Yes, with the absence of god Stalin for example justified a whole lot of things. So did Mao. One shouldn't underestimate the effect of an authority (possibly i

Yes, with the absence of god Stalin for example justified a whole lot of things. So did Mao. One shouldn't underestimate the effect of an authority (possibly imagined - I don't want to argue about this here) that might judge you no matter if no one will be able to judge you here in life. There are many people that would refrain from certain acts just because of this belief.