Why do Athiests require 'proof' that God exists?

[genkaus]

I take it that you, Genkaus, consider consciousness an algorithmic (Turing) process independent of the specific form of the processor/brain. Is that correct?

Yes.

Does consciousness serve a necessary function or is it an epiphenomenon, a functionless by-product of deterministic events?

I assume you are referring to my domino analogy. Notice how I said that every domino would be connected to another domino in another pattern. Thus, consciousness would not be an epiphenomenon, it would be a function that connects the stimulus to the response.