To all my religious friends from your atheist friend

To all my religious friends from your atheist friend,

I want you to understand that I did not come to the decision I'm atheist lightly or quickly.  I was raised Roman Catholic with all that entails.   I was baptised, because I went to public Grammer school I attended CCD classes every Sunday  (kicking and screaming I might add), I made my first communion and was confirmed.  I attended 4 years of Catholic high school.  If that's not enough to prove to you that I spent a lot of time thinking about  religion not much will.  It was after high school that I stopped thinking the Catholic Church was the way to go.  It was also about the same time the news broke ok all the priests covering up child abuse,  I tried Lutheran Church after all my father's side of the family is Lutheran.   I felt a little better in a Lutheran Church if I must be honest my first interaction with the Lutheran priest SHE was extremely warm and welcoming but honestly it wasn't for me.  I tried nature based religions and those spoke to me strongly that the earth is our mother and she is the strongest power in existence and should be revealed respected and cared for.  This is truly what I still feel and believe,  I recycle when I can I try to respect my fellow earth inhabitants and if I had a better paying job with better prospects I probably spend the extra money to buy all natural.  I'm poor so sometimes it's about quantity vs quality. But here's what what I want you to understand the most,  I'm not evil in fact I'm pretty proud of how hard I try not to be judgmental.  How I keep others feelings and best interests within my line of sight.  I also try to live my life to a high moral standard.  Am I perfect, no way I can be ugly and hateful just like anyone but I work hard not to be.  The difference here is that there is nothing dictating how or who deserves my compassion.  I don't have to justify my need to be understanding when a tragedy happens to any group of people.  I know to most main religions view being gay as a "sin" (sins are things done by choice I doubt anyone  would choose to be gay since this seems to be one of the biggest demographic of people being attacked now a days)  I just see a person.  What should be a "sin" is screaming morality while being the most immoral person around. 

I am once again not perfect and I would never begrudge anyone their beliefs I have found what makes sense to me and would never force my truth on anyone.  If you tell me you will pray for me please pray for my continued good attitude and for the life I live I know you are only sending me good vibes in your own way. Please do not pray I'll find God because I spent a lot of time losing him and I am not sorry unhappy or missing anything.