Atheism actually enhances the value of life. We tend to give greater value to things that are rare: gold, diamonds, honesty. The air we breathe is important, but it is plentiful and we get it for free. (We only pay for it underwater or on Mount Everest.) The scarcity and brevity of life is what enlarges its value. We mourn the deaths of older people, but we consider it a greater loss when a young child dies. The fact that we are going to die is what makes life precious.
