I agree that we often don't need validation, but I think validation is healthy SOMETIMES too.

Being in like-minded company feels good if you are used to being around people that constantly disagree with you. And I think agreeing about some things and disagreeing about other things offers a good balance between the two.

The hardest thing for me in terms of making friends and discussing Christianity is that most people I meet haven't tested the Parables of Christ so they haven't arrived at anything even remotely close to my conclusions.

I love discussing Christianity, life and spirituality but often run in to problems when I try to discuss it with devout Christians.

P.S. I would rather associate myself as someone who studied and tested the Parables of Christ as opposed to calling myself a Christian or non-Christian. I think that would be the most accurate description of my experience with the Bible.