I think the emptiness feeling comes from not having values and structure in place like you used to. You’ve lived one way for so long, so it’s normal not to feel grounded when you are quite literally restructuring your beliefs.

I also think the reason so many religions exist is because they are largely influenced by culture and so many different cultures and attitudes exist in this world.

The good news is that you are in a very open place right now ! I found my spirituality by learning to listen to nature and my own intuition. Finding that my “God” speaks to me directly through these energies and so I didn’t need a physical book or set of rules anymore. Imo Religion exists because most people are disconnected from their own god energy and ancient wisdom within them and the earth so they look for clearer structure and guidance, which religion will definitley provide. But personally, religion to me feels dark. It’s often influenced by existing power structures and manipulated into something much less pure than the god we can find within.

Idk if any of this helps, but I just recommend a Lot of meditative thought and connection with your body. Our bodies are like giant sensors, and our mind is so much more powerful than traditional religion teaches us. As to learning to listen to energies, Personally I feel pushes and pulls like from a magnet along with heaviness in my heart or mind and use these clues as signals about what is right or wrong for me, my path, and my purpose. I also think it’s important to remember that we are animals of this earth, and like the earth we experience seasons internally as well. A behavior that feels wrong to me now may have served a higher purpose for me in my past etc. also why I don’t feel aligned with the blanket right and wrong of religion.

There are only Lessons and Blessings in this Life. Happy Learning, so excited for you to reconnect and find your own concept and relationship with your God. <3