You're right; their attitude that nothing has any meaning if there's no God, or that there's no point in being a good person and helping others if there's no God and no afterlife, is shockingly nihilistic. What a sad, narrow, and limited view of life and the world they have. I don't understand how anyone could think that beauty, love, compassion, and generosity are good things, but not appreciate those things for their own sake -- thinking they have value only as part of the glorification of some supernatural creator.
How terribly depressing.
There are all sorts of things that people use as a crutch. Focusing just on religion seems kind of pointless. At the same time there are many people who live happy lives and who can't imagine religion not being part of their lives.
I'm fine with that because it ultimately has no impact on my life.
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.