First off, lets not have this turn into a nasty argument or anything.
Personally, i am an atheist and history does affect my opinions. I find that as i look at history and how religion has evolved over time it reinforces my non-beleif in a god or gods. Throughout history, humans have looked to gods and religions to explain what they could not understand, due to a serious lack of scientific knowledge. Also, i look at how different people developed different beliefs in different places and time periods, which helps show how humans invented these gods and religions. I also look at how religion has influenced terrible things like the Crusades, which were carried out in the name of god. However, religion has also been responsible for good things and that can make historical events a positive thing for religion and theism. It really depends on how you look at events throughout history, for some they can reinforce religious beliefs and for others make them seem totally implausible. For others, it may have no affect at all. I just find it interesting how history affects this. So, what do you all think?