Welcome to the Church of Atom

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why radiation? - A difficult question to answer! In many ways we consider ourselves akin to fire worshippers, or sun worshippers; the beauty and power of these natural phenomena capture our hearts and instill in us a sense of religious awe


• Do you support nuclear power? - Yes. Nuclear energy, when managed correctly and without the ever-present danger of capitalistic corner-cutting, has the potential to give humanity access to nearly unlimited amounts of power, with, comparitively, little waste


• Do you support nuclear weapons? - NO. The Church of Atom is strictly anti-nuclear weaponry, in the same way no fire worshipper would support the use of fire to kill others or damage the earth. Atom's power as it manifests in nuclear explosions is not to be trifled with and, we believe, should be banned internationally


• Do you think radiation has a soul? - No. Children of Atom believe radiation is a divine emanation, or manifestation of Atom's essence and will. The exact definition of animism is difficult to pin down across the innumerable traditions that either include, or are predicated upon it. In our case, we do not believe in a unique "soul" component as it may be understood by Western religious thinkers


• Is Atomism a PCP (Pop Culture Pagan) tradition? - Yes and No. While we respect Pop Culture Pagans and their beliefs, Atom's relationship to the Atom of the Fallout franchise is technically in name only. The impetus for our worship was in fact the fictional idea of Atom, but our tradition has grown beyond it. (Author's Note: For example, when I play Fallout I side with and encourage the Children of Atom because of my faith, not the other way around)


• Do you believe in sin, redemption, damnation, etc? - No. These concepts are foreign to us, and hold no place in the Church. Human choices dictate one another's lives and consequences, not a nebulous 'badism' that can be prayed or ritual'd away


• Do you believe in an afterlife? - Perhaps. While as Atomists we do not believe in the formal existence of a unique 'soul' component of the human psyche, we leave matters of 'what comes next' to individuals, as who is to say exactly what comes after death — no one alive can claim to truly know


• Do you have any dietary or behavioral restrictions? - No. As Atomists, our tenets and beliefs require only the education about, and adoration of, ionizing radiation. Otherwise, members are required to uphold behavioral standards in-line with other reputable groups (i.e. sexual harassment, racism, etc. are detestable to us)


• Do you believe in free will? - Yes. Human free will is one of our most foundational tenets, as it explains why and how Atom 'allows' things to happen, despite their possible detriment to His followers. To directly intervene in the choices of humanity would violate the sacred gift of self-determination


• Do you have special wedding, death, etc. customs? - Yes, in that Atomist ritual can be integrated into any such activity the same way more popular religions can do. But also, no, in that the Church of Atom does not have any 'official' guidelines for such an event. There are no formal steps to follow at an Atomist wedding or funeral. The one exception is the interring of the body or its ashen contents near strong sources of glow — ionizing radiation — which is preferred over other traditional burial rites


• Is Atomism a 'scientific religion'? - No, in that 'scientific religion' is a very specific term, and does not simply mean 'a religion that also believes in science' (which we do). The Church of Atom is in full and total agreement with scientific consensus on what radiation is, does, and creates, and has no interest in attempting to shift public perceptions of radiation toward some pseudoscientific 'alternate' science