Not really how I saw my Pakistani friends become agnostic/atheists. They struggle generally for 1-2 years where they are not ready to abandon their beliefs yet struggle to justify it to themselves. If they talk to someone they are told they will burn in hell forover in afterlife. Then they struggle with the huge soocial stigma associated with becoming an apostate and some in their social circle shun them as they are bad influence on kids. And then there was one parent where Dad has cut off as he is an apostate. So I feel you are talking in general based on your experience on the internet rather than real life experience with real people. For all people I know, it was very tough decision because of the real social impacts of their decision in a conservative Pakistani society.
To me, these atheists resemeble a lot like the first Muslims when Muhammad started preaching. Maybe those first Muslims also just heard of this new guy and though his message was really cool and so they started showing off to their Infidel friends as to how great Islam is and that the Infidels are idiots and will burn in hell forever, if they don’t believe?? Well, atheists are not that arrogant although they do go through some persecution (nowhere near the level Sahaba went through). Anyway, my point is that in pakistani society, people don’t abandon thei religion just because it is “fashionable” or “cool”. Its a very difficult decision for people who have to make it.
Nerds and geeks are generally terms used for smart people that are too bookish. Definitely not synonymous with stupids, idiots.
Maybe you have just been meeting the wrong atheists :). Actually its the first time I am hearing that atheists say that religious people cannot be successful in life because there are tons of successful religious people in the world. In my short stay here at this forum, I haven’t seen atheists make any such argument here either.
Ok, some atheists argue that religion is a root of some of evils (not all evils) in the world. Generally, its because of all the bloodshed in the name of religion we have seen historically. We can argue this if you want but for some reason I don’t think it was your point.