Eric,

I think you mentioned being an athiest. I can't presume your beliefs, but many people confuse "Athiest" with "Agnostic."

The former is a religion unto itself since its adherents are "against theism" that is, against a god-like entity. Most people in that belief are against God, or religion. They are adamant that there is no God, when asked for proof there is no God...they usually example the depravations of humans and the quirks of the natural world.

Still not proof there is no God. They have to take a "leap of faith" that there is no God, usually pointing to the hypocrisy of most God believers.

Agnostics, on the other hand, don't believe in a God, or just don't know. I understand this POV. Not knowing is not being against.

I like Blasé Pascale's Wager: “Let us weigh the gain and the loss in wagering that God is. Let us estimate these two chances. If you believe and there is a God, you gain all; if you believe and there is no God, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation that He is.”

His theorem is also popular in gaming parlors.