The Atheist is a boogeyman invented by religious people to scare little children.
The vast majority of us who do not subscribe to religious beliefs do not go around introducing ourselves as atheists, or naturalists. We don’t worry about the silly distinction between atheism and agnosticism. Most of us are happy to let things beyond our knowledge remain a mystery.
Then the religious person will say “Ahah! Then you are not an atheist, you are an agnostic!” To which the nonbeliever (atheist, naturalist, agnostic, whatever) will reply “If you say so”.
I am an atheist in the sense that I don’t ‘believe’ in god - I don’t really think in terms of “belief”. That’s a word used mostly by religious (superstitious) people.
I think there is scientific knowledge, there is theory, there is guesswork - and then there is imagination - I’m not sure where “belief” fits in. As for the question of whether there is a god, I don’t imagine there is one, but anything is possible in the vast realm beyond our knowledge… who am I to say your imaginary friend doesn’t exist?
My father was an atheist. College educated, he taught us about evolution…..and he was dogmatic about it. His words to me and my siblings, as one by one we converted to Christianity was, “I thought I taught you to be smarter than that.” I never thought of him as a boogeyman or taught my kids that he was one. After my mother died and Dad was in his 80’s, he turned to God.
Atheism didn’t make sense to me even as a child. There is too much order and vast complexity in everything around me to believe it just made itself.
When I think of nothingness, it literally hurts my brain. What if nothing existed? But the truth is….the universe is vast and complex beyond our imagination. Why? There IS existence and where did it come from?
Why is it that no creature besides humans even contemplates this? Why are our brains different? How are we capable of thinking, discussing and communicating our thoughts on this subject to each other?
Mysterious, yes. A powerful designer is the only answer that makes sense to me. And no, I am not superstitious. I am a thinker.
It appears that you are ambivalent about the origin and current state of the universe. That is, you are uninterested in trying to find a logical explanation as to how everything came to be.
You say you don't believe in God and then claim, as so many atheists do, that you you don't think in terms of belief. This self-refuting nonsense comes down to you from Enlightenment charlatans, who likewise knew that life and conscious life (thinking, choosing soul) exist because created by Jesus Christ
The vastly irresolvable problem for those who have inherited the lies told by Enlightenment philosophers is this:: search though they have, naturalist, or materialist scientists cannot find an ultimate source for life and conscious life in matter. They know they live, but do not know why. They know they think, but do not know why. What a terrible position to be in!
Bereft of a source for life and conscious life many scientists such as Francis Crick, have placed their hopes in an ancient superstition: panspermia.
Though much more can be said, all that has been said is why you are on the losing end of your own arguments. So if you feel angry, then turn it upon Enlightenment liars.
I respect your beliefs, but am praying that you’ll be right with God one day soon. Time is running out in this world.
I am an atheist. Why should I consider becoming a Christian?
https://www.gotquestions.org/is-atheism-a-religion.html