[wimpycat]

But I still study religions, it's fun. It's an interesting view into how people think and have thought at various times in human history. But now I study them as a third party, I'm not thinking of joining any, I'm just studying them to study (gotta do something with all these hours I'm awake).

I know exactly how you feel about how people think and used to think throughout history.

You'll forgive me for mentioning this, but it seems to me from your brief description of your journey that what has turned you off has been the actions of people, not God. Especially in Christianity, it's very troubling to me to see all the many different human mistakes being made, even with the best intentions. I can identify with you in that aspect. But in the end, for me, I decided never to let Christians stand between me and Christ.

[discostu]

Certainly there are a number of people that call themselves Christian that make how the French control the word "champagne" seem like an absolutely brilliant idea. But in the end there were much deeper reasons I walked away. The short form (it's getting late and I'm probably logging out after this one) is that I didn't feel I could be a Christian and me at the same time, the two just didn't gel. The faith, the belief, the worship; they didn't feel natural or right, I felt dishonest when I tried to bring those things into my life. So I walked away, no hard feelings; I don't understand people that are bitter about religions they leave behind (within reason), I don't think they walked away because they lost faith I think they walked away to prove something and that's just stupid. You don't mess with your view of reality just to prove a point.

[glory]

But in the end, for me, I decided never to let Christians stand between me and Christ.

So very true. This said coming from a similar history of once turning from Christ based on the actions of men.