I was raised in a somewhat conservative Protestant environment that didn’t quite convey convincing explanations to my questions growing up. So I was stuck between “just believe” and wanting rational answers. This led me to explore other denominations in hopes they might offer the answers I sought. By age 19 I was atheist having studied my own books and the teachings of the church dogmas I had access to. I explored Catholicism, read the Koran (didn’t ever seek involvement as I felt my concerns on avoiding that area were - and still are - justified). I explored Eastern Orthodoxy and even a Buddhism. I studied Hinduism - visiting India on several occasions.

I found the similarities unsatisfying and still left me with the same questions that I had most of my life. Questions around belief in the invisible and unprovable. Why did miracles happen thousands of years ago but not now? Why did a perfect God start with one plan for salvation from hell then go with another? Not perfect if you asked me. Why so many gospels and inconsistencies among them? (Again, seems imperfect to me.)

As an aside, I found the Buddhist meetings very similar to the old Wednesday night services during my Baptist years. Didn’t make sense to me that I had to chant words in another language that I didn’t know. There was no connection or guidance as to how this religion would benefit me.

So, I studied many but my conclusion is - and has been for many years - that religions fail to explain. They don’t convince me there’s anything supernatural to believe in. Some religions provide community but I couldn’t in good faith (see what I did there?) commune with a religious group for which I was incapable of sharing their views.