I too really appreciated both this post and Hive account@stan 's. The honesty is refreshing, despite disagreement.

I was raised as a "missionary kid" (think preacher's kid in a foreign country). I saw the ugly underbelly of religion, along with wonderful memories of great people willing to sacrifice much for the good of others. The hypocrisy and even evil done in God's name drove me to bitterness and anger for years.

My journey eventually took me to a deeper relationship with God, a somewhat different theological path, and ultimately, a real disdain for religion and admiration for faith and intellectual honesty.

My own study of the Bible led me to shed old beliefs I found unsubstantiated in Scripture and adding new practices that felt more consistent with the example I saw of Jesus.

Each of us has to wrestle with the BIG questions of life. And even more so the older we get...I have strong opinions but I sure value the beauty of the struggle and the desire for authenticity.