I don't agree with the whole "let's agree to disagree" attitude that is popular today. Believing something, on any side, does not require arrogance. In fact, anyone who claims to be a theist and does not have occasional and severe doubts has probably not examined his or her faith closely enough. That being said, there is confidence and there is arrogance. They are two different things. To me it doesn't matter how intelligent a person is, because even geniuses can be foolish. There is a difference between intelligence and wisdom, I think everyon can agree with that. So it doesn't really matter to me whether most scientists and academics are atheist or theist because I don't think scientists or academics are granted extraordinary insight automatically.
I also don't believe in the idea that there are many truths. I think there is one truth. Naturally I think my truth is the truth, or else why would I have my truth? In my experience I find that many atheists pronounce their atheism just to make themselves look clever, or to try to fit themselves into the circle of the highly intelligent.
Even I, who believes in God, have doubts from time to time of God's existence--it's a question that cannot be ignored, especially in today's world where there are so many atheists. It's also a question that needs to be addressed by each person individually because it is a part of human growth.
If believing in God and thinking that it's right makes me arrogant, well then I guess I'm arrogant by your standards. Boo hoo. But I'm sticking to my guns anyway because I'm not intimidated by the so called "lack of evidence" for God's existence. I cannot deny that of the capital sins, pride is the most dangerous for me, but that does not disqualify me or my truth from being correct. I hope you are not an atheist because of my own pride, or the pride of other believers. Nobody's perfect.
As for never having spiritual experiences, that does not mean you do not have a spiritual dimension. Imagine a person who just decides never to use a left leg. The lack of use and experience of it doesn't mean it isn't there. Of course you can "live" without nourishing your spirit, but it is only a physical life. Ignoring the spiritual doesn't mean it isn't there. Honing in on one's spirituality requires effort just like body-building.
I don't consider atheism a "leap of faith." Only theism is a leap of faith because only theism has consequences that direct the person in its completeness. Religion subscribes and frees the person to a complete understanding of human origins, present, and future. Acceptance of God requires one to acknowledge one's own and humanity's own limitations. Belief in God gives purpose to life, and will drive the way one lives.
Not being an atheist, I see atheism as a cop out to avoid ultimate responsibility. Ignoring, out of fear or misinformation, the real essence of humanity, indeed the real essence of everything. It is a running away from truth, a narrow system of thought that ultimately restricts oneself.
For me there is too much evidence for me to ignore the existence of God. Atheists are missing out. This along with my past experiences and observations, not my general disagreement, is the source of my perceptions of atheists.
pretty long