A true story from a forgotten backwater of Donegal:

"Hey, Graeme, are you coming to church on Sunday?"
"No, I'm an atheist."
"It's ok. Being a Protestant doesn't matter. We're very welcoming."
"I'm not a Protestant, I'm an atheist."
"Are you Jewish?"
"No, I'm not Jewish, I'm an atheist."
"What do you mean?"
"An atheist is someone who doesn't believe in gods."
"No it isn't."
"It kinda is."
"No you're wrong there, you can be an atheist and believe in God."

Me: stunned silence.