Wow! Somedays I wonder that myself, especially when I am pressured by other chores but spend time here instead. I am hooked, at least for the time being.
To begin with, I am very interested in ecumenism, understanding among Christians. I am a 'big tent' Protestant, ready to respect various views, though somewhat alienated by those Catholics and evangelical Protestants who insist on 'one way' - their way. I really don't believe that any religion has more than a small bit of the deeper spiritual truth, as we live in such a mammoth, majestic, magnificent, and mysterious universe. We all need to be humble when we realize this. We're like ants trying to understand and explain a piano.
There are other reasons, too. My paternal ancestors were Catholics - one ancestral uncle was Archbishop in the province of Quebec - and from childhood days there was busy conversation within the family circle about differences between Catholicism and Protestantism. My particular branch of the family had left Catholicism and become French-speaking Baptists, a fairly rare breed. On my mother's side, her family had become Huguenots in Belgium several centuries ago and had to flee to England where they became part of the Puritan immigration to early New England. My interest was generated by such history and more. Our neighbors were mainly Catholics when we were children, and we had a rather pronounced rivalry between the local public and parochial school - the latter now closed. Kids can be quite vociferous (and intolerant and ignorant) when it comes to such rivalries, often reflecting the bigotry of their parents.
Then, there is the matter of being interested in all religions, and trying to keep up with them. At one point I taught a college course for several years in Comparative Religions, and this interest (and curiosity) continues. For example, I also follow sects among Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, etc., - and have visited their centers in such places as India, China, Japan, Korea, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, etc. And, of course, I have visited such Catholic centers as Rome and Warsaw, such Orthodox centers as Athens and St. Petersburg, and made four trips to sacred sites in the Holy Land.
I have chosen liberal Protestantism, a mild form of Christianity which allows and even encourages individual thinking when it comes to Biblical interpretation and doctrines. Denomination means little to me, though I feel most comfortable in those local churches (mostly Methodist, Congregationalist, Baptist, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterian) which are open-minded on theology and not too liturgical. That's my taste, and I know and respect the fact that millions of others prefer creedal faiths and more liturgy. I love the Quakers, but they simply have too little liturgy for me. I enjoy vigorous gospel hymns, for one thing.
Probably I've told readers more than they care to know. I believe in God the creator, Christ as my Lord, the spirit of the Divine in and around us, eternal life (in some form), etc. I do have trouble with ancient creeds, staid prayerbook worship, and churches that insist, for example (as reported in scripture), that God commanded Saul to kill every last Amalekite. Sorry, but that's a god that I could never worship. More like Hitler than my God of love. There is much in the Bible that could trouble me if I were a literalist, but I'm not.
Back to my main point. I believe that religion should be a bridge and not a barrier. Sad that it has been the source of so much arrogance and prejudice - yes, even today - and too often I see this reflected in postings here.
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