But you do think that it is simple and obvious that the notion of God can have no place in reality, and that the cosmos exists and came into existence, entirely of itself"

Well I do think that. All of it. If you disagree, you have to tell me where God came from. Dozens of people on this board have asked that very simple, childlike (not childish) question. Sometimes the most cutting questions are the simplest. As yet, no-one has even begun to answer it. With science, we have at least begun to answer some of the mysteries of the cosmos, and we find that the enquiry is far more beautiful and edifying than any inexplicable Godly intrusion, which is entirely your invention, without supporting evidence. Try it some time.

"...and that our consciousness is a transient and essentially meaningless ripple on the surface of a completely lifeliess reality."

Well this is a very interesting topic, and I've been reading a lot about it ever since that puzzling fellow TimeStamp brought it up. So I disagree with your characterisation. Another time maybe. This Nero d'Avola is delicious.