There seems to be a religion need, or a set of needs that makes a person likely to turn to religion.

Depends how you define religion, but most of us adopt some sort of structure to live by, including a set of first principles that the rest of what we do tends to pivot on.

It just so happens that some structures are kinda bad to rally behind.

Mikhail: Assuming that, in this sort of psychological example, the individual came to atheism through rational dispelling

If you have enough information to reach a conclusion- I don’t know for certain that I’m actually awake, the entirity of life could be a kind of long dream, and we have no parameters to say it’s more probable that it is/isn’t.

the end. one realizes that, everything is pointless

Even with/without religion, overall existence (maybe also life) must be pointless, because when you keep asking ‘why?’ in any system you always hit a brick wall where there is no reason for your most fundamental thing to exist. For religion there’s no point for god to exist (hence no point for us to), and for general science there’s no reason why physics (or it’s basic laws) exist. If you need convincing, ask yourself why positive and negative charges attract, why gravity decreases with distance, why the speed of light is what it is, why there aren’t more laws of physics than there are, etc…

The only thing that could possibly give existence any sort of meaning at all is emotion

and that everything is incredibly temporary

A curse, but also a blessing, and is necessary for adaptation to the environment. Unfortunately desire for a need lasts much longer than the satisfied need, so I try to get rid of (at least) psychological needs if I can

And, assuming that the person, hypothetically, of course, came to it through rationality, I wouldn’t be surprised if our own morality, defined in any way, would backfire and make the individual highly depressed at the terrible state of affairs the world is in.

Is there a rational reason to clutch onto morality?- particularly if it’s distressing or limits you with guilt. I realise some morality is virtually unabandonable. Nethertheless it pays to try not to let stuff distress/worry. From the end perspective nothing matters once we’re dead if we face oblivion, but before that point people desire to make the most of the now (materialism), but that can be more reason to shape the world into an image you find more pleasing.

Patness - I’m thinking the security need, and the fear of the unknown, and/or the need to be prepared, perhaps also the inability to accept the doom of self+others.
Of course, this suggests nothing about how likely religion really is (which I can’t define anyway, because I lack the parameters)

Thats your opinion. But theres more Christian Beliver’s then you think there is. You have to look at all sides. You claim your not an Atheist.
Are you believeing in God? So find out who Barack Obama is. =)

Ok sorry I made a mistake your an Atheist.so you must not believe in Jesus Christ. =(

Yep. That pretty much sums it up for me. Well, Jesus and any other Gods you might want to name.

so here i go, FIRST- everyone here is saying “obama is the only one saying what needs to be said” and “my vote is rock solid for obama” because of what hes said??? tell me what he has done??/ please!! tell me what he has DONE not SAID to back anyhting he says. For the love of Jesus!! YES I SAID JESUS CHRIST, the true messiah not barrack!!! anyways....for the love of JESUS....the man is an idiot. Im wrong?? he thinks there is OVER 57 states!!  please!!! tell me what you people have to go other then whims..... “my friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you’ll join me as we try and change it"--barack obama.  funny how he wants to change such a great nation! yup vote for obama!! idiots!

Well Josh, since you asked here’s a look at Obama’s record.  And as for what he has said, we’re ‘values voters’ and one of our most important values is separation of church and state.  Because wishing for more connection between the two is just asking for trouble, for ideologues where qualified professionals should be, for government programs that don’t work, and for oppression of people just trying to live their lives with people they love.

Obama has clearly demonstrated, particularly with his disappointing FISA vote, that he ain’t perfect.  But for once we have a candidate who can (as Jon Stewart put it) “talk to Americans about race as if they were adults”.  Whose economic plan numbers come within an order of magnitude of making sense.  Whose energy plan is forward-looking instead of backward-wishing. 

So yeah; compared to McCain (who has demonstrated his intentions by voting with Bush 95% of the time) he’s a good bet for America.