Wow... so much I want to comment on.... how do I do this without rambling my thoughts.... I am right there with so much of what you've shared, I'm chomping at the bit here.

First... The bible.... half the book is an accounting of how the people got themselves bound in religion without knowing God..... the other half of the book is a story of faith. The coming of the Messiah, the messanger of peace. The one promised in the old book prophecy. The messager, Jesus came to set the people free of religious doctrine and the fear that had come to represent God. Jesus cam to awaken their spirits and get them away from the religious trapings that are not of God. Jesus came to show the people that the way to the God was in the hearts of people and not in the ceremonies and rituals of religion.

The problem is not in the Bible as a book of history and inspired teaching. And its not in the essence and message of Jesus. The problem for me is with what people do with the Bible and how they interprete the visit from Jesus's first coming, and promised second coming.

The same religiousity that opened the heavens for a visit to earth by Jesus has built up again by the making of a new religion and naming it after Jesus. Christianity -- followers of Christ Jesus. Believers in his message. But true belief in his message would be to denounce organized religion. That was his message. Follow me. He told the people to build his Church -- him being the Chruch. Not bricks and mortor and narrow doctine and an exclusive club mantality.

The Bible speaks to me as I meditate on the stories, songs and lessons. Jesus speaks to me as I pray and follow his example to knowing God as a God of Love. My life example is Jesus because of his message of peace.

What puzzles me most in my spiritual journey is why we aren't living in peace. Why people are still living in fear.

I'm a pacifist because I believe the Bible teaches us that Jesus was a pacifist. War could not be an option for a true believer, for a true follower of Christ and his teachings. I can't get past that one. To consider war or the distruction of Mother Earth as acceptable to God is beyond my comprehension. With that as my measure of a true believer of Jesus Chrsit... the circle is very small.

Jesus represents a human experience free of the effects of fear. Overcoming fear is what Jesus represents. Over coming the fear that leads to wars, famines, environmental disasters....... Our world is still operating from a place of fear. Where is the peace? Where is Jesus?

Can a true follower of Christ really support wars, capitalism that exploits people, colonialism that destroys cultures, empirialism that overpowers the earth. Not according to Jesus they can't. But yet followers of Jesus do. Did they just not get the message or is this really how they thing Jesus would have us be living -- free of fear -- consumed by love -- one in a community of the world.

Sorry... I did want to comment on specific points you made nowhere but got myself caught again in a rant. Will come back and try again later.