loud enough voice that everyone you associate with knows about it. (Get some atheist T-shirts and bumper stickers if necessary) You will lose some friends and gain new ones. This process may be difficult, but pretending to be someone you're not is even worse. Get right with yourself, and you will solve the ethical problem that caused you to lie on your application.

Come out! And transfer out of that brainwash-mill you're attending--right away.

Some people prefer that everything be smooth and nice and non-confrontational. That we get along nicely with everyone, no matter what their ideas. But ideas have implications--strong ones. They shape a person's every act. When they are incoherent or hidebound by unsupportable traditions (as we find with most organized religions), they can cause otherwise good people to justify horrendous acts. They make people untrustworthy and unpredictable. God can tell them to do anything, and then God can change his mind.

The bad ideas of religion can also affect your education and modes of thought in subtle and not-so-subtle ways.

You're already way ahead of most people, in that you have philosophically rejected religion. Now claim the prize and fully embrace who you are. I was raised religious and I became a minister when I was 23. I spent precious years of my youth professing one thing and believing another. (Though I kind of made myself believe it for a while.)

I had doubts from the time I was maybe 13, I waited until I was 30 to leave the church, and several more years before I fully came out as an atheist. It was a waste of precious time. Do it now. You'll be glad you did.

In my personal experience, nobody cares very much if I believe in god or not. It just doesn't come up.

Given your situation, people probably assume you believe in god.

The question of coming out makes some sense for gays, since it is pretty hard to have an intimate relationship with another person without picking a team.

Are you going to come out to god? Fine. God will be fine with you coming out as an athiest.

I really think this is between you and god. It's sort of like Vegas. What happens between you and god stays between you and god.

Ask yourself this.

Lets say someone found Christ while attending a secular school filled with Atheists. Would you expect them to keep quiet about their new found beliefs?

Of course not.

Don't hide your feelings, don't be a jerk about your beliefs, and don't let anyone belittle what you know to be true.

Be a level headed and reasonable representative for your belief and you may be surprised to find a few new friends.

A point to consider may be that this question isn't entirely philosophical.

LW, you say that you "transferred" to this religious university that made you sign an affidavit of faith. Why did you transfer here? I'm assuming you're in a US institution, and there are literally thousands of colleges and universities in the system, most of whom have no religious affiliation or a an affiliation just in name. Why go to this ultra-religious college if you have no belief in their god?

This might have been a choice based on finances - if your parents are helping you with college, did they insist on your going to this institution? If proclaiming atheism would leave you without a degree and no capital to generate to go to a more secular college of your choice, your best bet may be to stay quiet, if you're not willing to risk it.

Are you there because your department of study is prestigious? Unless you are planning to go into seminary (which sounds unlikely), there are probably equal or far more prestigious departments at other, more ideologically open colleges.

On the other hand, if your parents didn't mandate attendance at a religious college, or you're financing it on your lonesome, and your department of study is nothing special, why choose to go? Why are you still there? If you're really, truly unhappy being "in the closet" spiritually, get out of it and get out of there! College is too short a time in your life (and too expensive) to spend it somewhere where you're unhappy, or feel oppressed.

But, just to put it in perspective, unless you're willing to stay closeted about this for the rest of your life, your parents are probably going to find out about your atheism eventually, as will your close friends. I wish you luck, along with parents and friends who are Christian enough to love you even if you are not.