Is it normal to be confused with atheists which say "i wish god were real?"

It does make you think doesn't it? the bible tells us that God already knew everything about you, including everything you'd do in your whole life long before you where born, which begs the question whether you have any say in it at all, but hey lets face it, your life is maybe controlled like 25% by personal choice, the rest just happens to you

I think it's more of a fear of death and eternal nothingness. I can be like that sometimes, especially when I was depressed. I was very pro life and began fearing death when before I just accepted it as inevitable.

For me it's about fear of death, fear that you will be alone. Religion doesn't make the universe any more or less beautiful, but it would make it less scary. These things are harder to deal with if you can't believe in a benevolent God (although certainly not impossible to deal with).

If I had children raped and murdered I would feel exceedingly depressed regardless of whether I believed in a God - I wouldn't really care if it was God's work or anything else. Conversely, if I fell in love I would be exceedingly happy regardless.

And, like bananaface, I don't believe in free will (which, like atheism, is something I find difficult).

To me, what you're saying sounds more like a matter of whether someone believes in free will, rather than religion. Many religious people believe in free will, rather than thinking that God has everything mapped out for them and that they have no control. It also shouldn't be assumed that Atheists believe in free will. I personally don't genuinely believe in free will, and I don't believe in God.

As for your last paragraph, that seems very off-base. Perhaps that applies to some people, but I've never felt like that. And argh at "prolly"! That word kept nagging at me, so annoying!D:

Thank you that was very helpful. Although I do have different idea of death which satisfies me, I can now understand where you and others are coming from :)

Plenty of atheists would like to believe that there's an all-knowing, all-loving god and an afterlife waiting for them. Faith sustains a lot of religious people; agnostics and atheists don't have that option. How is it not understandable to wish they did? It's like an adult whose parents have died wishing he still had them when he's under stress. Doesn't everyone occasionally wish to lay their burdens on some father- or mother-figure's lap and have a good cry while being told that everything's going to be all right?

You're looking at it as someone who hasn't endured much loss in life yet, I think. After dealing with a few family deaths or close brushes with major tragedies, it's easier to understand how even the most rational person could feel like a weary child and wish for comfort from a loving parent. There's a reason religious people often refer to "God, the Father."

Also, not all religious people believe that their destinies are so precisely mapped out. Judeo-Christian doctrine emphasizes free will, and although I haven't read much about other faiths, I'm pretty sure they do too. Few devout people believe that everyone's just an automaton going through the motions of God's plan; they believe, just as agnostics and atheists do, that they have choices to make. The difference is that they believe their choices please or displease God, whereas an atheist chooses in accordance with an internalized moral code.

I say this as an agnostic who has often wished she could have faith. I hope I've been able to clarify a little for you.

Atheism is Anti-Theism. Theism is the belief in a deity or multiple deities. So no that makes no sense at all. Since the name is basically anti belief in god. So for them to say "I wish god existed" means they are not really atheist. At least not according to the name. They might be agnostic but it makes no sense that an atheist would say this. That goes against what it means to be an atheist. It is like saying you hate soccer but wish you were a soccer player.

I, like most believers I know believe in free will. That's why bad things happen. So do you want free will or do you want everything controlled. On the positive side, being controlled means nothing bad will happen, or at least you won't care...with free will comes the "curse" of emotion!

Also why do you want to believe there is nothing after death? Isn't that sad. I would be so depressed.

Though you don't believe, God bless you!