Being An Atheist Is Humbling

[abaris]

The biggest change for me was the assumption of self-responsibility.  Rather than praying for something, working for it; rather than asking God for forgiveness, asking the people I've wronged; owning my own life, for better and for worse.

My father, who, as far as I can tell, was mildly religious, taught me that early on. Prayer doesn't work, you have to do something for something to happen. But the as far as I can tell speaks about the absence of my religious upbringing anyway, since we never had that talk.

But to answer the OP. There weren't those big changes in my life. I was mildly disappointed when I finally realized things don't add up and, as far as I could tell, there was no god. Funnily enough that was at a Catholic sanctuary in the woods. I used to go there when I wanted to be alone to do some reflecting. It's a very quiet place during the week. But that was a momentary feeling.

When I saw my parents die, it was hard in a selfish way, since I knew I wouldn't see them again. But it didn't shake my disbelief, so to speak. Humbling, I honestly don't know. I've always lived my life. To tell the truth, my life hasn't changed that much.