Quote - I just don't understand, when a person looks around and finds no obvious god, what compels that person to assert with any certainty god did/does/will/can not exist.

Well I hope you don't ascribe that view to me. I don't believe in God, but that's just my opinion. I am a human being and that makes me fallible, just like any other human (except the Pope, LOL). There is always the possibility that any of us may be wrong in what we believe, perhaps the biggest sin of all is not to admit that! That said, there is nothing wrong with having strong beliefs, and fighting your corner for those beliefs, so long as you are always prepared to review what you believe in the light of the best available evidence.

I don't believe in God because I have never come a cross a convincing argument for his (her? its?) existence, or seen any evidence that would convince me of such existence. What I have seen a lot of evidence for is some people using the word and concept of "God" to manipulate, control, and wield power over others.

All that said, there are many different concepts of what the word "God" means, and of who or what God is. I'm sure I have not come across all of them yet. So perhaps one day I will come across a concept of God that strikes me as true. That day has not yet come, but if I wake in the morning and find my slippers chewed to pieces, I would see it as strong evidence for the existence of the Great Ralphie.