One thing I find fascinating with you is that you equate your beliefs with those of God. When I say "you and me won't see eye to eye", you take it as "God and me won't see eye to eye". Fascinating.
It's obvious that God and YOU do not see eye to eye. That's YOUR choice though, not His.
My relationship was as real as anybody else that I went to church with as far as I can tell. All I know is my heart, and I gave it my best.
That's not a relationship!! When you KNOW someone that is a relatiionship. When you LOVE someone that is a relationship. Not going someplace and giving it your best shot!!
Here's how it went:
1) Realization that the universe behaves differently than what the Bible says. Genesis is a creation myth that does not reflect reality, and a lot of other parts of the Bible don't hint at an understanding of disease, the universe, the planet earth, or of mankind. I don't expect the Bible to be a science book, but I expect it to be accurate and correct if the creator of the universe wrote it.
The universe does not behave differently than what the Bible says.
2) Realization that the Bible is a very poor standard for morality, and that I can come up with a better system of morality on my own and the golden rule (which is not an exclusively Biblical concept).
You can't come up with anything but rebellion. You can't even see how faulty that is. You and millions of others all coming up with THEIR OWN "system of morality" all conflicting with one another and warring with one another because each one doesn't agree with the other's "system of morality". It would be funny if it weren't the world's own current "system of morality" and you see where that has taken them. You would like to blame all the world's problems on God and Christians but in actuality you don't see how duped you are by all these deceivers gone out into the world, hiding behind the scenes and laughing at you. God is your only source of hope because if you don't watch out you will be destroyed or brought down by your own fellows. Watch your back in this day or you will fall.
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
3) Realization that religion is essentially tribalism, and the conflicts that have been done in the name of religion have been detrimental to society.
Well, that's what you come up with when you look through the eyes of primates.
4) Realization that the concept of faith is antithetical to science and reason. If the only way I could accept Christianity is because of faith, then I am not impressed. I want real evidence (all Christians do - that's why Mere Christianity, the Case for Christ, and the rest of those books try to present evidence for Christianity being right, but I have not read anything convincing).
That's why you should stick to reading the Word and listen to Jesus. He is the way.
Joh 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
Joh 15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
Joh 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
5) Realization that I cannot believe in a God that would punish disbelief, and ask his followers to distrust science and reason. If God was real, he wouldn't be so petty.
Mixed up understanding. God never asks His followers to distrust science and reason. He only asks them to trust Him and not rely only on man's understanding.
6) Realization that the concept of original sin is a complete fabrication and has merely created a problem in order to solve it by demanding adherence to Christianity.
What you need to realize is that these are all YOUR OWN CHOICES to disbelieve. These are not realizations these are choices. Your realization of all these things is your choice to believe the lies of others. The word of God clearly speaks about this.
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
7) Realization that the Bible is just a copy of a copy of a copy and that the Iliad has been more accurately preserved. The canonization process just baffles me. The politics of the formation of the church makes me find it hard to believe that anyone could see the divine hand at work.
Another lie that has been perpetrated and you fell for it hook, line and sinker.
8) Realization that the Bible developed from polytheism, and that it evolved from the varying religions in Mesopotamia and borrowed a lot from the Sumerian, Mesopotamian, and Egyptian pantheons.
These are all things YOU CHOOSE to believe. I have heard all the same things and I can see all the flaws in them but that is the difference again between you and me. You will NEVER see the truth as long as you turn from God. You will be deceived and you won't even know it because you are DECEIVED.
It's all been prophesied in the scriptures.
2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
I could go on, but you get the picture.
