Pondering the difference between Christians and atheists

What makes someone a Christian and another an atheist? It doesn't seem to be intelligence; you can see intelligent people on both sides.

Could it be that religion is merely a bad habit that you've fallen into? Like watching too much TV, not blogging, etc. This is very possible because I couldn't get out of religion for 20-something years, and then suddenly I got out. Just like that. It started with a few questions about my own religion, which quickly snowballed into an avalanche. So it's possible that religion is just a bad habit.

Or is it a certain mind-set, or more accurately, a certain mind. Although we are all homo sapiens, we are all very different animals, individually. Humans must be the most varied within their own species, with individual tastes, mind-sets, philosophies, and therefore, religions. Some choose not to have any.

People who accept religion tend to be of a certain disposition. They don't question much, and they enjoy trusting in things which has not been proven, or better yet, things which are highly unlikely. They seem to have an inclination for such things. A gift, even. The gift of faith. And they live happily ever after. Their faith is never shaken even in the light of modernity, in the light of modern science, in the light of evolution, in the light of bible criticism. What's up with them? I suspect most of them never even bother to keep up with such topics and their impact upon their religion. No. They are much too confident that their God is real, no matter what the rest of the world says. Or perhaps, they become even more vehemently confident when the world around them doubts and falls into apostasy, increasing their confidence that they are the chosen ones.

Others like myself just seem to have a hard time accepting anything at face value unless it has been distinctly proven. We tend to smell a fish whenever we walk past the fish mongers'. (I hate fish.) Others around us just seem to be oblivious to the smell. They don't find anything wrong with being conned by people who themselves have been conned, and they seem to enjoy conning themselves, while the rest of us shake our heads in wonder.

Both sides are happy being who they are, I think. The Christians are happier being Christiany, and the atheists are happy being atheisty. Although it seems to be slightly more exasperating for atheists. I wonder why. Is it because we're envious of those who happily believe in Santa Claus while we've shed ourselves of such a delusion. When Christmas comes around, our eyes are not as glazed over as those of the believers. Every day is the same to us. We have no sabbath, no holy days, and days that are more profane. Something does seem to be missing from the equation.

There's something about watching people being enthralled with their God, to be lost in worship. To be faithful believers. It's like watching people watching American Idol. I don't particularly go for the show, but to be one of the audience, wowing and cheering, positively enthusiastic about the whole show, what would it feel like?

Being an atheist just seems rather cold, and being cold-blooded about everything. Everything can be explained, even emotions, fancy that. Where's the mystery of life, to walk through life with a blindfold sometimes seems more enticing and exciting than walking in the full light of day. To be a bit drunk seems better than being sober. To be unaware of the cruelty of life, and to able to ascribe meaning and purpose to every damn thing just seems so blissful.

Maybe I'm just hankering for the old life, especially when I see photos of old church-mates on facebook, just back from their church retreat. The pig longs to wallow back in the mud.