Every man that tries to figure out the world entirely on his own ends up building a small, stupid god to replace the one he rejected. it never fails. he drops God, picks up science or stoicism or some guy on the internet who read enough books to pass for a prophet, and within six months he's talking about cold showers and circadian rhythms with the same exact tone a priest uses on sunday. the need to worship doesn't go anywhere just because you decided you're too smart for it. it just finds smaller things to attach to, and smaller gods make smaller people. nobody quits God. they trade down.