[Growler]

I can't speak for others, because I know only myself, but I would say that, as my indoctrination into the Catholic faith waned, my own introspection and even open-mindedness increased greatly.

As I became more aware that what I was observing wasn't reconcilable with what I had been taught, my curiosity increased, and with it, my ability to actually learn from others who believe differently than I do. I don't need a deity to believe in to recognize that this world, for all the hype given its troubles, is still a beautiful and amazing place to live right now, and that I'm remarkably lucky not only to be of sufficeint health and welfare to see that, but also to be able to share that wth others.

I'm also increasngly aware that, of all the species on the planet, we humans seem to be the only ones plagued with an interminable existential debate that influences and in some cases, prescribes our actions in how we treat not only each other, but other species on the planet as well.