America is Tragically Soul-Sick

[robvalue]

Okay, I kind of get what you're saying, but again with the atheist bashing. I'm not insulted, hammer away, I just find it confusing. I agree that especially in highly religious countries, being atheist is very hard and finding community and support can be different. This could understandably cause some people to lose hope somewhat. But from my experience, this is far from a general case. I've seen and heard plenty of atheists standing up and being counted, and I've noticed a significant trend in my life that the less religious someone is, the nicer they are. That's simply my experience over 37 years (most of which I wasn't shitting in my own pants).

People who grew up with religion and relied on it for nearly everything are going to find a big void, and it can be hard to craft your own future and routine. Also indoctrination often leaves mental scars which may take some time to heal.

Sure, if religion didn't exist, we wouldn't even need the word atheist. Even if religion was relegated to the hokey superstitious nonsense that it is, comparable to avoiding black cats or whatever, we wouldn't need a word or to fight for our rights.

I'm sad to see you experience has so far been negative, but on the whole I have not seen things to be as bad as you describe. But then I live in a very liberal country where religion isn't a big deal, so that's probably the reason. Where do you live? Sorry if I missed it.

I agree atheists need to band together when isolated, and support each other through religous withdrawal and persecution. And if we don't push back against religious oppression, it's not likely to stop. The internet is a God send (hahah!) for atheism, since a 5 year old can now do a quick google and find out that the bible and Quran are utter garbage, and find all religion's dirty little secrets. It also makes it easier for atheists to communicate.

So I think there will be a period of post-religion adjustment for any society that is heavily built around it, but I feel fairly confident that the good people will keep being good. And the arse holes, well, they'll probably still be arse holes.