How has atheism contributed to or affected modern society?

Answer 1

for the last several thousand years, it has generally been assumed that everyone must belong to one religion or another, and membership of the official religion of a nation was usually compulsory. It is only in the last two or three centuries that Atheism has gradually become acceptable, and only in recent decades that most atheists have been able to openly state their lack of religious beliefs.

Atheism has broken the monopoly of religion on the hearts and minds of people in modern society. Religion will continue and prosper for the forseeable future, but will learn a new tolerance towards other beliefs. The churches have been opened up to scrutiny in a way that was unimaginable in previous centuries. Although those who raise issues such as paedophilia and misuse of funds are overwhelmingly the Christian victims of abuse, it is atheism that has created a culture in which it is even possible to criticise the Churches. Some may be surprised to realise that religion has benefitted from atheism, but that is the case.

Atheism has freed science up, both to investigate the natural world without preconceptions or fear, and to discuss the findings of science openly without being defensive when those findings differ from traditional religious beliefs.

At a personal level, atheism has allowed everyone to choose what to believe or not believe, without being told that any divergence from a narrow interpretation of The Bible means a path to hellfire.