"There are no aetheists in the trenches."

This is simply a lie. It makes no sense whatsoever. My father served in WWII and was a life-long Athiest. When his life was in mortal danger, he did not suddenly begin to believe in some sort of diety. My Grandfater and two of his brothers served in the trenches in WWI. All were Athiests. One of his brothers was gassed and lived the rest of his life in pain and disorientation from the effects. They all continued to be Athiests. I had a great-great grandfather who served in the Civil War and he was an Atheist too.

Fear of death does not "convert" people ot Theism - maybe some, but how strong were their beliefs to begin with? When my dad died, he believed that nothing would happen except that he would loose consiousness and his body would deteriorate (and be cremated). That would be it - he was confortable with that belief and would never have wanted "anything more". If he was wrong, so be it. I have chosen to become Pagan and Unitarian Universalist. A someone who was born and raised in an Atheist household, I am very comfortable with Atheism. My personal beliefs are that the Universe is a living entity, nearly infinately more complicated that a human, and I have respect for that but I do not worship it or any God. I do not know what will happen to me when I die, but I tend to believe that my energy (read life-force or soul if you want) will go into the cosmos and intermingle with all the other energy. When a new life is created, some of my energy will enter in that body (along with billions of other's energies). But I could be wrong - frankly I don't really care. Maybe I'll end up in Heaven, but like I tell some Christian fundamentalists - If heaven is populated with a bunch of them, I'll happily go to Hell. - now, get me my handbasket!

pax yall