DJ, I'll let someone else tackle that one...I have to ponder it for awhile...a long while.

Fiftyandfine, congrats on your recent graduation! Three decades would make it a very catalystic adventure!

I can relate to your "more confused than ever". I took two years of theology at a Catholic seminary (wanted to be a priest...yep, I did) back in the late 70's. I would swear that they did everything they could to squeeze every ounce of blind faith out of us until we were left with nothing but questions.

In a way it was freeing, because it left us open to letting God be God. Not that I'll ever know for sure if I've interpreted that Be-ing into my own image of who I think God ought to be, or actually been open to possibility and epiphany. But I do have to say it's been a very interesting and often exhilarating faith journey since those days.