Not true. In 1986, I was on a submarine that was sinking (flooding in engine room, loss of propulsion, speed zero, 200 feet below test depth, 40 degree angle, and the first emergency blow had failed). I saw several people drop to their knees to pray and all I thought was, "Well, that's a waste of time."
When you get faith, it was God who gave it to you because there ARE atheists in foxholes (and sinking submarines).
In case you are wondering, the second emergency blow worked and we did make it to the surface.