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.
Dear Richard, I am a college student from the Philippines, a predominantly Catholic country. I’m an “out” atheist. Mostly, I’m not being mistreated, and I can tolerate the fact that Catholicism is such a big part of the country’s culture. My problem is that in the city where I live, I am alone in my beliefs, and sometimes it gets lonely. My friends are all Catholics. Some of them claim to be genuinely interested in what I have to say… Read more
Note: Letter writers’ names are changed to protect their privacy. Richard, Hello. I’m a fan of your page and I’ve have enjoyed your advice and opinion. I’ll be brief. I have a question. Today is 9/11. It is an event that helped me become cured of religion. I love my country. How can I respond to the words “God Bless America” when uttered in the context of 9/11 remembrance? More importantly, what can I say that expresses the equivalent sentiment… Read more
Dear Richard, I am a 14 year old. At the age of around 12 I told my parents that I was an agnostic atheist. They were quite repulsed at first, as they saw atheism as a form of baby eating cult. I have slowly given them a more realistic approach to atheism over the years, yet it is quite annoying how they are treating me at the moment. They keep giving me all of these Christian books to read, and… Read more
Note: Letter writers’ names are changed to protect their privacy. Hi Richard, I have two children, 3 and 7 years old. I recently had an acquaintance tell me “if you don’t give them something, they will look for anything” as it related to my lack of religion. I am confused and concerned by this statement and need help processing the truth. I was raised very loosely Methodist by a father who was raised a staunch Methodist (that was atheist by… Read more
Note: Letter writers’ names are changed to protect their privacy. Dear Richard: I am an atheist Chinese teenager living in an international community in Beijing, China. I used to be a Christian until one day I realized that Christianity is just not working, and I came out easily, since China is an atheist country after all. But the problem is, one of my best friends is a fundamentalist Christian. Things were okay between us until one day I asked her… Read more
