I have a friend, albeit an acquaintance, who admits he is an “in-the-closet” atheist who lives a solitary life (he really likes being on his own), is celibate (ie: in his own words, “he doesn’t want to chance disease or, his own admission: bringing children in a corrupt and unredeemable world”), believes in a lot of physical, holistic medicine, natural health-care, and is suspicious of any type of “encroaching government”, be it conservative or liberal. He admits he really has no use for people, meaning he wants to live a solitary existence without Religion (any type) or any people in general. I visit him once or twice a year and email him occasionally. Any thoughts or advice I can give my friend would be most appreciative. I’m at a loss as to how to address his angst in being more social and charitable to humanity at large. Sounds like spiritual despair. He says he was once a traditional Catholic back in the 1970’s & 1980’s but eventually gave up believing in anything anymore. Everything seems “dead” to him (his own words).