Right, Les. My inner inquiries into myself are an individual matter. I think that the spiritual search is an individual matter. That's why I've been drawn toward spirituality...as opposed to organized religion. Organized religion (often) deals with a lot of outward rules, rituals, and structures that don't interest me much, because it's an outward system and power structure that builds itself an establishment in the world (just as governments and businesses and clubs do).

Within organized religion, though, one often finds a number of highly motivated individuals who are engaging in genuine spiritual search...that is, they are working on improving themselves through mastering their weaknesses, building their strengths, being kind and considerate to others, learning to forgive, etc.

So I have many good friends in various organized religions, while not officially belonging to those religions.

I'm not so concerned whether or not they believe in this or that concept of "God". I'm concerned as to what is their actual conduct toward others and toward themselves. If it's good, then I enjoy being around them, discussing spiritual/philosophical concepts, and discussing morality, ethics, responsibility, and other relevant subjects. I also enjoy playing music with them. Some of the finest and most positive people I've ever known have been in the churches in this town. They have their minds on a lot more than just property, money, social status, and survival. They want to be better people, to be kinder to others, and they work at it. I like that.

Religion helped bring that good side out in those people. That's why I am not inclined to throw the baby out with the bathwater and simply reject all organized religion on principle...just because I don't like some of the aspects of it. There's both good and bad in organized religion. I focus on the good parts.