Little Hawk -- I think I've come to a very similar religious understanding of things to yours and I enjoyed reading your explanation.

Sharon A -- I was really sorry to read about the religious abuse that you went through at the hands of your parents. It sounded nasty, and I'm sorry that the stress and pressure has cast such a long shadow in your life. I think any kind of proselytizing or pressuring others to accept one's own version of the "truth" is a sure sign of a bad belief system, one that is trying to cover up its own internal failings and weaknesses. It's a form of bullying, and bullies are always weak, flawed, unhappy, usually scared people, imo.