Richard Wade is a retired licensed Marriage and Family therapist, who has a website called “Friendly Atheist.”

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.

In 2010, Richard wrote an article for The Humanist Magazine entitled “Is Joining the Unitarian Universalist Church a Betrayal of My Atheist Beliefs?” For it, he made a clandestine visit to – of all places — our own UU of SCV service. In the article, he describes the service, a discussion with the minister, and discussions with members. He reported that he was met with “open-hearted acceptance,” concluding that “you should feel comfortable visiting a UU congregation and giving it a try.”

Richard has spoken as a “guest atheist” at several churches to dispel the misconceptions and false stereotypes about atheism and atheists. With accurate information, loving and respectful relationships don’t have to be ruined by this difference in beliefs.