Thank you @Scottishdiem for your reply. Yes, there are well respected philosophers who have looked at the arguments for God and concluded they don't support a creator God, but equally there are other respected philosophers who have looked at the same arguments and believe there is strong evidence for God being the best explanation for reality. With regards to human rights, development of democracy I acknowledge atheist philosophers like Hume contributed to its development. It equally some of the arguments for the ideas can be traced back to claims made in the bible regarding human worth, individual freedom and conscience. Yet equally interpretations of the bible have been used to justify dictatorial regimes.
Although I came to belief in the Christian God in my adulthood, I still have great concerns about aspects of organised religion and can understand why people reject it. I look at eg some forms of evangelical Christianity and reject so much of what they claim and do not see the Jesus of the bible who espoused love for each other and for God who he claimed is the source of love. As you said, vocal Christian groups have supported some very dodgy views, such as slavery In the past, though equally some Christians used biblical claims to denounce it, and still today through I believe their false interpretation of scriptures and understanding of God, espouse views I cannot support such as complementarinism, rejection of same sex marriage and others.
You argue reason and prayer are two different things. If you have decided the arguments for God do not convince and reject the notion of a creator God who is interested in our lives if we turn to him/her then of course the notion of prayer being used alongside reason would be rejected. As someone who does believe in the Christian God (and who I believe through his very nature and claims to love all humanity must speak to people through all religions and none) I believe we are supposed to use our God given intellect but prayer also is important.
I have looked at the arguments (not as in depth in some areas and continue to look) and concluded God makes to me the best sense of reality but faith is not certainty, I will always have doubts and don't have all the answers. I also have personal experiences that point to God. I hope above all I can respect people of all faiths and none and continue to consider and reflect on my beliefs.
Briefly I am not a scientist and am qualified to speak on science. My understanding is there are well qualified scientists, including cosmologists, who believe science does not contradict claims for God and equally there are others who do reject the claims formed by their study of science. With regards to you showing that fascinating photo taken from the Hubble isn't a theist claim about science supporting the existence of God taken from the fine tuning argument that says for the very existence of the universe, not just our planet and solar system, certain physical constants had to be in place for the universe to become established? And these constants are so narrow to the numbers of ten by some ridiculous number it is hard to believe they all came together randomly to allow for the creation of the universe and therefore point to an intelligence behind it? I am sure there have been challenges to the fine tuning argument. I can think of the possibility of multi universes being one challenge I have seen. I know the physicist, Laurence Krauss, claims the universe can come from nothing and so no God is needed, but I have seen challenges to his claims. As this is a very weak area of mine I don't understand it all well.
The arguments for and against God are wide and hard to set down briefly under this question. It has been interesting to read different views nonetheless. Due to illness which means I have to pace my typing I can't write anymore but an interesting thread.