[MidGe]

Great post, college kid,

I understand where you come from. I would like however to add a bit to it and showing what differences exist within atheism.

My view is that there is no god worthy of worship, regardless of any awe that I may and do feel about the cosmos. Unfortunately that awe is totally undermined by the amount of suffering I see in sentient beings, people and animal alike. I cannot for one instant believe that the cause of this could be intelligent, benevolent and omnipotent. Given this, whether there is a final cause to things or not, with all my heart, humanity and intelligence, I have to reject it having those three qualities and thus worshiping it would be the equivalent of theists worshiping the devil. What is more is, that if the reward for worship of this entity is eternal life in contact with that monstrosity, give me hell or lack of eternal life any day, I could not withstand it!