Above, I've always been a bit perplexed at how non-theists can, for example, "be grateful" for things that appear to me to be gifts of God - asks Liland. My answer (and I speak only for myself, not all atheists) is that I am not "grateful" - I am bloody glad I was so lucky. The reason I don't use the term "grateful" is that there is no one to thank for the blessed luck that, for instance, had me born an American and not, say, an Afghan or other downtrodden person.

I do believe in forces which can be personified as Lady Luck and Mother Nature... both of whom are deaf to human voices!