What are your answers?

[salty]

To anyone who thinks my questions are meant to be disrespectful:

If you don't want to help me understand more about the athiest persepective, no problem, just say so. I'm aware that Christians mock, offend and embitter plenty of people, of many faiths and no faith. The difference between them and me is that I'm here. I'm open. I can be asked questions. I can be spoken to and spoken about. I can talk back and give you a new persepective, just as you have shown a new side of life with no faith.

I don't represent all the people that have burned you or anyone in the past. I can apologize for them, but I am not them, I'm me. And you're you. Please, believe me when I say: I did not come here to burn you, my questions weren't baited, they were realistic. Stupid, childish, yes, but also realistic. I'm not going to be a pro at faithlessness when I have been a committed follower of Christ for a long time, it's going to take some very basic means to get me to see where someone with an opposing view is coming from. I'd appreciate it if you would be a little more patient with me because I am doing everything in my power to be patient and open with you.

Lastly, for those of you who were guessing, I was not raised Christian. My parents were seventh-day adventists, my mother Catholic before she converted to seventh-day adventism. She and my father divorced when I was three, he continues today as a seventh-day adventist (as is my grandmother) and my mother became a non-denominational Chrisian. When I was in 8th grade my mother invited me to church, but up until then she never forced me to read the Bible, go to church or even pray or talk about God. I decided that the least I could do was go to church. I stayed and for two years they taught me about God, by example and by sermons. I accepted the Lord when I was around 15 years old and I never turned and never will turn back. My choice wasn't rushed. I didn't worship the church, I didn't worship the pope, I fell asleep during service all the time. I loved my youth pastor, but my faith did not die when he left because it was based on the person of Jesus as described in the Bible. I asked every question I wanted to ask and I lived how I wanted to live, but I wanted the joy that the other believers had because my life (the way I lived it) wasn't bringing joy, it was bringing me guilt, anger and pain. Ever since I believed I haven't had a day without joy and relief, even when I'm suffering.

Thank you for taking a moment to read this.