Is atheism necessary to truly appreciate religion?

[Heretical Rants]

First off, the title of this thread:  
(I lied, this thread is about Christian Rock)


Ok, so I was driving to work, and while I was switching through radio stations I decided I'd listen to some Christian rock.

This was the song that came on.

Of course, the implicit answer to the chorus

Would you take the place of this Man
Would you take the nails from His hands

Is probably, "You know, I'd like to think I would, but probably no."
...because they believe that all they have to do is accept Him into their hearts and they will be saved.

However, from the atheist point of view, the answer would be YES.  I'd be glad to sacrifice myself to myself if it meant I could become an immortal, omnipotent being, apparently immune to contradiction, immune to evil, and capable of taking the stain of evil off of My subjects should I so choose.

The main problem with this is that if I were to truly trade places with Him, I would become an imaginary guy in the sky, and He would simply become me, typing a post on the HAF.

[Dragon_Of_Heavon]

It is true that the problem is not that the godless do not comprehend the awesome power of the idea of God. It is also not that we do not comprehend the whole storyline and the promises that such believe makes. It is simply that we do not believe in them. Much like Santa, tooth fairy, or unicorns....for some guys out there,the idea is disgusting to us as atheists because it is simply and blatantly untrue. Truth for us is power, it is a love of life and existence. it is a will to understand this truth that makes us who we are. However personally I see a problem with that song. If you were to take up the cross and the nails because you want what God has or because you want omnipotence or even simply to be forgiven for your sins you will never attain any of these goals. We learn this from the story of Lucifer who challenged God for the thrown. Even with out a direct challenge to want any thing from God is presumptuous and therefore a sin. Religion asks that we all believe and love blindly and for nothing but love. They used love as a sword and shield to prove their point but in the end it just waters down the word and their point.

[Heretical Rants]

If you were to take up the cross and the nails because you want what God has or because you want omnipotence or even simply to be forgiven for your sins you will never attain any of these goals.

Ah, but if you take it up because you are driven by the force of Good, then that makes you the Savior of mankind

[Heretical Rants]

Ok, so I listened to some more:

There were several songs about being lost, lonely, sad, etc. before finding God, and then there was an advertisement instructing people to make their children respect authority.
 :|

There is a Reason

Yes, there is.  Things don't just happen on their own.

I exist because my parents... well, I don't really want to know the exact details...