I don't see the connection between believing our capacity for higher thought will be engaged to save us from our ability to destroy ourselves, and being a theist. Perhaps you could elaborate?

Speaking for myself as an atheist, I believe our capacity for higher thought might be deployed to save us from our ability to destroy ourselves, but that's no guarantee that it will. Indeed, this may be an evolutionary "hard stop" beyond which many species simply don't get. That would help explain our seeming alonneness, which suggests that the universe isn't teeming with advanced civilizations broadcasting their communications all over the galaxy. This is a sobering realization that should (but probably won't) motivate us to improve the quality and self-awareness of our thought processes.

If "higher" thinking is needed, it seems to me the path to that is rational thought grounded in reality, not wishful thinking grounded in hopes and desires and fears.

@mordant I believe that what the Bible calls Christ is our Higher Consciousness. Satin is just our "Shadow Self". There are no supernatural supreme beings. I believe God is another word for Universal Laws. We were all "created" according to these Laws. Prayer and Meditation can clear our minds, and help us see these Laws more clearly. Religious language has power in that "Sacred" words are those that evoke emotions and emotions .provide fuel for actions. The Doctor who runs the Theology Dept. at my Seminary calls himself an Atheist. I don't have a problem with that. Its all semantics to me.

@Seminarian I appreciate and respect your perspective, but am probably a little more cautious than you in repurposing words freighted with particular meanings. The psychological term "shadow" is what should be used to describe that concept, not Satan. Things like existence or the universe of consciousness should not be relabeled as "god" (which you're not doing, it's just a common example I've encountered). Why? Because people readily talk past each other when they hear certain terms and assume you mean what they mean by it.

That said, I do appreciate that our subconscious deals in and responds strongly to symbols and archetypes, and I don't have any big malfunction with people who understand and deploy religion on that level, other than that I think at times they are inadvertently enabling less functional forms of religion, and/or failing to call it out where it's harming society.

@TheAstroChuck Budistical is an adjective and has a nicer ring. Did you mean it in a negative way, like artsy-fartsy?

Elaborating:
Unlike most other animals who are compelled by their instincts and gut emotions, humans also have the power to envision consequences and make plans. These are deliberative powers. Thus, our dual natures.