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. Hi Richard, I come from a sort-of liberal Muslim background (liberal in the sense my mum doesn’t make us pray or makes me wear a headscarf). I’ve doubted religion ever since I was young but because I wasn’t “allowed” to leave Islam, I’ve acted every bit the good little Muslim child role and even at certain points in life, actually believed I was Muslim and introduced myself to everyone as… Read more
Hi Richard, I really enjoy your posts and I think you are doing a wonderful job. There’s something that I’ve been struggling with and would really appreciate your advice. My mom claims that she can feel the spirits of people who have passed away and travel with them in a sort of elevated state of being. She knows I don’t believe in anything supernatural, yet I know she will be hurt if I tell her that I think she is… Read more
Note: All the names and a few details in this letter are changed to protect peoples’ privacy. Hey Richard, I’m a 15-year-old Atheist from a town just outside of a mid-size city in Colorado. My parents are both atheists, and religion was never really talked about when I was growing up. It wasn’t ignored, but I grew up assuming there was no god. That area is extremely liberal, and I went to school there until last year. I’ve never really… Read more
Note: Letter writers’ names are changed to protect their privacy. Dear Richard, I was a Catholic, but when I made my confirmation last year I was already an atheist. That felt extremely wrong to me; the other teenagers that were making theirs believed and it was a big deal to them, but to me it was just silly. I begged my parents to not make me but it wasn’t up for discussion. I made it anyways and then my family… Read more
Note: Letter writers’ names are changed to protect their privacy. Hi Richard! My husband and I have recently moved from a small town in the bible belt famous for its wholesome, christian values to probably the most liberal college town in the state, which isn’t saying much. Before we moved I made sure I had a job lined up because we could not afford to be jobless. During orientation, I learned that my new job was a Christian based company,… Read more
