Yeah, I can see why a lot of star trek fans hate DS9 because it muddys and ruins that perfect idealism... and adds in religion to boot that may or may not be real to so it's not like they're even kept with an imperfect atheist universe.  Outside of like Klingons.  Who killed their gods anyway... yet have an afterlife. 

However if you ask me, it's far superior to the other Star Treks just due to far greater character development and story depth.

Though, that's largely my point in the end.  Someone being an atheist doesn't say anything about anybody.  At all.  That's true in our life too.  I mean, being a Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Atheist whatever... it doesn't really say anything about you at all.

All the best writing, just writes everybody like people, with things like their religion and race as after thoughts... that if they do come up, are really hard to notice until they do come up.

The Star Trek universe became much darker and less focused when Gene Roddenbury died.  It lacked the preachiness that gave the original Star Trek some meaning.  Anyhow, as of now Star Trek is rebooted as an action sci-fi movie, with just fun on mind.

In the case of atheism, the answer for someone comes after they become an atheist.  What exactly do they gravitate towards to give their life an identity, and something they can connect to?  Once you get that, then you start to have a character fleshed out in a movie, or any other piece of fiction.

I'd disagree.  Deep Space Nine had a very focused view and message.  It was just a more realistic one.

I disagree, a character being atheist could definitely add to a show in an interesting manner:

Take The Big Bang Theory for instance. Sheldon being an atheist would create an interesting/comical strain with his relationship with his mother or any other 'regular' people that he meets.

Are atheists actually underrepresented?

I mean, how would you know?

How many shows ACTUALLY deal with religion.

To have an atheist in a show you would need.

A) A show about religion or that deals with religion a lot.

B) A show who also needs a counterpoint to that.  Aka not a show SOLEY about religion.

I think you'll generally find on the shows where they talk about religion but it isn't the main theme, there are plenty of Atheists.

I just got done watching Babylon 5 again through netflix.  There are a number of atheists on that show.

Or heck, Look at Star Trek.  Every single person on Star Trek I think is an atheist.  Outside of Worf anyway and maybe Riker.  The thing is, nobody knows that... because atheism is kinda useless as a storytelling device.

I mean, if Chandler from friends was an atheist.  Or George Costanza or the fat guy from king of queens... how would you know?   And why would you care?

There is nothing you can do with an "hey i'm an atheist" angle that would work in a comedy or super drama.  Basically you'd need to have it in a dramadey... and even then it's likely to be a plot point that lasts all of 1 episode because there isn't anything you can do with it.

Unlike say, religions where you can have a crisis of faith or there are things you can go to.

The only thing atheism is really "functional" for from a writing perspective is to show a pessimism to a greater force pulling you out of trouble.  Like during  a big war.

Are atheists actually underrepresented?

I mean, how would you know?

How many shows ACTUALLY deal with religion.

To have an atheist in a show you would need.

A) A show about religion or that deals with religion a lot.

B) A show who also needs a counterpoint to that.  Aka not a show SOLEY about religion.

I think you'll generally find on the shows where they talk about religion but it isn't the main theme, there are plenty of Atheists.

I just got done watching Babylon 5 again through netflix.  There are a number of atheists on that show.

Or heck, Look at Star Trek.  Every single person on Star Trek I think is an atheist.  Outside of Worf anyway and maybe Riker.  The thing is, nobody knows that... because atheism is kinda useless as a storytelling device.

I mean, if Chandler from friends was an atheist.  Or George Costanza or the fat guy from king of queens... how would you know?   And why would you care?

There is nothing you can do with an "hey i'm an atheist" angle that would work in a comedy or super drama.  Basically you'd need to have it in a dramadey... and even then it's likely to be a plot point that lasts all of 1 episode because there isn't anything you can do with it.

Unlike say, religions where you can have a crisis of faith or there are things you can go to.

The only thing atheism is really "functional" for from a writing perspective is to show a pessimism to a greater force pulling you out of trouble.  Like during  a big war.