Intellectually fulfilled atheist – really?

Over 20 years ago Richard Dawkins claimed Darwinian evolution allowed him to become “an intellectually fulfilled atheist.”

Did he come to that conclusion on his own?

Here’s why I ask, if evolution is true, free will is a myth; determinism rules the day. All things that exist are just the accidental and random byproduct of a purposeless Big Bang some 13.7 billion years ago – this would include Dawkins claim.

Personally, I wouldn’t find that very intellectually fulfilling – no free will, no independent thoughts, no true discovery – only random neurons firing until I fade from existence (and let’s be sure to rule out any Theistic evolution too – the thought of God guiding a purposeless, unguided process is quite contrary to reason). Really, can determinism be intellectually fulfilling? Is this something atheists choose to overlook to soothe their naturalistic souls?

In contradistinction to Dawkins and all his “intellectually fulfilled” atheist friends, I find freedom to think my own thoughts quite intellectually stimulating. In fact, I find it very fulfilling to think that in the learning, studying, questioning, and growing process, I might be thinking the Creator’s thoughts after Him.

Any thoughts? (Assuming they are your thoughts and not some random neurons shooting off for no reason).