Hi Dallas,

I just feel disillusioned with it all, more than anything else. The circumcision isn't really an issue for me. Both the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church say it is not necessary, and outside of America circumcision is largely only done by Jews and Muslims. It is unheard of here. No denomination teaches it. Russ is about the only person I ever heard saying it was necessary. Neither have I ever believed we are to follow the laws of leviticus - the 10 commandments yes.

But one thing that always has concerned me is the rather selfish striving for salvation, rather than to do something from the heart. For me, being a Christian has been a sense of experiencing the divine, of seeing things through different eyes, of a better way, of striving for a holy heart - not for getting into heaven, or out of fear of going to hell - but because we should want to be as holy as we can. Not because it has any bearing on salvation, but because it is a natural state of being in tune with the divine. If we are failing (and I know I fail a lot) we should want to change (and change is true repentance), we should strive to change. This i s why I am not Protestant. I believe in "faith = belief + action" not just faith. I've always believed we need a living faith, the drive to want to be holy. Not to get into heaven (which is already done) but because it is a natural following to want to act on a belief. And if there is no action, is the belief valid? If I say I am vegetarian, but I eat meat without any scruple, am I vegetarian? But I have a problem with some of the teachings of the RC and the Orthodox church. However, I might seek out a more liberal branch. I have totally had it with Protestants, who believe they can basically do antying, so long as they believe.