Has your brother asked for your help in restoring his faith in God?

After a profound loss many years ago, the realization that (for me) God doesn’t exist was a huge relief and brought me tremendous peace. He didn’t abandon me; he just doesn’t exist. He didn’t forsake me; he just doesn’t exist. He wasn’t punishing me; he just doesn’t exist. He wasn’t teaching me a harsh lesson; he just doesn’t exist. He isn’t indifferent to me; he just doesn’t exist.

For a nonbeliever, the nonexistence of God is not necessarily distressing. I sense that a few believers in my life feel threatened that I don’t share their beliefs. (They show this by demanding I “prove” the nonexistence of God or yammering about eternal damnation.) Their concern is not really about me “needing” God because clearly I don’t. It’s about them struggling to maintain their own belief without those around them constantly reinforcing it.

Tinkerbell was in mortal danger unless everyone clapped to show their belief in her. If I was going to believe in a god, it wouldn’t be a flimsy Tinkerbell god.

Solid beliefs of any kind don’t require external reinforcement or validation. This is why I don’t push atheism at others or argue against their god beliefs. I know what feels true for me, and they get to decide what feels true for them.

What feels true for your brother?