Ruby456 I don't even know where to begin with what you said... we are here in the western world because of religion??? Ask the native Americans how they feel about that. They were organized and while they have religion of their own they don't have your imperialistic arrogant Abrahamic mind virus.
Belief comes from background. And if you were born with no god, you would be an atheist, if you are interested in survival of self, and survival of self is improved by work in a group, as an individual you will protect the group ie morals.
I think all the religious folks posting on this have got something twisted. Atheism is not another hair brained religion. It's absence of your desert god, or any other myth, it's the lack of belief in him or her and not a claim. Atheism is not a church and does not dictate morals to people who might subscribe to the thinking. Many of us, myself included, find that in this absence of GOD we have a freedom to practice good motivated from a truer source. Not for reward or punishment. Not because the church of atheism tells us to. I consider myself without title but close to humanist. I think you desert Sheppard god worshippers are mixing the two. Atheism and humanism. Humanism is more of a philosphy on morality atheism is nothing of the sort, it's about believing in your magic sky daddy or not. I know it makes you guys uncomfortable to think that anyone could have a moral action without being commanded it by yhwh but it's happening every single day. Yhwh is not the ultimate source or morals. Atheism is no source of morals at all! Get it right, this is why when religion ruled is was known as the dark ages