Something about killing in the name of atheism

[abaris]

Stalin and other communist figures were much more than atheist and a thing to consider is that religion is fundamentally incompatible with communist doctrine and because Stalin created Stalinist (a totalitarian system) it becomes a sort of religion to worship the leader and having other beings to worship was contrary to the workers' agenda not to mention religion was something considered archaic because it was something the burgueoisie promoted.

Yet Stalin was mainly a cannibal. He devoured members of his own party, who he perceived as a threat to his power. There was no religious persecution in the sense of being a christian, muslim, jew or anything else made you his target. If you happened to cross him or if he even felt you crossed him, you were fair game.

Of course, as you said, being theist or atheist doesn't automatically make you a better or worse person. Ugly things tend to happen whenever there's an ideology attached and this ideology is allowed to run unchecked.