A very strong article, from a compassionate viewpoint! I can't dispute one word, but I think you missed a key point.

I tried quite hard to be a Christian when I was a child, but I was unable to do so. And the reason was the actual things I was supposed to believe.

Even at six years old, I read through the Bible and listened to sermons and thought, "This part is silly. This part is unscientific. This part is just cruel!"

And the underlying idea that good works are worthless and having "a relationship" with Christ is the only way to salvation seemed wildly unfair to me as a child, and still does 50 years later.

What sort of judge allows personal relationships to sway justice? Why is it fair that people who spend their whole lives helping others are tortured for eternity whereas people who spend their whole lives sinning can repent at the last minute and have an eternity of bliss?

Even as a child, it became obvious to me that that clause was there to boost attendance - to go viral. "Treat other people with kindness" is not a winning message, but "Worship me or you'll burn in Hell forever" is.

So try as I might, I could never find it in myself to believe.

Thanks again for a well-written article full of good reasoning.