For the next person who starts beating me with your bible - BE WARNED - I will turn the other cheek.  As a matter of fact, don't be surprised if I turn both of them - dancing nude in the moonlight in your back yard. 

I was "a Christian", I was raised as a Christian.  I have been there, done that, bought the t-shirt and wore the damn thing out.

I questioned religion.  I got thrown out of church for asking questions. I got thrown out of church for not tithing my 10% and providing tax returns to prove it.  I got thrown out of church for allowing my kids to trick-or-treat.  I got thrown out of church because I refused to baptize my daughter until she was old enough to make that choice for herself.  I was told that my child would be doomed to an afterlife in a fiery hell if she died before she was baptized.  I got thrown out of a Jewish church for daring to touch the rabbi's hand when I didn't know it was taboo.  I got thrown out of church for calling people out for not living up to the Christian values they were paying lip service to but not walking with Christ. I got thrown out of church for not having blind faith in the unbelievable.

I studied religion - I really wanted to "belong".  I studied Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and cult religions.  I studied what made people choose to belong to each religion.  I studied each religion's premises and laws.  I studied each religion's practices, actions and history.  I spent 6 years studying every religious text I could get my hands on.  Then, after long and careful thought about what was right for me, I chose not to belong to any religion.

I found that religion was restrictive, condeming and judgemental.  However, that does not mean I don't know who God is.  My relationship with GOD is fine.  I have no relationship with religion - it does not love me unconditionally and raise me up to my highest standards. I found that spirituality and religion are two quite different things.  Now I can talk the talk and walk the walk. I can speak without fear and walk my own path. 

So the next time someone is beating me with their bible and trying to "convert" me, you can save your strength and your breath for someone who does not think freely. You will find me dancing nude in the moonlight in your backyard!