[counterpunch]

In an atheist country there will be a small minority, perhaps 10% who are able or who bother to reason about morality and ethics. For all others immediate survival and improvement at the expense of others is the perceived requirement. In the 10% there will be a tenth who believe and understand that trust and cooperation would build a prosperous society. The others will be taking control of what they can for their own gain, riches and power. With no hope of afterlife or at least Nirvana, there is no benefit at all to any other mode for those who can prevail.

Sort of like America and every other country in the world, eh?
The only thing that discourages people from doing harm to others is the rule of law. The state's law, not God's.

[ThanhPhero]

The rule of law is based on concepts of equality that come only from Judaeo Christianity. There is no natural concept of equality and the concept does not arise in any other culture. Any other approach to Law must produce a regularized tyranny except in some very small societies.

NOT sort of like America. Americans trust one another sufficiently to be able to carry on business with each other. The exceptions are exceptions and as America moves farther from its religious roots more and more laws are, in fact, required.Atheism can be the foundation os anarchy and of totalitarianism. The one is shortlived if workable at all and the other will not advance economically.

[FastCoyote]

"The only thing that discourages people from doing harm to others is the rule of law"

That is demonstrably false, religious morality has ruled many places where the law of the state does not reach.