I can relate to some of this, as I've experienced deep existential crises without a deity to turn to for the easy answer. I, however, never had god as a source of happiness, as even when I believed in god at a young age, it was never part of my life except for that one hour on Sunday.
The first step is accepting that the burden for finding meaning falls squarely on your shoulders, unless of course you are going to go back to theism. Finding your own meaning seems like a daunting task, but the answer is hidden within you. You like music? Live for it. Make it your passion and reason for living. One of the things that gives me meaning is writing stories, because putting down my ideas on paper makes me feel alive.
Not believing in god does not mean your life has to be meaningless and empty. It does, however, require that you examine your life and determine your own purpose.
The first step is accepting that the burden for finding meaning falls squarely on your shoulders, unless of course you are going to go back to theism. Finding your own meaning seems like a daunting task, but the answer is hidden within you. You like music? Live for it. Make it your passion and reason for living. One of the things that gives me meaning is writing stories, because putting down my ideas on paper makes me feel alive.
Not believing in god does not mean your life has to be meaningless and empty. It does, however, require that you examine your life and determine your own purpose.
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
