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You said -- "In all seriousness, I think it's too young to have it, because what hormonal pre-teen takes religion seriously? But that's the way it's set up. *SHRUG*"

Well, perhaps even earlier would be good. I say that, having come from being saved (my own choice) at 7 years old. I remember it and it was something I understood and it was something that was a legitimate choice since it's still with me all these years (over 50 years...). It was an old-fashioned tent revival meeting with those sawdust floors and chairs set out in rows and so on.

And you said -- "And, if that's NOT confusing enough...we have two "synods" (chapters, sectors, etc.) in the Lutheran faith. 'Wisconsin Synod' and 'Missouri Synod.' I was raised in the Missouri synod, which is much more strict and by-the-book than the Wisconsin Synod...of which now I am a member, but only because I'm still shopping around for a church that meets my needs. I'm a hard-liner (Missouri) at heart, but a congregation of that sort is hard to find in this part of the country these days. :( "

I remember reading about the Missouri Synod in a book "Battle for the Bible" -- which is on the issue of Biblical Inerrancy. That issue seemed to be a heated issue back then (somewhere in the 70s and 80s). I came to understand that the Lutherans, Missouri Synod, was the more conservative and Biblically-based group, back then.

http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Bible-Harold-Lindsell/dp/0310276810

Since then, the Evangelicals came out with a position (a modern day "Council" if you will, signed by many prominent theologians) on the Inerrancy of the Bible and that seems to be a settled issue, within that group of Christians (although not settled across the broad spectrum of the church).

Regards,
Star Traveler