Last night I watched on TV an interview with Eric Kandel MD, a noted brain researcher via Harvard and Columbia, about 90 years old, and a Nobel Laureate. His family and wife’s family had to flee Europe. When asked about his religion he said he loved being a Jew, came from a practicing family, attended services a few times a year, holy days...When pressed if he believed in God, he got quite vague. He liked the customs, traditions and the “chanting,” especially the chanting, but God wasn’t so important, if he even existed. The Rabbi asking the questions gave him a big thumbs up. La’Chaim!
I have heard of people like that but don’t understand them. Of course, there are cultural Christians too, even though that isn’t exactly the same thing. If I ever became an atheist, I would also dispense with the Christian hymns and rituals and holidays too, just out of honesty to myself.