You atheists/agnostics put your faith in friends. We puritanical Bible-beaters get our comfort from our spouses (one, for life) and kids.
My dearest friends are the ones who’ve gone down the same path: wife, kids, work. My friends from my college and Navy days who’ve never married or are now divorced, I’m not comfortable having my dearest possessions — my family — around them. We’re not dear friends anymore as we value different things.
We Puritans have dear friends who are agnostic or non-practing Jews, and liberals, too; it makes for interesting discussion. But, as we have similar values — a good marriage, raising good children, modesty, work, etc. — we get along just fine.
One last thing: selfishness is the cause of much of the world’s woes. Marriage without children is a sign of selfishness, as is being single. Happiness comes from living for others, such as your wife and children.
