I’ve known many atheists in my life, and more agnostics. The atheists I’ve known, every one of them, had deep seated issues with authority and didn’t get on well with their fathers. Most were angry, most were substance abusers. Most put entirely too much emphasis on their educational attainment and trusted academia to an unwarranted degree. The agnostics were an easier bunch, less hostility to religion in general and Christianity in particular. They just went about their lives, not hardline at all. You sound more agnostic than atheist. Are you sure you’re not just playing devil’s advocate here?
My father and I get along extremely well; I just took him on a photo safari to South Africa (camped in Kruger National Park!), and I'm taking him to Alaska next year for a fishing trip. I've actually moved back in with may parents to help them; they're getting quite elderly, but a nursing home will be the last resort if I have anything to say about it.
Most were angry,
I'm virtually never angry.
most were substance abusers.
I've never tried illegal drugs in my life, and imbibe at most a single drink every few months.
Most put entirely too much emphasis on their educational attainment
Does two years of college majoring in physics count? :-)
and trusted academia to an unwarranted degree.
Outside the hard sciences (and even they are being infected by political correctness, see "climate change"), I don't trust academia in the slightest.
The agnostics were an easier bunch, less hostility to religion in general and Christianity in particular. They just went about their lives, not hardline at all. You sound more agnostic than atheist. Are you sure you’re not just playing devil’s advocate here?
Perhaps it's because my attitude towards the religions of others is largely this:
"Are you going to intrude in the business of others without their consent?"
"No?"
"Then who cares what you believe?"
Rest assured, I'm an atheist. Of the "weak" variety, granted, which is closer to agnosticism than "strong" atheism. Internet discussions aside, religion has virtually no impact on my life, unlike (to bring it back on-topic) the busybodies who are putting up the atheist billboards.