New theistic chew toys wanted!

[Spongebob]

A god provides things that a secular philosophy cannot, and such things are desirable; they're a reflection of our desire for the good.  A god can provide answers to questions which we otherwise have to rest uncomfortably with.  I think there are a lot of desirable things about a god.

I really hate to hear people say this because I adamantly reject this notion.  There are certainly things that religion can fulfill but it's been my experience that for a person who is not religious, there simply is no "god-shaped" hole to fill.  There are holes, for sure, but they can be filled with many other aspects of life that leave nothing wanting.  So I believe there is an analogy where we speak about needs in our life, but I reject the idea that atheists are "missing out" on something that they might find fulfilling.  I've lived in both worlds and for me this is definitely not the case.

And a god drives religion.  People in atheists groups have speculated about how to infuse atheism with some of the ritual aspects which make being part of a religion desirable.  Things like community, regular holidays/rituals, forms that people can cohere around, and so on.  Generally we think the bad outweighs the good with respect to gods and religion, but there are good sides to them, and I think it would be an exaggeration to say that their absence doesn't in some sense leave a whole needing to be fulfilled.  Look at nihilism and absurdism; would people willingly choose these if there were a verifiable alternative?

Ugh!  Begone, this horrid idea!  Who really wants this?  I mean, socializing is great, but I simply don't need any analog to church or Bible study.  I played trivia last night with a group of people with which I have no other connection.  That fills a need for me but in no way does it relate to a church service.