Richard Wade is a retired licensed Marriage and Family Therapist living in southern California. At Hemant’s suggestion, in 2009 he began writing an advice column called “Ask Richard.” He publishes his responses to email letters from people of all viewpoints, not just atheists. These usually deal with challenges or conflicts stemming from believers and nonbelievers living or working together. He tries to reduce unnecessary conflict and suffering on all sides.
He has spoken as a “guest atheist” at several churches to dispel the misconceptions and false stereotypes about atheism and atheists. His goal is to prevent the same unnecessary strife and hardship in families and friendships that he has dealt with in hundreds of “Ask Richard” letters. With accurate information, loving and respectful relationships do not have to be ruined by this difference in beliefs.
He is the President of the Santa Clarita Atheists and Freethinkers, who provide a safe haven and support for non-believers in the area as well as participate in several community outreach activities, charity work, interfaith events, and political activism.
Note: Letter writers’ names are changed to protect their privacy. Dear Richard, I’m a 17 year old atheist who came out to his parents about 6 months ago. My parents were shocked to hear it. They didn’t know what to do. My parents are extremely fundamentalist Christians. Its more of a cultish Christianity. Women must wear skirts to the ankles, stay quiet, etc.. My parents don’t listen to anything I have to say anymore because I’m an atheist and they… Read more
Mental disorders, emotional problems, and relationship problems are experienced by theists and atheists alike. I have received many letters to the “Ask Richard” column from atheists who have sought counseling for such difficulties, but the counselors they went to started telling them to “get right with God,” or similar religious nonsense. They had not advertised themselves as “pastoral” or “religious” counselors, but gave the impression that they are simply mainstream psychology-based therapists. Then once the sessions had started, they began… Read more
A Plethora of Problems Dear Richard, I am a senior in high school, and, unknown to nearly everyone, I’m an atheist. My parents don’t know, most of my closest friends don’t know, and no one at Church knows. I was not very diligent about covering my ideas early on in my atheism, and this makes it difficult to keep up my theistic façade. I am considering “coming out.” I want to stop living a lie, but I don’t want to… Read more
Note: Letter writers’ names are changed to protect their privacy. I need help so much. My ex husband committed suicide on New Year’s. Our two daughters, age 9 and 12 were told he died. I don’t know how to tell them that he committed suicide. Some people have said not to tell them, but they will find out because everyone is talking about it. We had been divorced for about three years. He had remarried, and his relationship was pretty… Read more
