To a certain extent I am taking a leap of faith. I’m adding up the evidence on either side, and I’m seeing the evidence of there not being a God is overwhelming compared to the evidence for there being a God.

Sweeney frames her shift in belief as both rational and existential. By calling it a “leap of faith,” she ironically borrows religious language to describe a move away from religion, suggesting that even disbelief involves uncertainty and personal risk. The emphasis on “adding up the evidence” positions her stance as grounded in evaluation rather than rebellion or mere preference. The quote also highlights a common modern tension: people may want conclusions about God to be strictly evidential, yet recognize that ultimate commitments—religious or secular—often exceed what can be proven. Its significance lies in portraying atheism as a considered, emotionally weighty decision rather than a casual dismissal.