Well, it's hard to speak for others. The people I wrote about seem to believe that god speaks directly to them and that makes them special. So, they have this attitude of specialness about them and this focus on magical miracles. That's not what I am looking for from faith so it's a problem for me.

I do think that some of the priests, in particular, deny they have questions about scripture in order to not feel anxiety. The people who are focused on miracles / magic are not concerned with other issues.

I try not to judge even though I am more of a "cause and effect" type of person. Still, I believe that miracles do happen because the existance of life at all, and all that exists in creation, is miraculous. I don't think that religions have a monopoly on miracles. Miraculous things happen to people of all faiths - including agnostics and athiests - all the time! I just don't count on them to happen but, when they do, they bring a welcome surprise to life.