A slow, sustained and sometimes serious reading of the Bible, far from narrowing my thinking has expanded it by continually satisfying, sharpening and extending my curiosity. Turned loose to wander the Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament I've felt my mind grow, not shrink. The Bible has sharpened, not dulled me.
In churches I've found the most generous and embracing people I could hope to know. Over the long haul, they have graciously overlooked two tons of flaws in me. I've been privileged to live life with old and young who have always treated me like good family.
Christianity has sent me on an extended and rewarding search for big, uplifting narratives and themes in the best, most enduring books and music. It's allowed me to converse with giants. All of it has been enormously enriching and informing and the faith it's bolstered gets credit for occasionally nudging me to take that rarest of steps - to change my mind.
Maybe your experience has been different, but that's been mine and I have a sense that I've heard only echoes of what's in store.
I just thought I needed to say it.
