I am not sure if this has been covered here, but I wanted to give a slightly different viewpoint on the old argument.
Yesterday, the Presbyterian Church voted to allow open Lesbian and Gay Clergy to serve as Clergy. This is now the Fourth* major Denomination in the US to openly allow L and G Clergy within its ranks.
As an Atheist, I applaud this. It may be weird that someone with no belief in God expressing happiness at anything Church related, I find that I am not an ordinary Atheist.
I grew up in a largely secular home. We didn't attend church, we slept in on Sunday's and did housework. When I was young, my next door Neighbour, an elderly woman named Barb asked if she could take me to church. A couple of blocks down the street was a Baptist church. I would go to Sunday School, and then would sit in what I call "Big Church" because it was not at all fun or exciting. The Minister would yell at times, and get all worked up... but I always looked forward to the "Children's Church" where I would race up to the steps leading to the pulpit and learn the "kids version" to the sermon.
I would go sporadically, and while I didn't enjoy it, I didn't dislike it. Each summer, I would go to VBS, or Vacation Bible School, and for a week, I would learn about God.
Times changed, and so did I. As I came to acknowledge my sexuality, I also found that religion didn't like those people who were like me. I also found that there were individuals, or situations where I found religion acceptable, and engaging, causing me to think about my own belief (or non-belief) and be able to respect aspects of Religion.
In college, I was once called "The Happy Atheist" because I didn't hate on God, I just simply didn't believe in him.
Of course, I had time periods of my life where I would rail against organized religion. I mean, I HATE how organizations can distort so many good aspects of Religion. I also kept a historical perspective... Religions can cause a lot of Ignorance, bigotry, death and destruction.
I do not believe that all Christians are good people, but I do believe that there are some amazing Christians who accept me for who I am, and in keeping with their beliefs, do not judge me. I have found the same with Muslims, Hindu's, Buddhists, and other religions.
I often say that I respect the role that religion has played in the Civilization. I don't agree with it, I don't believe it, but to deny its existence, or dismiss it out of hand is also as small minded and as wrong as religious extremist.
I remember, when in college, the Church associated with my college came out in support of the LGBT group that I was helping start on campus. This was in 1999, only a few months after Matthew Sheppard. The Minister stood up with us when we faced issues on campus, and when the religion question came up. He stood up and said that we needed our group on campus, and that he hopes to one day marry Lesbians and Gay's in his church. He was the first minister I heard say that, and despite my non-belief, I believed that he could change his church. And he accepted me, and being an atheist... he was a true Christian.
He belong to the Presbyterian Church.
In 2002, he suddenly died of a heart attack. His wife continued working within the church... and today, I remember him fondly, as someone who worked with us, stood by us, and helped change an institution he held so close and dear to his heart. I know that his and his wife's work helped culminate in that vote.
I do not believe in God, but I believe in the goodness of people.
*Edited due to new information.