Phoenix Maplewood Why did God create atheists?

Esma found it odd to have such a firm belief in a being that no one had ever seen or even spoken to. At least the bears had a way to talk to her mom. Though... while the idea formed into a thought she furrowed her brow... she had always taken Ash Star's word for it. And had for a while as a kid believed in the bears even if it was her mom's word she would have to count on. What if... that was an assumption on her part that had had nothing to do with reality. 

"I think I would want to see my god in person rather than trust my imagination," she said - again not mocking the man, but rather giving an idea of, what her worldview was. Down-to-Earth and pragmatic. Esma preferred to believe in things she had seen with her own eyes. Because there was no other way to confirm them being real. "Does the wind always blow you in a direction you want to go?" Esma asked. 

"I have time," she responded. An eternity, in fact. "What will you do on the western coast?"