Originally posted by Zazu Yen
[atheism rant]
Atheism is a belief in the non-existent, a lack of evidence proves nothing.
Belief in nothing benefits you nothing.
And atheism still doesn't answer 'how' or 'why' the universe came into being.
Most religions will provide the 'how' and 'why', but they have trouble reconciling the 'what' with readily available evidence.
I believe we'll find out when we're dead, and then I'd rather not have been an atheist.
If the atheist are right then what we believe doesn't matter, and then I'd wish I had joined a sex cult.
If there was anything left of me to wish anything, which there wouldn't be.
Atheists don't even get to be smug when they die if they turn out to be right.
Though, they're quite the opposite of smug when they die if they turn out to be wrong.
Atheism, what's the point? It is religion for unimaginative people.
[/atheism rant]
Atheism is not the belief that gods do not exist, that would be Gnostic Atheism, Atheism in it's broadest definition is defined as a lack of belief in a god(s). Most Atheists are Agnostic Atheists. Atheism in an of itself does not offer answers to anything, because it does not claim anything. Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color.
You throw in Pascal's Wager, which is a really bad argument. Assuming a God exists purely to avoid damnation requires you to make two assumptions:
1. That the criteria to get into heaven/avoid hell is simply believing in God.
The "true" criteria to get into the "true" heaven could very well be to eat a three pound plate of pancakes for breakfast everyday, or even not believing in god(s). If something as arbitrary as believing in god(s) gets you into heaven, than something as arbitrary as not believing them could to.
2. That the correct God is being worshipped/believed in.
If you believe in Zeus or the Flying Spaghetti Monster and the real god is Allah, or Qwerty-tron, than you are screwed.
Even a Gnostic Atheist could very well say that you will lead a fuller life if you bet on his not existing and living each precious moment to the fullest, than if you bet on his existing and therefore squander your precious time on worshipping him, sacrificing to him, fighting and dying for him, etc.