Why is belief in a higher power required?

[Silver]

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

If the burden of proof is on me, which I fail to logically see it being considering that the burden of proof tends to be upon the individual making the extraordinary claim, then it is veritably easy to discount the existence of god due to the fact that there is zero verifiable evidence in support of his existence.

There is nothing in this reality that alludes to the existence of a god. Simple as that.

Since theists make the extraordinary claim that god does exist, when there is obviously no evidence in support of him, then the burden of proof is on the theist.