atheist

Despite being ruled by the atheist Chinese Communist Party, China has a sizeable Christian population.

Officially, the Communist Party is atheist, with the only legal churches in China being those sanctioned by the state.

Together, the characters represent the spectrum of religious attitudes — from atheist to convert, selectively to very observant — but all are steeped in the culture.

Welch says she was raised by atheists, while Sullivan grew up in a religious household.

Right-wing movies like “God’s Not Dead” conflate having to tolerate difference with outright persecution, as if merely allowing an atheist to exist undisturbed is the same as being crucified.