[awelliott]

The only bummer about being an atheist is that you’re stuck believing (if you’re smart enough, and most aren’t) that the universe became self aware and created Claire De Lune. I see no difference in astonishment between that and simply believing in an intelligent God.

Correct. I was an atheist into my early 20's and say without reservation that my former life required a much greater leap of faith.

[dfwgator]

I liked the way Trey Parker put it:

Basically… out of all the ridiculous religion stories which are greatly, wonderfully ridiculous—the silliest one I’ve ever heard is, ‘Yeah… there’s this big giant universe and it’s expanding, it’s all gonna collapse on itself and we’re all just here just ‘cause… just ‘cause’. That, to me, is the most ridiculous explanation ever.

[LittleBillyInfidel]

Interesting! Thank you for sharing that!

[OIFVeteran]

I was also an agnostic/atheist in my 20s and early 30s. In my experience atheists are primarily made up of two groups. The first are those that are angry at God. They were abused or molested, parents died, etc. They tend to be the insufferable ones that want everyone to be atheist. The other are what I call the intellectual atheist. High IQ and usually very learned either on their own or through college. Sometimes know the bible better than some “Christians”.

I went to a debate between the vice president of American Atheists and a college professor at a local Christian college. I’ll never forget the atheist’s opening remarks. He said, “Like all of you, I am an atheist.” You could almost hear the whole audience think what the heck is he talking about? He went on, “Like all of you I don’t believe in Ra, Thor, Zeus, etc. Like all of you I don’t believe in 99% of the gods humans have believed in our history. But unlike all of you I also don’t believe in Jehovah, Jesus. So you and I are only separated by a 1% difference.”

Thought it was an incredible way for him to start.