I would say that those who devoutly believe in God haven’t seen life as it really is yet. They haven’t suffered enough. It is constant, unmitigated suffering that makes a mockery of the idea of a benevolent, interventionalist God. Suffering and loss makes you realise that prayers are utterly futile. It makes you realise that there are no such things as miracles, aside from the miracle of science and modern medicine. Then you realise that essentially all you are being offered by belief and religion is ‘jam tomorrow’. You are going to suffer terribly in body and mind on this earth, and no God or saviour is going to save you from that. The idea that you get some badge of merit for suffering which allows you into Heaven is gross and turns our existence into a pissing contest.

Best wishes.