Atheists, although rejecting dogmatic religiosity and formal institutional practices, often shape their understanding of the divine through the perception of cultural and traditional heritage.

Religious Currents in Atheist Perspectives

Atheists, although rejecting dogmatic religiosity and formal institutional practices, often shape their understanding of the divine through the perception of cultural and traditional heritage. Even without direct experience in communicating with God, they absorb images and ideas associated with higher values and the transcendent through literature, art, and history. As noted in one of the sources:

"In a person who does not have a religious worldview, religious currents still exist. They absorb them from birth, coming into contact with tradition, culture, and literature..." (source: link txt)

This indicates that, from an early age, people inadvertently encounter religious symbols and ideas that form their worldview, even if they later reject official religion. Furthermore, there is an opinion that it is impossible to completely rid oneself of the tendency to idolize, since even the outright renunciation of faith may be based on a deeply rooted sense of needing something higher that gives life meaning:

"It is necessary to acknowledge that consistent godlessness does not exist. A person is more an idolater than an atheist; they recognize the 'divine' even when denying God..." (source: link txt)

Thus, it can be concluded that even if atheists do not have direct experience of communicating with God through religious institutions, they inevitably encounter cultural and psychological impulses that contribute to the formation of their ideas of the divine.