Is this a bug or intentional? I was a super religious civilization trying to see what would happen if i accumulate religion points after tier 4, and then i was presented with the Civic about atheism. I clicked it and completely lost my religion and its benefits, which I guess makes sense, but since civics are irreversible, does that mean I'm atheist/secular forever? 

Also, selecting one of the atheism civics gives you religion points, but then you don't have religion? What???

There is only one athiest option. The other is secularism—or Seperation from church and state, while the Athiest option is basically enacting—and enforcing—a state sponsored scorch earth policy against all religions. But yes, Seperation of Church and State does not have any rewards associated with it, at least in this opendev. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_atheism So it's this? 

So. Question about that. Do the Holy Sites remain - for the religion or do they get demolished? I assume you could normally build over a holy site - but it'd probably be a poor choice if you were getting any religious benefit. But also does that qualify as oppression? Would you end up oppressing potentially lots of different religions.

Technically the holy sites remain as decoration but they don't do anything any more. It is completely unclear to me what becoming atheist does other than have other civs get mad at you (if they are religious), and taking a short term major stability hit (b/c all of my population was religious). 

I know that Secularism has the benefit of making you immune to religious demands, but State Atheism doesn't seem to do anything, and in general they just seem like pretty poor civics.

State atheism gives you a grievance against other players if they still follow a religion. So it's basically a purge other religions button. Don't know if they swap to atheism if the accept the demand.

isle9 wrote:

State atheism gives you a grievance against other players if they still follow a religion. So it's basically a purge other religions button. Don't know if they swap to atheism if the accept the demand.

A reverse crusade? That sounds awsome!

Frankly there is nothing wrong to stay with your "believes" being an atheist :) it is not like changing underwear.