"Bo sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5: 8 RSV). That is the nature of Satan, not to mention being the father of lies. He can disguise himself; be vigilant. Unsteady souls can be taken captive by this powerful enemy. I highly recommend that you read The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis to gain a full understanding of how invisible enemies work in the intellect.
I move on now to the raison d'etre of atheism. It appears to this writer that there is a silent war going on with atheists excoriating Christianity by consistently saying that religion poisons everything. They present this argument only by stereotyping Christians. They expound on the Crusades and the like. They speak about all the bloodshed in past ages. I don't mean to sound sarcastic here, but they have had their heads in the sand for too long. They ignore the biblical fact that Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles, was secretly employed by Satan. From the beginning of Jesus' ministry, Judas was there. Scripture states what his end was. He certainly went to his employer's subterranean place. Scripture also states that "indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived" (2 Timothy 3: 12-13). Judas is still working, so to speak, to do the devil's bidding. We see it all around us, report after report of corruption. Does this make void the inerrant, infallible, and perfect word of God? No way! God's healing power; his life-giving spirit is not religion at all.
To have a living personality, you must have a giving personality. I wonder if an atheist can give an explanation as to why people can actually murder their fellow man. Is it the poison of religion that causes these murders? What about the homicides in our cities? What about gang violence and their murders? Should I mention the Holocaust of World War II? Can it be that atheism is dry and sterile regarding its central theme?
You know I think people make a big mistake when they only view the church as "that building down the street" or "a place to worship at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings." The authentic church is Christ's body of believers, and I believe this is very misunderstood these days. Holy Scripture reveals to us in no uncertain terms that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church. It may appear outwardly that it is prevailed against, but know that it is a militant and triumphant church nevertheless. That is because God has established it. You will know them by their fruits in the churches, just as in society as a whole. The scripture also states that the spirit blows where it wills. That means the church is not confined to a building, or a denomination, but can be anywhere.
We certainly need to avoid people who meditate treachery night and day and who practice falsehood. Avoid those who "call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness" (Isaiah 5: 20), whether they are a Christian by name only or an atheist, rich or poor. Again, you will know them by their fruits.
On the internet, in a lot of movies (not all), and on the street, risque behavior has become the norm, and I tell you, this behavior is also our adversary of peace and tranquility. We are taunted by some degree, are we not? Be of good cheer; as Christ has said, anxiety can be overcome with a little effort. Always remember, wicked people will fade away in the midst of their pursuits, for their adversary is the light and truth. But of course, your adversary is the opposite, which is falsehood. If you follow truth as best you can, your adversary will flee from you as from a fire; turn to dust.
In closing, I must comment on the supposition of atheists concerning this thing called religion. I couldn't agree with them more regarding the fact that CORRUPTED religion poisons everything. The part where I feel they go astray in their thinking is the truth that God didn't create religion, and so God's name shouldn't be associated with anything that is done in the name of religion. God did create all things good; it is man, and only man, who has poisoned everything. Satan in the intellect is the grand adversary.
James 1: 27 states: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."