Science was once a child of the church.

[Rampant.A.I.]

Atheism actually predates the church by thousands of years, and probably since the dawn of humanity.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_atheism

The Scientific Revolution was more a spread of knowledge than a rebellion, allowing for scientific inquiry to advance into areas previously suppressed by the church.

Atheism does not predate Theism, because it came from it. Explain to me how there could be an Atheist, without there first being a Theist?

There are tribes who simply never developed supernatural beliefs.

Atheism & Skepticism in Africa

As Durant explains, certain Pygmy tribes found in Africa were observed to have no identifiable cults or rites. There were no totems, no gods, no spirits. Their dead were buried without special ceremonies or accompanying items and received no further attention. They even appeared to lack simple superstitions, according to travelers' reports.

Tribes in Cameroon only believed in malicious gods and so made no efforts to placate or please them. According to them, it was useless to even bother trying and more important to deal with whatever problems were placed in their path. Another group, the Vedahs of Ceylon, only admitted the possibility that gods might exist, but went no further. Neither prayers nor sacrifices were suggested in any way.

When specifically asked a god, Durant reports that they answered in a very puzzled manner:

"Is he on a rock? On a white-ant hill? On a tree? I never saw a god!"

http://atheism.about.com/od/atheismhisto...ticism.htm

There were also ancient schools of Hinduism that had supernatural beliefs, but no deities.