Are atheists basically whacky conspiracy theorists?

No conspiring when you have voluntary gullibility. Once someone is convinced of the claim, their own "honest" motivations can propagate it. It's not usually a "lie" because it isn't usually being put forth with the intent to deceive.

It's contrived convictions run wild, anything to deal with the fear of death in the easiest way possible(afterlife).

Yes, exactly. Religion is a conspiracy. Churches are organizations that profit from people's gullibility.

They make promises and threats they cannot keep, offering intangible benefits in exchange for tangible payment. They indoctrinate children before they develop critical thinking skills, and teach them that it is wrong to question their beliefs. The brainwashing is reinforced every week.

Thus religion is a self-perpetuating deception. Most of the participants aren't aware that it is a deception, so they are both unwitting conspirators and victims. I saw though the deception and escaped.

I don't generally buy into conspiracy theories (e.g. 9/11 inside job, moon landing hoax, alien abduction, fluoridation, holocaust denial). I think there was something fishy about JFK's assassination, but I don't have the facts to evaluate it properly.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.