Embarrassment and shame

George Will is an old atheist. He's obviously tightly wired, but despite that his petulant atheism (he calls himself an agnostic, so let's say practical atheism) is very commonly derived from his embarrassment and his shame.

His embarrassment is his fear of the world and what the world - man, his peers, etc. - would think of him if he caved or broke for the faith.

His shame is his feeling he gets when he just merely thinks of going against his inner Old Man (made of his fallen worldly pride, vanity, and self-will). This Old Man he has given his allegiance to like a political ideology forged in the heady days of youthful revolution.

This is why the Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

When you fear God alone you don't fear the world or the Old Man within you. This gives you liberty to pursue wisdom; and understanding, truth, and wisdom is found in the word of God.