🚀 go-pugleaf

Oh good questions Andrea!  I agree with Raven about the Organized religion/God
issue.  I am a strong believer in God and know that Jesus Christ is my savior. 
I also am not interested in organized religion at this point in my life.  I
have found many "religions" to be hypocritical and damaging to ones
relationship with God.  I feel that having a faith in something is what we all
need, but from experiences in various churches I don't feel that a Church
building is always the best place to "practice" my faith.  Does that make
sense?  I have heard over and over in my life how Christianity was inspired by
Christ, but religion was created by man, therefore religion is not perfect and
subject to the faults of man.  I believe this to be true when you hear about
all the scandals having to do with religion.  Man is not perfect, so our
"religion" is not perfect either.  Of course these beliefs over the last few
years have got my butt chewed a time or two by my more bible thumping friends,
but that is ok with me.  I feel I live a good life, follow the teachings of
Christ as closely as I possibly can, and pray.  That is the best I can do at
this moment.  About the pain "inflicted by God", I don't believe it is
inflicted by God.  I believe the pain in our lives is the work of the Devil and
God gives us the strength to overcome it.  That is why the statement "It was
God's will" bothers me when someone is faced with tragedy.  I think God's will
is the strength we gain from going through the tragedy, not the tragedy itself.
 I just personally can not believe the God I put my faith in would cause us
pain.  Good luck!