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 really enjoy reading your column on Friendly Atheist. I think it is so helpful to have someone advise people from an alternative point of view. That was one of the first blogs that I started reading when I started feeling like an atheist. I’m writing to you today for advice on how to encourage my wonderful 10-year-old brother to be skeptical about his world. A little bit… Read more
Hey Richard, I have been an Atheist for most if not all of my life. My little sister is one, my mother is probably one, and my father, if religious, has never said a word to me about religion. I grew up in a secular humanist Jewish community, too. The idea of a ‘god’ just never made sense to me and I don’t think I could believe even if I wanted to. But here is my problem. I am afraid… Read more
Note: Letter writers’ names are changed to protect their privacy. Dear Richard, I’m an agnostic teenager (16 yrs old) and High School Junior. My parents are devout Orthodox Jews, and I have been trying to tell them for over a year now that I have no interest in Orthodox Judaism. In response, they have just laughed it off as teenage rebellion. This would all be okay if not for this one aspect of Orthodox Judaism today: “the off the derech… Read more
Note: Letter writers’ names are changed to protect their privacy. Dear Mr. Wade, I’m starting my senior year in high school and I’m preparing for college applications. I am an American but I’m applying to colleges in the UK. I want to study there because I know Britain has a much more secular society. I would love to live somewhere with that difference, even if it is slight. I also really admire their government’s ability to separate church and state… Read more
Hello, I have so much I would love to say and don’t know where to begin. I was raised by a single father who happens to be gay. He left my mother when I was very young due to her poor parenting skills. While growing up I went to a Roman Catholic church. I am NOT a Catholic though. I have tried many religions throughout my life, searching for something to believe in. I am HUGE into science and love… Read more
