If you're an Atheist, what comforts you?

[Crossless2.0]

Your objection that we have left behind "the excitement" strikes me as puerile.

Well let's see. It's all subjective but based on my observation of the grandparent generation. The typical atheist among them live in suburbia and focus their energies on gardening, cooking, if they are better off financially, touring the world, playing golf. The retired life. When exactly are they doing anything meaningful apart from enjoying themselves? Now sure they will say they deserve it after a long life spent laboring away countless hours. But if they engaged in religious or even political activities during their youth or middle age, they would not have given up those activities and gone into retirement. In fact, retirement would have given them greater time and opportunity to focus more on the religious and political activities which bring meaning to life and gives an individual a legacy to leave behind other than the beautiful tomato garden.

Now if you compare the typical atheist with those individuals who engaged in what you would call "religious adventurism" it's quite clear who led more exciting and meaningful lives, even if you put aside the veracity of religion for the moment. Look at prophets and mystics. They never retire. In fact they are at the height of their career in old age. They aren't playing bingo, they're getting imprisoned by the authorities, or influencing and interacting with a large number of people, still raising their fist against the powers that be. I'd rather follow their path than that of atheism.

I've never actually used the phrase "religious adventurism" but wish I had. I may steal that one.

As for the rest, you yammer on about 'typical atheists', but all I'm hearing is 'typical older people'. Shit, man, people age and not all alike. Even a lot of religious folks slow down and smell the flowers when they reach a certain time of life. Others, as you note, become more devout and passionate in their worship. Some atheists play golf. Others volunteer their time to help others, write poetry, engage in the political process, pursue their spiritual practices, etc. Not all "retire" to your private suburban hell. Your unearned contempt doesn't really rise to the level of an argument, and that's why I'm still inclined to view it as puerile. But I salute your desire to live passionately.

And, no, in the end I don't put aside the veracity of the religion -- yours or anyone else's. That's kind of the point of this site. That you require an old book's narrative to be given to you to feel a sense of meaning and excitement is an interesting little piece of personal psychology and not much else. Abrahamists are a dime a dozen.