I spent several years off and on studying different beliefs, but must say I never studied much scripture, and when I did found it so contradictory. I believe we had a u-tube here a couple of weeks back concerning Leviticus and how that describes to not accept Homosexuals and all the Parts sear brought to light also.
Another was if your children spite you kill them! I have friends & family that plainly state the Qur'an says to kill all infidel's.

Elk makes it so contradictory, that only those in high power can make what you do right or not feel guilty about.
I was informed by a family member years ago that all other countries want to do is kill us? (it was easy to see they had picked out the scriptures that pointed this out and gone no further)
This was at a time I had such disgust for the Pentecostal, Assembly of God, Evangelicals, that I was grasping at straws trying to find myself something.
I had decided on Catholicism, and before even 20 had taken a full year of catechism. The teaching was done by the priest and I must say without a doubt he was 'a good and decent man'
That was not to be because I had a Catholic bible and at the time was not ware 'protestants' Taken as protesters against the church had thrown out seven books of the Catholic bible because they stated things the Protesters did not want to go with. i.e. Purgatory, and several other things.
Now I was appalled that Protestant's 'thought they had a right to just throw out books of the written scripture' to make another church of their choice.
Another way to make money from a congregation, by starting another church? My way of thinking.
I was all but ready to convert, when I learned of 'no birth control allowed' I will admit this 'Priest was so easy to speak to and I was so out-spoken, and plainly said 'I don't want many children and will refuse such a teaching'
He was a young Priest, & I did like him and the way he taught.
His simple explanation was merely 'use' birth control and confess it in 'confession' He assured me many confessions were much worse and he 'himself' preferred the love of a husband & Wife together much more important than having to count the safe days, and have sex without 'the meaning of love'
I also stumbled on going to confession and admitting my sins. (I must have thought I had a gazillion sins from my past that I did not wish to tell about) Again he eased my mind, telling me I could say 'this is my first confession, and I could not name them all'
All this time never once did he push us into hurrying up with the conversion, and he never ever cut a Protestant faith down. (If nothing else we were learning)
However one last session, a older Priest set in on his Catechism teaching to us and absolutely 'ruined' everything this young Priest had taught us. The older Priest was mean, and made 'me' feel dirty and like an extreme sinner. (Something alone the lines of a serial killer, or Pedophile) heck I doubted I knew what a pedophile was then.

I do sometimes wonder what it would have been like if we had became Catholic. mo today is it remains the only true 'Christian' church. However much has changed as by 'NO' means can I accept an immaculate conception.
(The closest I can get myself to come even a tiny bit close to that is by a big 'fantasy' ) Just maybe a UFO or beings from another planet landed here and impregnated 'Mary' to make a leader for us, and that is as close as I will ever get.

In school when we would debate on Killing, (like execution's) Most used the scriptures' 'Thou shall not kill' while others used 'an eye for an eye'
Now I find I have changed my mind on that issue several times?

It does not bother me in the least to say it! I blame with all my 'heart' that 'Pentecostal' time I had as a 'child' as ruining any real and true meaning of any 'Religion' I may have wanted to pursue. (I no longer 'Fear' them in the least, except for what I 'KNOW' it can do to a child)
I can and will watch these people on TV, for amusement to myself! I can now see the 'fake heeling's' and I suppose I could even be taught to stiffen and fall back into a trance, and pretend to be 'drunk in the lord' too. I don't think I could ever 'Babble' (talk in tongues) I tried that enough when about ten.
mo, is they should be outlawed, and 'never' allowed to except $$$ from a TV Audience.
However Every bible, 'religion' is so full of contradiction's and hypocrisy, I simple cannot accept any of them! I have my own. (What-ever it may be)

If by chance we have a God, or Goddess, one two or even thousands, mo is they never intended on us hating one another, making wars, having lying leaders, killing lives merely because of a belief. 'Worst of all leaving every thought 'a human may have' in the 'hands of a 'God'

If one wishes to worship, that's fine and dandy with me, just stay the heck out of politics. Probably if the 'religious fanatics, kept the beliefs where they belong in the worship houses, we would not need any 'Government politics in the first place'

sear I hope I have not ruined your thread 'idea'

grace06