As is always the case we don't know enough about each others experiences and must present ourselves in relative sound bites. Frustrating. I will try to make this as brief as possible. Raised Catholic and an altar boy, I have always, read day one, believed in Jesus Christ. Never once have I doubted that. I ate, drank and was merrymaking like any good Catholic would. During and after leaving the service I had begun to be dissatisfied with my relationship with God and began wondering and contemplating within my spirit, "Lord, I know you are there and hear me but if you are there but will not or cannot help me than being there makes no difference. I need help, Lord." I began reading other than the Catholic bible. When I began really reading Paul's words for the first time, I began to see my present condition almost identical to Paul, O wretched man that I am. Who shall deliver me? That which I would not do, that I do. The law was bringing me death. Get this: I began to understand that there was a gift there for the asking and then realized nothing stood in my way but myself. I began telling others that I was going to get the Holy Ghost, of course I was met with blank stares but I didn't care. I knew I was, just a matter of time and you know the rest. This gift must be hungered and thirsted for, it will not simply fall upon you while you argue against its existence. I have never been the same since and have experienced other things from this same power which would bring me even more ridicule if revealed.
Don't assume that just because I don't stand with you that I don't believe in Spiritual Gifts or that I have not had any supernatural experiences.