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.
Richard Wade here. Let me take a moment of indulgence to boast about my daughter. She’s 24 and studying Sociology in college. Yesterday morning she texted me from class, and I got into a phone text conversation with her. Her entries are in italics and mine are in regular font, just as we typed them in textese: I’m really annoyed and upset right now cuz my english teacher is discussing god and how the philosopher nichee is wrong and all… Read more
Note: When letter writers sign with their first names instead of a pseudonym or nickname, I randomly change their name for added anonymity. Hi Richard, When I married 17 years ago, I was a True Believing Mormon. Since coming out atheist to my wife several years ago, she has only become more fervent in her Mormonism, and consequently there is an understandably heightening of tension when it comes to issues regarding our children. Our oldest is 15, and occasionally is… Read more
Note: When letter writers sign with their first names instead of a pseudonym or nickname, I randomly change their name for added anonymity. Hello Richard, First, I wanted to thank you for the advice you gave not too long ago on relating to religious people at times of grief. My grandmother just passed away and that advice made dealing with her very large, very Polish and very Catholic side of the family much, much easier. It also gave me some… Read more
Note: When letter writers sign with their first names instead of a pseudonym or nickname, I randomly change their name for added anonymity. Hey Richard, I’m in the 9th grade and I’ve been reading and commenting on Friendly Atheist for several months. You and I have had some good conversations here. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I’m a big fan of your advice. I’ve got some very religious grandparents. Actually, they’ve got maybe 10-15 images of… Read more
Hello Richard! I’m currently enrolled in nursing school in a college with no particular religious affiliation, but I seem to be having an existential crisis. My lab partner and I gave a (if I do say so myself) well thought out and very neutral presentation on the roles of spirituality in nursing. As a nurse you have to be prepared to encounter all types of spiritual beliefs, and sometimes we’re forced to answer some pretty hard questions. E.g: Why does… Read more
