Atheism as the null hypothesis.

[robvalue]

Yes, I agree. It's the default position, that any claim should not initially be believed. It's the correct application of scepticism, hence atheism.

It's true that a good theist scientist puts their theistic beliefs to one side. Those that don't end up wasting time trying to force round blocks through square holes, or using questionable methods to try and force results (as we've seen on this forum several times). Either way, their work will fall down under proper peer review.

It almost seems like an admission that theistic beliefs are not to do with reality. And of course, they are not. If they were, they should survive scientific inquiry. It's more akin to a "favourite colour", in that it has no application.