If I were to become an atheist...

   Sometimes it's necessary.  There are questions science cannot answer.  Science can only solve problems when everyone agrees what the problem is.  When people can't agree what the problem is, then science is utterly useless.  Most of the important issues in society are issues because people cannot agree what the problem is.  Do the math, science is useless to solve the most important problems in the world.  The junior "scientists" on this board are only beginning to realize that.  They still think all the world's problems would be solved if only people believed in science instead of a god.  The funny part is how much smarter they think they are than anyone else.  In these cases faith is only "good" in that you know you need it and don't delude yourself about what science can do.

   Edit> I have a second point I had forgotten to add.
   Faith is efficient.  It saves a lot of trouble when people just do what they are told without questioning everything.  It saves a lot of people from trying the wrong thing only to find out the authorities were right all along on that point.  One tiny problem with this plan, it only works when authority knows what to do.  People who are not any good at discovering the best path sometimes gain the upper hand and become a misguided authority.  Now you need some deep thinkers to come to the rescue.

   The problem with the Republican Party is that it is dominated by people who believe in doing what they are told.  It doesn't mean they believe in a god.  Those two things are often mixed up.  The same problem exists as with too much "faith" in whatever, authority slides off track.