Kim, I wish you wouldn’t let this upset you so. It does sound a bit as if you’re questioning whether your beliefs are your own or not. I went through this very thing a while back. I finally admitted that I just believed what my family believed because it was “our way”. I’ve decided that I know what I believe, and right or wrong, I’ve formed my own views/feelings/impressions on religion and God. Pet Talkers really helped me work out those impressions by questioning why I felt a certain way, or why I believed what I said I did. No one changed my mind, but only helped me in that I gained the courage to put my feelers out and form and opinion. It’s ironic that my husband had been feeling the very same way for a LONG time, but was afraid to say anything to me for fear that I would criticize him. We discovered that we have identical views on God, the Bible, and what a relationship with God should be like (for us). No one in either of our families understands, but it feels right for us.

If you're comfortable doing it, put the feelers out and see. You may find out that you do believe in what you were taught. You might find out that you don’t. Either way, you’re more educated and more enlightened on the others viewpoints, and that’s never a bad thing.

Please don’t be hurt or depressed. Just be you. As long as we’re all civil, any debate can be healthy. I think most of this stayed healthy, with a couple of exceptions on both sides.

{{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}