If you're an Atheist, what comforts you?

[Cherub786]

I see. So the world as it is doesn't meet your requirements for significance or transcendence. Too bad for you -- not that the world gives a damn about your existential crisis.

Sure. Most of humanity doesn't find material pursuits and just living a normal life without any greater purpose fulfilling either. At least I'd wager that's the case. If I'm wrong, then at least I know there's something special about me that I yearn for some greater meaning than the ordinary, mundane life that 99.9% of humanity lives.

You say atheism is nothing but 'loss and more loss' and will result in a loss of identity and community? Yeah, religious communities are good at guilting others for 'unacceptable' thoughts and legitimate doubts. Fear of losing family and friends is a driver for the sort of conformity they require. For my part, I've never considered those who would shun me for not sharing their ideological commitments or their favorite character from an old book to be worth keeping in the first place.

It has nothing to do with being shunned. If I become an atheist I will take myself out of a range of meaningful activities voluntarily. I would have no further use for going to the mosque, engaging in intensive worship where at times I'm raptured into spiritual states transcending the material, no further use for the fulfilling socio-political narrative that I derive from religion. I would have lost more than anything I could potentially gain.

I say atheism is 'nothing but' a willingness to face reality and the limits of what we can know. You want to seek something greater than yourself? Great. Just understand that whatever you eventually find will oddly mirror what you bring to the table. 

As for the Alt-Right, I'd wager that a majority of them self-identify as theists. But go ahead and ride that hobby horse if it makes you feel better. You're a member of this community. Do you seriously think most of us atheists here subscribe to the Alt-Right, or communism, or fascism? Pay attention.

As I understand it, the majority of active atheists on this forum are from an older generation that is just content with being grandparents or having a beautiful garden and manicured lawn. They seem to have left behind the excitement a long time ago. I for one hope I never enter into such a condition even if I reach my 90s!

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Ah, mere slogans without any practicability. It's not part of the human condition to just love, love, love and have no other feelings.
Why should the other emotions be viewed negatively and love alone cherished? Don't you get tired of loving all the time?
We need a balance of emotions. There's nothing inherently wrong with hatred or for that matter anger, sorrow, and other passions. That's what makes us human.
Love gets boring after a while too, just like atheism.

Love is the most fullfilling of emotions, to me.
But I agree, and that's why I said I don't just grow through hate.
Which I do grow through.
Love is not all, but life would be an empty experience without it. 
Pride. That's a good one too. A tad dangerous. But good. As with lust.
But hey, what's a discussion about things we agree on, eh?

Bold mine: And that seems plenty to start building your identity from, 786.
In the end, after all, isn't an identity built upon 'religion' actually an identity built upon your 'passion for said religion'?

Personally, I don't have passion for anything except Religion. I'd make a poor atheist