Penny Hofstadter Comes Out As An Atheist
It was the year 2030. Penny paced the floor of Apartment 4A nervously. When would Leonard get home? She wasn't sure if she wanted him to arrive sooner or later. Amy Farrah Fowler – President Amy Farrah Fowler of the United States, as Penny still sometimes had trouble believing, though it was true – was already there, and accepted Penny's secret without a qualm.
"Of course you're an atheist," Amy said calmly. "I'm an atheist too-America's first openly atheist president, in case you haven't heard. And I wouldn't refuse to believe in God if there was a God. I only hold opinions that are correct, and I'm glad you've joined me in this objectively correct opinion." She then went back to reading her harp music.
Penny continued to pace. Leonard was the one whose reaction she really feared – after all, he was her husband. She didn't expect him to divorce her or anything, but the revelation certainly could make their relationship more difficult - and just as she was thinking that, he arrived.
"Hey, Amy, would you mind leaving us two alone for a while?", she asked.
"Sure," said Amy, and did just that.
"Hey, so Leonard," Penny began.
"What's the matter?", asked Leonard. "Look, I know you weren't the one who made those credit card charges. The bank said they'd straighten it all out, remember?"
"It's not that," said Penny, wringing her hands. "Can you sit down for a minute?" Leonard could, and did.
"Look", said Penny. "I know you're kind of unusual for a scientist because you're a Christian. Well, the fact is, I'm kind of unusual for someone who's not a scientist because…I'm an atheist. I know when people think of atheism they think of a geeky dude like you, so this is probably a surprise to you, but God just doesn't make sense to me. I know I'm not as brilliant as you, but all I can say is I used to be Christian but when I actually read the Bible it was full of God doing horrible things. I mean, was it really necessary to kill all the firstborn sons of Egypt? And is it right to say, like the Bible does, that the husband is the head of the wife? I mean", here she looked down at a smudged, creased paper, "I can't read my own handwriting to tell you all about it now, but you get the idea. The point is, I'm an atheist, and I won't demand you stop believing, but you have to respect that I don't believe and not try to convert me."
Leonard blinked.
After a few moments of thought, he answered. "Well, I do believe in God, but I don't believe in a God that would send you to hell for not believing. So I don't mind that you're an atheist, and I promise I won't try to convert you. I do have one request though."
"What's that?"
"Let's never tell Sheldon's mom."
And they never did.