A small snippet of my conversation with L concerning religion.

L: em, I'm bored

E: really?...i've been meaning to have a religion discussion with you

L: well, please do!

E: have you ever gone through a period where you tend to stray from your religious upbringing?

L: ....sometimes I think my entire life is that period

L: having difficulties being christian or just lutheran?

E: i'd say christian....its mainly a belief in higher power or the envolvment...i call myself a borderline agnostic

L: another question: have you recently made friends with anyone of different religious background

E: yes, A's religion is labeled as paganism but this happened before that

L:well, to get to the point of the issue this would be a doubt of faith, correct?

E: i suppose...although lately i've slightly changed my perspective

L: what is the new perspective?

E: i dislike religion that is based on rules

E: i dislike religion that tells you what to believe and feeds you the bible and its interpretations like its propaganda

L: "organized religion"

L: It's difficult to avoid though

E: of course....see, i really like our church because belief in rules and interpretation isn't forced down our throat....what is taught are principles of humanity and how jesus/ god have done that for us

L: I went throught this point where I decided that organized religion was not the thing for me but I would still have faith

E: yes, i agree...but organized religion, or rather belonging to a congregation, enforces the spirituality...i've noticed my adult support system in church

L: agreed, if you look at it the right way human contact enforces spirituality

.....
L: therefore, you have to work out how God fits into your own personal "big-picture" and deal with the fact that you were raised christian and baptised and are going to heaven but poor little Pi over in India was raised Hindu and will suffer in Hell

L: or he'll just become a priest in the next life wereas your soul will have to cross it's fingers that it's born Hindu next time

E: i think god, or rather the higher power, is universal and no one should be condemned to hell because of their religion or lack thereof

L: then I'd say you're on the right track for becoming a slightly less conformed christian