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Can I add a few different thoughts to this conversation for the sake of discussion.
In my job, I have seen officers lose faith, as well as gain more faith based on different events. Many in law enforcement see the bad in people, and deal with them daily. After awhile, one begins to lose hope in humanity and lose hope in a higher power (How could God let all of these bad things happen?)
On that same note, because of the loss of hope in humanity, some gain more faith in God. This seems to be more common with those that I meet.
The same can be said for victims of traumatic events (How could God let this happen to me?). Like before, traumatic events give people more hope and faith in God. In fact, many feel that they need God to help them get through the rough times of such trauma. If God wasn't there, they feel they would be lost. The thought of God gives us hope...in the good times and the bad.
With that said, and this is where I don't understand the atheists that I mean (obviously not all atheists feel this way)...so what if somebody wants to believe in God? You have a crack addicted mother of 6 who is at the end of her rope and her children have no chance of living a 'normal' life like the children their age. One day, the mother hits rock bottom and 'sees the light'. She gets herself cleaned up with what she believes is from the help of God and puts the pieces of her family back together. What would it matter if God helped this woman or not? Is it better for this woman to believe in something that has improved her life and those around her, or to wave a sign in her face saying 'There is no God...there is no Hell...do whatever you want because it doesn't matter in the end'.
God gives hope to those who need it most...why try to take that away or convince them otherwise?
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