The answer is: both. Both Christians and Atheists tend to come to their conclusions about God on emotional terms and not rational ones.
If you listen to Atheist vs Theist/Christian debates (it you're reading this, then you probably have or will), you'll hear many Atheists explaining why they rejected God. The majority of the atheists whom I have heard give explanations on video either say: "Because [something horrific], God can't possibly exist," or "I prayed to God, but he didn't answer me." Because of these two things, many become atheists. Are these logical? No, not really. They're emotional.
Are all atheists atheists because of emotional reasons? I don't think that's the case. I think some become atheists in studying science or philosophy, and they truly believe they have made a rational choice. It is a rational one because they trust their teachers. "My teacher clearly knows what he's talking about. If he knows what he's talking about, then what he's saying is true. He's giving several reasons why God can't exist. Therefore, God must not exist." This is a big problem - not because they're becoming atheists, but because they aren't looking into the facts very hard. People become Reformed Christians for a similar reason: they don't know how to refute claims by philosophical opponents, and they convert because their inability to resist makes the other system seem perfect.
But not all Christians become Christians for emotional reasons either. Lee Strobel is one of many Christians who used to be an atheist, but converted to Christianity on rational grounds after studying the facts surrounding Jesus of Nazareth. Others convert to Christianity on scientific grounds, etc.
So some atheists become atheists for emotional reasons, and some for logical reasons, and some Christians become Christians for emotional reasons, and some for logical reasons. We're both logical, and we're both irrational.
Logically, only one can be right, though. Either God exists, or he doesn't.
So, yes, Christians often become Christians for irrational reasons, usually because they've "met" God. But many atheists become atheists for equally (and sometimes even more) irrational reasons. Yes, believing that God exists because "that's how I was raised" is a stupid reason to believe in God. Yes, saying that I know God exists because "I have a relationship with God" isn't a good argument for his existence. But just because your life didn't turn out the way you wanted doesn't mean God doesn't exist.
Here's what Christianity ultimately teaches about Evil. God made good things, including humans. Humans were good. Humans did some stupid stuff and brought Evil into the world - not God. Now, God is waiting for the right time to eradicate Evil once and for all. If we believe in God, he promises to preserve us after death, so that we can not only witness the eradication of Evil, but enjoy its non-existence for eternity, basking in the awesomeness of pure goodness forever. With that in mind, all the evil that has ever been on Earth or ever will be is navel lint in comparison with the banquet in store for us after death. Even if you live a horrible, torturous, persecuted, hunted, mistreated, deprived, miserable life - you're only stuck here for about 70 years. After that, you have two options (and you have to choose before you die - very important): A) Witness the exile of Evil into oblivion and bask in the glory of pure goodness and bliss for all eternity, or B) Get exiled with Evil into Hell for eternity.
So, at the end of the day, our lives aren't so bad, even if they're horrible. :)
And we're both being irrational. Definitely.
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