Atheism and the Family

Introduction: Roots of Atheism

In the beginning, religious lifestyles are avoided for either of two principle reasons. Fault may be found within the doctrine of a religion, offending the intellect of the atheist; or fault may be found with the practitioners. Thus faulted practitioners may be personal acquaintances of the atheist or may be historical fixtures of the sort that implemented Crusades, Jihads, Witch Trials and Inquisitions. Sometimes the latter is also manifest as a simple disdain for the effort felt necessary by Believers. Eventually this decision and feeling is passed on to the children of the deliberately un-practicing atheist and, wittingly or not, atheism becomes the religion of a family. As any religion factors into family life, what are the effects of an atheistic lifestyle on a family?