Enlightened Depressed

This is a letter extracted from 'Write to Mita' section of the STAR, a magazine of The Daily Star published today.

Dear Mita,
I am Muslim by birth but my education, knowledge and surrounding environment has led me to become an atheist. I have been in a relationship with my girlfriend for a year but after discovering that I am an atheist she couldn't accept it and broke up with me. She even cursed me, saying I would never be happy in life with any woman because I'm an atheist. I am in terrible despair as this was my first love. I do a lot of philanthropic work and strongly believe in humanity, yet why do people hate me?
Enlightened Depressed

Dear Depressed,
If you have made a choice to be an atheist then you have to live with it. Being different or going against the stream is always difficult and challenging. However, you must be sensitive to the environment around you. There is no need to flout your atheist values around. Regarding your girlfriend, it is sad but perhaps she could not adjust to this reality and perhaps it is best that you parted now. You philanthropic work is indeed commendable and your concern for humanity I think is a religion by itself.