[ashark]

The Big Two of Roman-era philosophy—Stoicism and Epicureanism—tackled these issues without relying on god(s). Now, one may find their arguments unconvincing or their premises unjustified, but if the alternative is religion then they're likely at least as strongly supported and well reasoned as what you'll find there.

And it's not like no other systems/schools have attempted similar feats in the last 2000 years. Just pointing out that this isn't a new problem.

[jinpa_zangpo]

While Epicureanism was an atheistic philosophy, Stoics very much did believe in God. It's all through Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius.

[ashark]

I find Stoics to vary in their degree of belief in the divine, but generally to consider choosing a particular stance on it unnecessary to carrying on with the rest of their philosophy, often explicitly conceding the point for the sake of argument because it's not especially important. God/Nature/Fate tend to be treated as interchangeable for the purposes of the system, and nailing down which precisely is acting isn't a priority.

I haven't seen god(s) a major component of their philosophy, a kind of tepid and only occasionally-invoked pantheism aside.

[EDIT] "panentheism" to the intended "pantheism"