Hmm. Well, when I was a kid I believed absolutely that life somehow arose spontaneously out of inert matter with no spiritual origins, because I was a scientifically minded atheist in an atheistic family. I understand that viewpoint very well and I understand just how convincing it is, because it WAS my viewpoint until I reached my early 20's. I think it's fine starting life out as a rational atheist. It makes you examine things with a great deal of attention to the details and the facts. I even stopped believing in Santa Claus way before the other kids did, because I could see that the whole idea was unworkable.

Now I believe in all kinds of spiritual stuff, and I don't even belong to any organized religion. I never got "saved", as they say. I like this progression from scientific atheist to scientific believer. It puts me in some very good company.