Atheists aren't scientists in general. It's not unusual for an american atheist shopping in china town for alternative cure.

Bill Maher the pro-quack atheist:

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/10/17/the-2009-recipient-of-the-richard-dawkin-1/

Absolute atheism is strict and dry. When my dear mom was in her last moment, I cried and long for the day I could meet her again. It had little to do with any institutionised religion.

Contrary to the survey, very few humans are true atheists. A hier % probably understand what atheism and religions are about. Most atheists declare they don't believe in the existence of a supreme being, fine, but 'religion' in the broader sense means a lot more even if u get rid of the cultural baggage

Two things I do notice:

The average chinese don't pray nor chant(compared to yankie christians, hindus, muslims)when they're in distress.

Religions in china traditionally are diffused rather than institutionalised.

I always tell people I'm no confucist but the confucist influence probably has creeped in unconsciously

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Chines 60-70yrs ago were fighting japanals,kMT and the superpower US in the korean war.

When people were desperate, they had no option but to improve and move on. There's no comparision