I recently became an atheist. But it makes me so sad. I don't like seeing the world from this perspective.

• One day I thought about how religion is just fear based and I became an atheist. But now I feel so empty and without purpose in life. And when I look at the world I don't see the same kind of love as I used to. I know how stupid and child like the concept of God is, but it made sense to me it the weirdest way. And it really doesn't sound logicial, but the world was so much happier from that perspective. I don't know if I should start believing again or what, but to say the world is just a cosmic accident and I am worthless in the grand scheme of everything is just too depressing, and that kind of gives the impression that we can't trust ourselves because we're nothing more than random chemicals. I thought that I was going to feel so much more free, but I feel worthless and depressed and not loved. Please help me!

• Answer:

  I actually find atheism much more positive than religious belief. The only purpose in life you lost was the purpose other people fed to you. Now, you're able to make your own purpose in life. I find this to be much more positive than the idea that some vague sky daddy is looking out for me and making everything fine and dandy. Also, the world just makes much more sense now that I'm an atheist. Things are pretty much as they seem to be and I don't have to worry about any cosmic tug-o-war between ultimate good and evil. Things all have a beginning and an end. Instead of worrying about that, I just am glad I have the middle part to work, discover, and enjoy. My life may not matter in the grand scheme of things. There are much larger and grander things in the universe that have just blown up. My life is not even a flash compared to them. But my life matters to me. I don't need some cosmic plan to have a decent life. People make up superstitions, myths, and urban legends because they feel unsatified with their lives and want something more exciting to think about. Religion serves the same purpose. However, I find that the universe, itself, it wonderful and awe inspiring. If people really learned more about it, they would have less need for fairy tales. Besides, you can't just decide to be a believer again. Either you're convinced that a god exists or you don't. Outside of various brainwashing techniques, there's no real way to force yourself to be convinced. You can study religion, follow all the rites, and even avow to others how much you believe, but you can't really decide to be convinced by all of it.