Why is belief in a higher power required?

[Ryantology]

That’s what atheism means. “Atheism is the position that affirms the non-existence of God. It proposes positive disbelief rather than mere suspension of belief” - Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Whatever. You still can't prove your own positive assertion and you insist on resorting to a definition of atheism which has no practical application in the real world, so as to prevent that creeping feeling of intellectual inferiority. At best, you're as bad as you insist we are.

You could just prove that your God exists, then the definition of atheism would be irrelevant. This seems to be all you are capable of.

Can you prove your materialism?

We're living in a material world. Done. Now prove your spiritualism.