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 grew up Catholic and my parents are pretty devout Catholics. I was skeptical for a long time, but I finally called myself an atheist after I had been living by myself at college. I haven’t had the guts to tell them this, and I often went to church with them when I visited to appease them. Now, due to certain circumstances, I am living with them again… Read more
Note: Letter writers’ names are changed to protect their privacy. Dear Richard, I will be attending a Catholic college in a few months and as an Atheist I have to admit I almost didn’t go simply for this reason, but I desperately wanted to be a part of a major program they offer, and the location is fantastic. I have spoken to current students and they have said that aside from a mass during the freshman orientation, all other Christian… Read more
Commenting on the recent post about atheist billboards and ads around the country, our friend hoverFrog said, I think that Alaska needs one too. Sarah Palin needs to be filmed standing in front of an atheist sign. For the lols. With nothing to do on the post-turkey gluttony day, I thought I’d indulge in some fantasy fulfillment by way of Photoshop: Perhaps readers who like photo manipulation can create, or people can simply describe their own scenes of where and… Read more
Dear Richard, I have been seeking advice for a problem from several sources lately, and I would love your advice if you have the time to give it to me. I am struggling with a problem I have not heard spoken of directly. I would like to think that it falls under the category of “spiritual withdrawals” because otherwise I’m left to think much more disturbing things. When I was a Christian I would have these moments of emotional rapture… Read more
I came home from the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear with some kind of bug. Extreme weakness and the highest fever I’ve ever had knocked me down like Mike Tyson hitting me with a George Foreman electric grill. After a few days I felt better and got active, resulting in a relapse that left me like Wile E. Coyote after the boulder falls on him from a mile up. A trip to urgent care rendered a diagnosis of pneumonia…. Read more
