Damn right is has. Just look at our judicial system and government posts that are filled with people who swear on the bible and have been sworn to uphold the laws of their holy book before the laws of the land. These are the ones who want to turn our democracy into a theocracy - a christian one, to force all others out and fuel our unrelenting wars based on religious belief - "this land is mine because god said so"

Absolutely! I live in a small town and once it was know I was an atheist, then I ended up with only a few friends and had some depression and anxiety issues for quite a few years.

Two people come to mind. One, a buddhist, is quite simply one of the kindest, most accepting and open minded people that I know. Also, a beloved mentor, with a huge heart and razor sharp wit, is atheist. I had to rejuggle some loosely held preconceptions about other religions or the absence of one after meeting those two wonderful people.

No.

How different is suicide from it?

A lot of my school friends are dead through suicide (I live in an area of the uk that has incredibly high rates of suicide among young people), attending their funerals was heart breaking however even worse have been the religious families. I have watched as my old school friends mothers and fathers have been told their sons/daughters are in hell for killing themselves. one of my friends was gay and religious hatred led to his suicide, These things have led to the outspoken activist that I have become.

Wow. That has to be harsh to watch.

I had a friend. His name was Ed Lopiccolo. He was a fun guy, never without laughter. He wasn't seen in school for several weeks prior to finals and graduation. I saw him a few years after. His face was ashen and empty. Ed's voice was robotic. He apologized...APOLOGIZED...for who he was...and that he was a changed man. Somehow, in the last weeks of high school, the fundies turned his brain to tapioca pudding. That showed me how fragile we are.

not a single person no, but a whole population yes. I grew up in SLC. I wasn’t Mormon and working around Mormons whilst I was growing up put a kink in my style.