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man...I would be leery about denying God and his son if you’ve had ample instruction in your youth.

Let the chips fall where they may. However, if somebody ever convinces me of His existence, I may change my tune. So far, many have tried (Catholics, evangelicals, and, in one case, a Muslim), but failed. If they couldn't get me past THAT doubt, you can imagine how I feel about the scriptures AND the "magisterium."

i hope you find what you are looking for , I know many RCC reared who later reject it.

True dat, and I find the most militantly anti-Catholics tend to be ex-Catholics, especially in Europe and Latin America. The northeast and upper midwest are also filled with folks who call themselves "Catholic" who never attend church (except perhaps on Easter and Christmas), are pro-abortion, and have never really been catechized. I have ZERO respect for these people. I myself have been catechized, embraced the Church fully in my late teens, but left in my twenties.

not many Southern Prods can escape the upbringing...lol...or the family’s admonishments..you can make of that what you like

The few that do wind up moving to New York or San Francisco. Besides, if they are dissatisfied with First Baptist, they can always go down the road to New Spring A of G.

I still wonder if southern protestantism will survive the embourgeoisiement (I just made up that word) of southerners. Remember that New England used to be filled with fanatical congregationalist (where do you think the phrase "banned in Boston" came from?), who grew more milquetoast as the region grew more wealthy.

There is a general feeling up in these parts that religious fervor is associated with the poor and the gullible. Many folks of Catholic heritage see the church as a relic of the days of rowhouses and stickball. There are still devout Catholics around, but they are seemingly outnumbered by the "cultural Catholics" and ex-Catholics such as myself.

There is a general feeling up in these parts that religious fervor is associated with the poor and the gullible.

While Christ said it is the love of money which is the root of all evil, He also said it will be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heave.

Well, all that to say that money has a way of making people think they have no worries so they do not need God. Unfortunately money only clouds peoples view of the real world, and usually when one gets older and they realize that even money cannot make you satisfied, they return to God. The whole idea of feeling one's mortality as age progresses and the tomb gets closer and closer every day.

Solomon wrote his Proverbs ( God's wisdom) when he was young, then all his wife's and wealth turned him into a milquetoast type of a religious man, that is when he wrote Ecclesiastes (man's wisdom). Although it is my belief he finished Ecclesiastes when he was older. When he got older and his demise became evident returned to God, and if you read Ecclesiastics 11 and 12 you will see he finally says,

"Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity". (Ecc 11:10)

Then the very last verse of the book of Ecclesiastics he writes,

"For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil". (Ecc 12:14)

Up until then he wrote a lot of things that refer to the way men see the world not the way God wants them to see it.

Curious, you stated, However, if somebody ever convinces me of His existence, I may change my tune. Have you ever read Lee Strobel's, "Case for Creator"? If not you may find it very compelling.

You are now in my prayers sir. (OV)