Hiya Revl. Happy Sunday. Be back later....
I do not know what atheists believe, I only know what I do and as far as I know there is no written formula for me to conform to.
One thing I will say-- if I were an all powerful presence or being I'd make sure that every child was loved, wanted and nurtured, and absolutely none of them would die of horrible painful conditions that mean suffering of the sort of proportion that I am (thankfully) unable to imagine. Actually I think you have hit on one of the greatest reasons for believing there is no such thing as any sort of god - or at least if there is such a phenomenon it is malevolent.
Ellis,
I think you're personalizing and subjectivizing too much. Sure, on a personal level, death, loss, and grief are not "good" things; but in the big picture (of Evolution, ...or G0d's Plan) these things are necessary, and can be seen as a beautiful sacrifice. Quoting Kahlil Gibran, "The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain."
...also, but unrelated....
When I listen to most religious folks, I've always felt like an atheist; but when I listen to the music of the spheres, the universe, I feel deeply theistic.
Now, knowing of the more fundamental bases of reality, and reality's illusory nature, I find it easy to let go of my preconceived notions and accept the notion for wider possibilities; and easily understand what religious folks have been talking about. There are so many more connections across reality than we are aware of in this three-dimensional spatial realm.
