Atheists/Skeptics: Don't want to believe?

[Alceste]

Many people seem to think that atheists, and more broadly, skeptics, simply don't want to believe in anything due to some cynical or contrarian personality trait, which stifles their imagination and sense of wonder.

On the contrary, I would love to believe in all sorts of magical things. In fact, it was my long journey of exploring all sorts of beliefs about the world that ultimately led me to become a fully-realized rationalist/skeptic. I wanted to believe in something wondrous badly, but as I learned about more and more irrational beliefs, patterns started to emerge which I couldn't ignore.

However, what I did learn was that the universe contains more magic and wonder than I could have possibly imagined without resorting to fantastical beliefs.

Anyway, for the other atheists/skeptics: would you like there to be "magical" things or does the hypothetical existence of these things not appeal to you?

I've spent quite a bit of time utterly swept away with awe. I often feel my own existence is an incomprehensible miracle. I can make myself feel like a sorceress by cooking a perfect poached egg when I'm in a certain frame of mind. I can be bewildered and astonished by the flight of bats on an evening stroll. Is there anything in the universe that ISN'T magical and wondrous? Is there anything that needs the embellishment of myth?

I wouldn't like to believe in anything "extra" - although for me the barrier between the magical and the mundane is much more fuzzy and indistinct for me than I gather it is for most. It's not like I have one foot in either dimension, it's just that I can not see the difference.

 

[ThereIsNoSpoon]

Many people seem to think that atheists, and more broadly, skeptics, simply don't want to believe in anything due to some cynical or contrarian personality trait, which stifles their imagination and sense of wonder.

Its easier to imagine someone as a rebel and a problemmaker rather than as a normal person. Because if you allowed him to be "unevil" then you would accept that human reasoning could lead to something else than what you believe in. this however would shatter central claims of your belief and the statements of your god.
Hence all unbelievers are either not informed correctly or rebellious people that are your enemies and want the truth to be distrroyed. Of course the second doesnt really make sense. I havent seen anybody (even the greatest machosists) sit there and enjoy the prosperity of an eternal hellfire. While some might agree that it gives them a lust for a second or two most probably some years or millenia in 1000 degrees centigrade of fire is not to anybodys liking.

Anyway, for the other atheists/skeptics: would you like there to be "magical" things or does the hypothetical existence of these things not appeal to you?

Well .... i would like to fly to andromeda and i certainly would like to have a choice concerning my life span and how i die. I certainly would like to visit harry potters school.
But since none of this is currently possible i see no sense why i would think about it much.