New Leaf, I am not offended. I understand what you are saying, but I don't agree with you. Nor do I choose to pick up the label of "transgressor" that you tossed my way. You can keep that. :-))

How do I feel about you? I love you with the spirit in my heart and soul. In my belief you are part of me, just having a different experience. I respect you for what you have done and accomplished. And I honor and respect your belief system, which you regard as true. I just don't own it as mine. Perhaps we can just agree to disagree on that point? You feel you are right and I feel you are right for you, but not me?

And those are my feelings for all the people on this thread. I can't say my feelings are that way for all people on earth (LOL!). I'm working on it -- but not there, yet! :-))

My study is to gain greater understanding of the Christian religion in all its denominations. It also gives me a chance to access the wisdom in the Bible -- and there is some there for me, even though I don't believe every word. I also find as I move on in life, that the words I read in my 20s and 30s don't resonate the same in my 50s. It's the result of life lived, I guess.

We all bring our own perspective to our lives. I haven't lived the life of anyone else on this thread, so I don't bring the same life to my understanding of God. That's why I love talking and listening about other people's understanding of God and how spirituality in all its forms changes our lives (or not).

God's presence in my life, when I am open to listening to her, gives me light and life and more capacity to love my life and the world around me than I could ever have imagined possible.