After re-read this entire thread I am left with these thoughts.

Men cannot accurately record today's news and its readers all walk away with different interpretations. And yet here we are debating the ancient history, the Bible, etc and yet we know that corrupt men corrupt trying to retain history on their side

And so history provides their version of the story (Spartans-Athenians, Calvary-Indians Protestants-Catholics Confederate-Union Armies)

The ubiquitous questions on every human beings mind are "who made us" what is our purpose" and the like
And for every philosophical question that creates a vacuum someone is there to fill it.

Religion is in my view good. What is bad are those who would distort religion for their selfish purposes.

I did not need anyone to tell me I am spiritual, Its instinctive. i alwyas knew it and felt it

I did not need anyone to tell me to reject homosexuality. It was instinctive and in my view unnatural.

I did not need anyone to point out that people different than me are both good and bad, just like people like me.

I did not need anyone to tell me that some of the teachings by my church didn't fit. and as a side bar was sorry they made the decision to forego the mass in Latin. I was an altar boy and learned the prayers in Latin. what a beautiful language

I viewed the teachings of the Bible more as important lessons in human behaviors and admonitions. I'll leave the divinity issues, etc to more scholarly people.

People can argue to and fro but if every human being followed the 10 Commandments not based on their divinity but simply their instruction this would be a much better world.

Personal Best Regards: