Christians were call atheists by the Romans for not worshipping their gods.

No no, their thinking was rather like this: if there is only one God, then this God is a poor guy, almost a slave.
Quotation needed? Here goes:

"The immortality of the gods must be
worshipped by all, and their plurality feared
everywhere. They are stupid and truly foolish
who say there is a single God, and impudently
speak against the rites of old. For if we believe
there to be a single one, who presides over
everything, we grant that this [one] is subject
in contradictory ways to different [powers],
since on the one hand he nurses the good of
peace with clement mercy, [and] on the other
hand arouses the tumults of war with savage
cruelty. Thus there are many and different
offices of the gods, which are a sign to us of
the difference between them. Therefore those
who say that a single one presides over such
different matters – their god is inevitably
influenced by contrary powers."

In Latin:
"Deorum immortalitas
est omnibus colenda,
eorum et pluralitas
ubique metuenda.
Stulti sunt, et vere fatui,
qui Deum unum dicunt
et antiquitatis ritui
proterve contradicunt.
Si enim unum credimus,
qui praesit universis,
subjectum hunc concedimus
contrarie diversis,
cum hinc bonum pacis foveat
clementi pietate,
hinc belli tumultus moveat
saeva crudelitate."

If folks don't like what somebody else is doing, they will call them whatever it takes to make others fear them.

Accuracy is not usually a considerstion.

To some, those who don't follow the correct religion might as well be atheists. I've heard Christians say the same thing about non-Christians. They're "atheists" because they don't believe in the "true God".

That term wasn't widely used until the 18th century.

Not at all.. All religions are equally stupid,😷

I guess it depends on how one defines atheism, which just means without theism. Those Christians were without roman theism, so in that sense they were atheistic.

Nothing new under the sun. If you don't have the same "tribal" mentality you will have insults hurled at you. Stick to your convictions even if it means standing alone.

Interesting indeed. Also interesting how that still goes on in modern times with Christians calling people who don't worship God atheists and shunning them.

The romans knew their gods were fake and so did most that could read. Do you think they actually ever believed the myths?

Are you sure about that? Modern Christians don't call Muslims atheists for having a different god.

Curious but very inaccurate, I suspect...

I did not know that. 🤔

No