Fear that thrives on fear and irrationality.
So, wait, you guys actually believe people created a "god" because they fear death? I think it's the other way around, atheism was created because man wanted to NOT fear death. If no God exists, then he is not answerable to and man is free to live however he desires and at his end he ceases to exist. Why would man choose to create an impediment to that philosophy??? It makes no sense.