Church of the Children of Atom

 refers to a building in Megaton and the cult that resides within the building. Cult members refer to themselves as Children of Atom.

Location
The church building is located at the bottom of the crater, next to the unexploded nuclear bomb around which the town of Megaton was built.

History
The Church of the Children of the Atom seems to have existed as far back as Megaton's construction, as Manya mentions that they were instrumental in getting the town built. The citizens of Megaton do not mind the cult residing there as their technologies and workforce were needed to build the city, in exchange for it being "built around the bomb".

Beliefs
The Church of the Children of Atom believes that each atomic mass contains an entire universe, and that when an atomic mass is split many universes are created. Therefore, instead of seeing the Great War as destructive, the Church believes it was a creative and unifying holy event. This could suggest the Children of Atom would desire the atomic bomb to blow up and send them to their destiny, rather than have it disarmed. However, despite this wish, blowing up the bomb still results in negative karma (see The Power of the Atom). Also, if you are caught stealing in the church, all children will become extremely hostile and will shoot you (even though they are self-proclaimed pacifists). If you leave the church, the whole town will become hostile. If you come back later, some NPCs remark "Dont think we forgot what you did".

People

 * Confessor Cromwell leads the Church and can usually be found preaching outside in front of the bomb. Cromwell will accept donations on behalf of the Church.
 * Mother Maya is a Child of Atom and wife to Confessor Cromwell.
 * Mother Curie III, leader of the Holy Light Monastery is a former Child of Atom

Behind the scenes
The Children of the Atom may be a reference to the film Beneath The Planet Of The Apes which included a cult that revolved around the worship of an atomic bomb.

Appearances
The Church of the Children of Atom appears only in Fallout 3.