I think it would be good to take a look around this section of the site and the atheist hub lower in the forums area in these areas you'll find lots of wonderful advise that certainly could apply to your situation. Unfortunately, there is a real lot to cover for your situation and you may want to be more specific. I do think you should take the time to look around and see what advise has been asked for and granted. Everybody's situation is unique.

But in the mean time, who are you and where do you stand in your family. What role do you play in your family?Are you a father child one of multiple children Grandparent ect...? I can see from your profile that you choose to label yourself non-atheist. Are you agnostic? I can also see you said you were 42. which happens to be a number that has a lot in common with me.

Really though, there is tons and tons of good sincere advice that has been given on this site often differing a lot based on the situations they apply to.

Ok I thought about it and to be honest it important to remember that just because you have lost your faith does not mean everyone else around you needs to know. You will want to think about the consequences of telling everyone your new-found views. Will it really benefit them or make their live better in any ways? Will it cause excommunication from you re families or worse depending on where you live will it cause persecution to you family by the society surrounding it? Perhaps for example it makes your mother happy to think she has a religious child would you want your mother to feel bad what would it take to keep her happy? Would this information your marriage to fall apart if you are married? If you have kids what would you want for them? Most Atheist seemingly after all the dust settles want their kids to come to their own beliefs and just want their children to have enough information available to them so they can make an informed decision.

It's important to note that Some people seek religion for different reasons some to help them deal with guilt some to help them cope with death some because they are scared to think otherwise the list goes on and on. Most atheist think it is better for people to not have religion but to me I feel that depends on the individual. those dealing with guilt can have some of the most difficult times moving on with life and religion can help some to get back into a normal life. I personally don't mind anybodies religious views atheist or not as long as they don't infringe on the lives of others or hurt anybody. I do see still some benefits to religion and don't feel the world would be entirely better off without them though I feel religion should be kept in check. I guess what I m trying to say here is tread carefully and with consideration for yourself and the people around you. I happen to have been at this a while and know it takes the average person about 6 months to 2 years to get over the shock of realizing atheism. I recommend you use this time to learn as much as you can about being such. I also recommend you learns as much as you can about religion starting with those closest to you this will come in handy in the future and now you have the ability to view it with an open mind so long as you don't put up mental walls against it you may not believe in what these religions put forth but it would be a good idea to know more about the religions than the people in them know as this can help you in many situations where they will know little about being an atheist. this will help you learn so much about people and the world surrounding you. Depending on how strongly religious is your family is and assuming you were Christian believe it or not, the bible may be your best tool when it comes to making this easier on you and your loved ones. The bible teaches us that we have free will, that those who do not believe but have been saved are worth more than those who have always believed, but most importantly it teaches us not to judge. It is also filled with a bunch of contradictions that basically discredit it.

Zaph is right, not everyone needs to know and even if you do decide to talk about it, you don't have to do it right away. If you do, others will try to convince you that you are wrong and you should follow with your heart rather than your brain.

Well to be honest with you this is the best thing that could have ever happened to you. Once you are able to find happiness and comfort in your own actions and realize that there is nothig out there givinv you a hand or keeping you down, then you truly achieve freedom.

... I'm not sure if you're a Christian, at least in the mainstream sense. But if you are, compare it to the experience you had when you discovered that Santa wasn't real, and your parents were lying to you.

Terrible, but you got over it, right? You'll get through this :)