While a self-described "angry atheist" and an existentialist, Joss Whedon's also said that viewers can validly find god in his works. And, boy, have they ever! In addition to the four student papers I've got to read on the role of religion in the Whedonverses this year alone, I've had other students at the notably secular Emerson College react similarly to The Gift as Tanya did. And, of course, a 2002 Televangelist watchdog organization praised Buffy, in an article that demonstrated that the author had read some of the academic literature on the series.
There's a ton of books on the topic too. What Would Buffy Do?, Faith and Choice in the Works of Joss Whedon, and Televised Morality are just some of the books to look at Whedon's work through spirituality. And, of course, Whedon's acknowledgment of Wicca is notable as well, with Tara implicitly providing a role model, although it does take Willow until the series finale to actually practice that faith, with her Drawing Down ritual. My favorite article? "'Religion freaky' or 'A Bunch of Men Who Died'? The A/Theology of Buffy".
While not a particularly religious person myself, I would say that the series becomes most meaningful spiritually by forcing viewers to practice forgiveness through characters like Angel, Faith, Willow and Spike in seasons 3, 4, 6 and 7.
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