One of the core problems in this discussion is that the concept of God is being conflated with subscription to organized religion. You can believe in God without believing the Earth was created in 7 days. You can believe in God without believing in Jesus, Mecca, the Pope, Jewish God, Xenu, or Oprah Winfrey. You can believe in God without believing in heaven, hell, or Intelligent Design.
God is a theory for the creation of the universe and of life. It's not any better or any worse than any other theory, and most of the scientifically accepted theories (Big Bang, for example) assert nothing that is incompatible with the notion of God the Creator. The beginnings of the universe are wholly beyond the scope and comprehension of humanity. Whether you believe that a God is responsible or not, the truth is, nobody knows and nobody can know and nobody will know for, at a minimum, hundreds and hundreds of years.
So to crap on a fairly reasonable theory (that there was an original, sentient creator of the universe) is highly unfair, and more importantly, illogical. You don't have to believe it, but there's no reason to dismiss it. And there's no burden of proof on anyone. It's called faith/belief because there is no proof, no evidence. You believe it or you don't.
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