Why might it be important for an Atheist to feel this way?

Answer 1

I assume that "this way" means they don't believe there's a god. Putting "important" in your question makes it different from "Why are some people atheists?" I'm going to answer "Why are some people atheists?"

1. Some people are "atheists" because they're mad at "God". Deep down they still believe there is a God & hope that their atheist ways don't get them thrown to Hell when they die.

2. Some people are atheists because they can't find any evidence to support the existence of a god or gods.

3. Although our life in paradise here on Earth at this particular time in cosmic history seems like it was planned, atheists believe that it all came about by accident, through the laws of physics, which are impersonal. The universe is between 13 and 14 billion years old. Earth is 4.6 billion yrs old. That's long enough for the laws of physics to have created our paradise (Earth) and all the complex living beings on it.

4. Although the convolutedly complex ways in which living beings work are wondrous, living beings have been around for around 3.5 billion years, long enough for genetic changes to bring this about. The first life forms were extremely simple.

5. There are and have been many different religions, with many different -- sometimes very different -- gods. Do all these gods exist? Most Americans feel that only one of them exists. Some Hindus believe that 330,000,000 gods exist. Who's right?

6.Since atheists can't find any evidence for the existence of gods, they accept responsibility for trying to fix whatever problems may come their way. It's a heavy responsibility, trying to fix your problems all by yourself (with the help of doctors, plumbers, etc.). People who believe in a god or gods feel that these gods can help them, which takes a big load off their shoulders, despite the fact that there is proof that gods don't answer prayers.

7. Most atheists believe in the forces of nature, from cosmic physics to what goes on in atoms. In between the cosmos and subatomic particles is Nature -- the oceans, life forms, and more specifically trees and animals. Nature could be considered a god -- an impersonal force that runs the universe, but without a plan, appearing to "favor" some and "punish" others pointlessly. No prayers to Nature have ever been answered either. So why worship it, pray to it, have rituals on its behalf? Similarly with gods. Atheists just enjoy the positive aspects and try to get away from the negative ones.

8. If you're thinking of rejection of the Judaeo-Christian-Muslim god Yahweh/Jehovah/Allah/God, if you read The Bible, which is supposed to be the history of "God" 's creation of earth, animals, and people, you'll find that in the beginning there were, even in God's eyes, more than one god. Why else would he say "Take no other gods before me"? Reading the whole Bible, you can watch "God" evolve from a spoiled brat to (in the New Testament) a humanitarian (Jesus, although there's no proof he existed either, just claims in the New Testament).

9. Based on the Bible, the Judaeo-Christian-Muslim god appeared about 6000 yrs ago. But people have been around since way before then, and there's evidence that they believed in humanized forms of natural forces. Atheists hypothesize that humans invented gods to have someone to blame or lean on when things went badly for them, someone to try to persuade or bribe to make things change (e.g. ritual dancing to bring rain), someone to look after them, even though this has never worked, and someone to thank when things did work. Atheists don't need this "help".