Fallout: The Children Of Atom, Explained

gamerant.com:

The Children of Atom are a religious cult faction from Bethesda's Fallout franchise. They are a little more recent to the series, having first appeared in Fallout 3 and continuing to be seen in Fallout 4. Their religion worships radiation and sees nuclear annihilation as a blessing rather than a curse. For obvious reasons, they are not a well-respected faction among the folk of the wasteland and tend to keep to themselves.

There is a lot to dissect when it comes to the Children of Atom, from their beliefs to their founding and history. Over the years, they have gained ground, spreading from the Capital Wasteland and into the Commonwealth. While the faction is small, there is a chance it may become bigger and more hungry for power as the games continue.

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The founding of the cult began where Megaton would be built. The founders were refugees that took shelter in a crater after the Great War. At the center of the crater was a bomb that did not yet go off, and the refugees began to worship it. Along with their worship, they built around the bomb a town that would be Megaton. All were welcome in the town as long as they did not disturb the bomb, which was considered a holy relic.

The first notable worshipper of Atom was Confessor Cromwell, who arrived in Megaton in his early 20s. He grew into someone worshippers would later call a prophet, as he protected Megaton and tried to spread the word of the cult to any who would listen. Between the 2260s and 2270s, the cult left Megaton and split into two. One half settled in the Commonwealth and the other set up near Far Harbor.

Mother Isolde lead the flock in the Commonwealth, where they settled in a place they named the Crater of Atom in the Glowing