Pete, I found your post sincere and interesting. I think the sense of belonging is an important aspect as to why people turn to religion. We all need a sense of community and in my opinion, this need for community is inherent in our DNA. My experience tells me that I want to continue to develop this idea but on a secular level. I think that Richard Dawkins, from what I've read and heard by him would support this sense of community and that he has been unjustly treated on this thread. In a society of conformity and media-control criticism is justifiable when aspects of religion or politics seem unreasonable or unjust. This is where Dawkins comes in. He has interviewed many religious people with a sincere scientific questioning without deriding any of them personally. He really wants to know how they think.

Revealing the reasons for a decision to adopt a religion or non-belief is an essential part of
understanding and a relief from the carping, brick-bat throwing and sarcasm that sheds no
light on this issue.

I would like to hear from others on this thread as how they happened to arrive at their convictions and thank Joe and Pete for their sharing.