An agnostic view point on the religious vs atheist argument

Arguments used by both sides are ultimately circular

One side says there is a God because everything is designed.
Everything being designed is deterministic and leaves no room for free will which is a tenet of faith.Here we run into a brick wall

The other side says everything is random and meaningless.
Leaving lots of space for free will but no determininizing factors of what too do with free will in a universe which seems wholly mechanical. The question of why things should self organized is never fully addressed from the point of view of how life, the universe and everything got started.
A brick wall again

The ultimate action of creation is seen as external by some proponents of both sides.
As in the universe being part of a budding multiverse
or the universe was created by a creator God

Does it have too be one or the other?
By the way I really do not know the answer myself
but like too speculate as without speculation I find life is pretty boring