mousethief has it right:   "helps them deal with reality"

In addition, atheism makes it very easy for the "leader" to be the God-substitute.   Makes it a bit difficult to criticize the leader--in anything.

Hence Hitler, Mao, Stalin--who have been responsible for more deaths than anybody in history. Please don't bother with Sodom, The Flood, etc--which I suspect most educated people--possibly including Mudcatters--don't take seriously.