Atheists are often more curious about religion for one major reason we have no faith in any one particular religion. Faith is what draws a person into a religion, and is what keeps them in regular attendance at their local church, mosque, synagogue, temple etc.
Faith cannot be argued with or against, and I often wonder why people try. For faith in itself is not based on particular facts or evidence, it is merely the result of a person believing 100 per cent in its dogma. Any evidence' against it is quickly dismissed as a test' or the work of the Devil', whilst any evidence' for it is embraced as proof that their path is indeed righteous.
It is faith that makes a person see a stain on the footpath shaped as a dog say "that looks like a dog" and then see a similar stain in the image of Christ they proclaim "there is Christ, it is a miracle!" There is no logic in this, but there doesn't need to be if you have faith you will always believe.
Total belief also closes the door on the need to examine the teachings of other religions. Why bother, they are wrong and those followers are destined for a massive fall once they reach the afterlife.
This brings me to the mind of the Atheist. Without a total commitment to a particular religion, an Atheist is free to examine the various belief systems that exist across the world in a way that a student may read a variety of history books. Religious text makes for a fascinating insight into the human psyche.
I myself have studied numerous religions in some detail, from the Australian Aboriginals belief of the dreaming', a parallel universe where all the values and laws, and indeed the universe itself, were created. To Buddhism, which is less of a religion' and more of a moral lifestyle choice', where followers believe that all suffering in life stems from man's desires. A Buddhist attempts to remove suffering from their lives by depriving themselves of material pleasures.
There are many more from every corner of the globe and from all the different periods of human existence. Many have vanished over the course of time and others have changed through numerous re-writings and translations. But all of them have devout followers that are convinced that their path is the true and correct one.
What I have concluded from my studies, and I stress that this is merely my take on things, and is hardly a statement of pure fact, is this:
It has always been a trait of man kind that we must have an answer to everything. We have always been frightened of the unknown and will feel at ease if there is an explanation to take comfort in.
The origins of the Earth, what happens to us when we die and the meaning of life are three questions that have answers far beyond the scope of man even more so for the less evolved early man.
As a result, each culture and civilisation has come up with their own explanation. Most of these involve some form of divine being' or god'. Some have similar teachings and some are as different as snow and lava. Some involve many deities, some have just one and some have none at all. But they all have one thing in common an answer to the unanswerable.
Most also offer the ultimate comfort that this life is not all there is. We are taught that once we die we aren't just worm food', and that what we do in this life actually does matter. Never underestimate the power of this belief as it is what has kept civilisation evolving for thousands of years.
An Atheist will take comfort from other sources. For me it is my family, I live a life guided by my own strict moral and ethical beliefs. I do this so that I may raise my sons to be good men. Should my death truly be the final chapter of my being, I will know that I have achieved a form of immortality through the lives of my children. As an added bonus, should I be wrong and there is a heaven and hell, I think I've lived a life that will ensure I end up somewhere on the positive side of the ledger!
Would it matter to me if my sons choose to live as Christians, Muslims or Hindus? Not at all, we are all free to put our faith in whatever we feel is best for us. That is another reason why myself and other Atheists are so curious about religion, how do you know what is the right faith for you if you don't at least listen to what each one has to say? I don't care what religion my sons choose, as long as it is a choice they have made themselves, free from the influence of others, and with an appropriate degree of thought not a decision made on a whim.