I embraced my lack of faith at a very tender age, perhaps as early as six, certainly no later than eight, though I would not have labeled myself an atheist at this point, as I was unfamiliar with the term. Basically, I would never say that I believed in god(s), almost as soon as I was introduced to the notion of god(s), it did not sit well with me. I actually believed in Santa much longer than I did god(s). To my credit, there were presents. And half eaten cookies. And he was at the mall every year. Apologies to any here who still believes in either. I should have added a spoiler.
I was raised Protestant in a non-practicing Southern family. That is to say, my immediate family did not attend church. My extended family, on the other hand, were practicing…a lot. I can only assume that they eventually got it right.
I would definitely label myself an atheist, though my overall world view has something of the flavor of a secular sort of pantheism. As far as I can tell from the data, the universe(s) exists, and everything, including me, is part of it, and made of the same stuff. It operates by certain natural laws, and there is no absolute right and wrong. Anything that can happen, anywhere, at any time, is “right.” I likewise realize that my senses and knowledge are not expansive enough to fully comprehend all of the complexities of the universe(s), and I am okay with that. I will piece it together as the facts come in, but not before.
I do not, cannot, believe in a sentient god(s), for many reasons, first among them that there is not a shred of evidence to support such a conclusion. Even a rudimentary application of Occam‘s Razor will dispel this conundrum. This is not to say that such a being(s) does not exist, only that there would be no reason for me, or anyone, to do anything more than speculate on the matter, and I am not inclined to that sort of distraction. I have likewise incorporated elements of certain other belief systems (including Taosim, Buddhism, and Stoicism) into my own, but again, on a wholly secular level. I actually come pretty close to a secular Taoist, and/or a Stoic, though the bits of Stoicism on civic duty are lost on me.
I do not think that love has anything to do with anything on a spiritual/religious level, but it is not a bad way to live one’s life. If life has any meaning, it is probably to replicate itself and make more life, a trend to which I am quite determined not to contribute. I also tend to take the piss out of religion. To paraphrase Groucho Marx, “If you don’t like that trait, I have others.”