As a Christian, I valued the idea of death and the life that would occur afterward. Now, as an ex-Christian, I value this life much more, knowing that when it ends, it's all over.

"That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet." -- Emily Dickenson

Speaking for myself, I don't think I value life any more but I do think I enjoy life much more.

I think so. For me, the idea of an "afterlife" reduces this life to nothing more than a glorified puppet show.

I heard a great philosopher once say, " 'You only go around once in life, so you've got to grab for all the gusto you can," though I was drinking beer at the time so it's hard to say for sure.

I have found it funny that theist say they KNOW they are going to a better place, yet they aren't in any hurry to get there.

I value it more and also love this quote from Dr. Lawrence Krauss: “Life Is More Precious Because It’s Temporary and Accidental”

Such a seemingly simple question, without a simple answer. Most religions see life as a gift to be valued. Me as an Atheist see life as something to live as part of normal biologic functions. How one goes abouth there life may show their value for that life; however circumstances may prevent proper value assessment.

Someone born into a any number of situations may value that life less because they're led to believe it is; say a person born into poverty. The opposite of course, a person born into wealth may over value their existance. There is now universal NADA or Kelly Blue Book for a lifes value though.

The best way to show value for life is to use it to the best you can, maybe help others do so as well. Life value is not based on ours or any othet belief system.

I can't speak for atheists, but as an agnostic I value life infinitely more, because a theist values a human body only as the repository of the 'soul,' whose sole mssion is to escape natural life and enter the supernatural realm. If there IS an afterlife, great, I'll enjoy it when the time comes, but I don't see THIS life as a waystation, a bus stop in a seedy part of town, to get through as quickly as possible.

Of course. Why do you think the military wants its soldiers to believe that they are dying for a reason. That heaven awaits. As an atheist and freethinker there was no way I was going to Vietnam to drop napalm and other chemical weapons on villagers still using water wheels and yaks. When you study biology and evolution you appreciate the miracle of life and supernatural forces had nothing to do with it.

Personally, yes. Look at all of these rich people destroying the earth. It's obvious that they don't care. I love this life and this place. This existence is all we have. If they cared about this life they might want to preserve this planet. One life to live.

This atheist doesn't.
I really don't hold any particular value for life in general.
We're born, we live for a time, and we die.
Lather, rinse, repeat.

Can't speak for everyone..... As for myself, this one is the only sure thing

I'm immortal so the question doesn't arise

Yes, personally speaking as an Atheist here, we do place a worth on life itself since there has never any irrefutable, empirically proven evidence shown of either an After-life or a God of any kind.
"Life is for the Living and the living of, Death is merely for the Dead and Death and Dying come to ALL us in turn, whether or NOT we want it to." - William Anthony, 2016.

Sounds reasonable to me. Seems non-theists would value morality more for a similar reason, as well, because morality isn’t just rules dictated by a supreme being, but rather carefully created and understood based on the effect they have on individuals and society as a whole.

I think so, but that's just my perception. I value my own life and that of others more as I get closer to my own inevitable death, and I want to eek out all the pleasure I can, and share it with others as much as possible.

My reasoning for my response is that I'm not ruled by a book that features a god who instructs and carries out so much killing throughout the stories making up humankind for believers in popular monotheism.

I don't know how many theists believe in an afterlife. I seem to remember that Jesus is said to have exclaimed that the "kingdom of heaven is spread upon the earth, and men do not see it" or something to that effect. If I was a believer, that would put the notion of heaven as an afterlife, right out of my mind.

I think they enjoy life more without thinking about hell All the time. They're not on a guilt trip.

I understand your curiosity but neither athiests nor theists can be nicely rounded up into two simple groups. No one single human being is that simple to be analysed like that. Nothings is so clear cut as yes or no.

Absolutely. Especially if they know what that means from a cosmic, galactic, stellar, and earthly evolution perspective.

I think so. Of course, it also depends on what events have taken place in your life. As a 2x cancer survivor I am well aware how fragile this existence is and as an atheist I am quite certain there will be nothing on the otherside. But if you've never ever experienced loss you may not have quite the understanding I have. My mother died from cancer 25 years ago. I remember her last days just grasping for anything to comfort her. I knew then there was no God listening to her cries for help. During treatment of my first diagnosis I remember crying thinking I was too young and how horrible it was that there really is no God to hear our prayers. It was depressing. When I hear people say they are praying for me I feel sorry that they have that to turn to for comfort. I do appreciate life more than before. I had 12 good years before my 2nd cancer. Hoping this time I bought myself another 10. I filled up those years doing great things with great people. My next 10 years I hope to fill with more fun, laughter and love. And hey, if there is something on the otherside, I will have lots of stories to share!

Every question that treats atheists and theists as a coherent group is wrong in its premises.
Atheists can be optimists and value life, the opportunity to be here and now etc. Or even fall in the nihilism of "nothing matters, we are just accidents"
Same with theists. they can simply waste life praying and retraining themselves to enjoy afterlife or use this life as a chance to do good in the world (good in their POV).
So the answer is a big MAYBE

yes of course this is life this is the one you get.
I believe that death is an oblivion not to be fair feared.
if I can do some good in my life well that might be a life worth living.

Atheist value there live more due we don't believe in a after life. So, we live life more to the fullest instead of waiting imaginary place in the sky.