I feel for you.
You probably won't be back to read this - and probably no-one will.

My experience of organised religion involved my first stepmother, who followed a perverted version of the Baptist faith. Beatings were frequent - but only when my non-believing father wasn't around. After all, you have to beat the sin out of a child - and you mustn't let the infidels stop you in your holy mission.

Dad only found out about this years later, after she had left to take on with some other single-parent family that needed 'fixing'. Pity that kid.

So I was faced with cowardace, violence and hypocracy all in a package that guaranteed me to be a nasty little misogynist until the day I met a wonderful woman who, if you assume that the sky-fairy has a purpose for everyone, taught me that people can be responsible for the most remarkable acts of magnificence and beauty.

She died five weeks after we were married from the motor neurone disease that she'd suffered with for five years.

Whatever I might worship, and however I do it, it won't be because some effete, money-grabbing, self-interested control freak shitstack decides it's in compliance with their ridiculous vision of their violent, emasculated "Lord".
(Guizmeaux, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 19:57, Reply)