Well, I have no idea how this thread started, I got this email about the end of it, so I'm lost. However, as always, I've got something to say about it. Please forgive me if I am way off topic, I am going by the Subject title.
I am not a religious person, I never will be. But when I was about 23 or 24 years old, I began a spiritual quest for happiness. I was reading "Autobiography of a Yogi", by Paramahansa Yogananda. some of you might be familiar with this book. It filled my head with all sorts of Truth about life, and filled my heart with hope for a satisfactory existence.
During that time, 2 men, a father and son from India knocked on our door. They were wearing white shirts and neckties. They were from a place called Jehovah's Witness kingdom hall. They asked me if I would listen to them for 15 minutes. I said, "Yes, if you'll listen to me for 15 minutes". To my surprise, they agreed. I told them all about what I had read in the book, and they listened without commenting or interrupting. I also told them how my parents fundamental Christian religion had put a certain amount of self loathing and a sense of worthlessness in my heart. Then it was their turn. They proved to me that hell, in the sense that American Christian religion preaches, does not exist. I absolutely welled up inside with a new feeling of hope, and a desire to learn more about this new God stuff. I didn't become one of them, but I sure had a better lease on life. To this day, I am glad I met them.