I wrote these words?

Facebook now aggregates all prior messages into a single thread when you communicate with a friend. I just came across a message I sent several years ago, and can't believe I wrote the words or had the same conclusions. It is from 2006. I was 22 at the time. I feel like I am reading something a stranger wrote...

I looked into people, into sex, into books, into money, into power, science, to the structure of the brain, to language, into philosophy, and then back to where I started. I know as simple and as trite (and as odd) as it may sound (and now as evangelical), the message of Jesus was the answer to a satisfying life. I had always looked at christianity as a way to stop thinking. As a way to simply look at the world through a lens of truth (albeit not my own) but one through which answers came easily, and souls were settled by concrete and unchallengeable maxims. As it seemed, they already had the world figured out. Christians were the possessors of their own truth and the world could offer nothing to it's complete and unique understanding... Certainly that did not work for someone who still had so many questions. I see now, that as a child my understanding was incomplete, at this point, I'd say utterly wrong. I thought relgion was a doctrine for people who couldn't come up with a way to live their own life. Instead, I just found it was the answer that I had been trying to come up with my own, and had been unable. I was able to find all of the complexity, and depth, and simulataneous simplicity that anything I belived in would have. And that being said, i should be able to explain it in a few sentences.... so I will try....Admit imperfection. Love your neighbor, love God, follow your conscience. And if that's what you really want to do, there is an idea, a power, that will alllow you to do all those, and give you the freedom to do what you inwardly would like to become.... and simulataneously on top of it all, bring peace. That is essentially what I believe at this point in my life. Yes, there are tons and tons and tons of other ideas, and histories, and people that come along with this simpe story... but at it's core, it's simplicity was far too alluring to deny. Certainly, had the results been absent, I would have soon forgotten this antiquated notion of new life... but the promises were true, and I have been witness to a transformation within myself. A quiet process that is both instantaneous and neverending... Given my past history, I was well aquainted with the words of King James, and knew what that thick black book was on it's pages, but I didn't understand it. When i came to believe, I had many different questions than you would have about it's validity. I wanted the seeming contradictions answered, mysteries explained, stories expounded upon, before I could even look at the basic message again. Ultimately though, when it came down to it, i had to get past all of the junk I has associated with Christianity, and give it a look with fresh eyes, and a mind that could actually understand it. Once I realized this, I began to see that most people don't get the message of Jesus, even within the church - it is much more palatable than any Southern Baptist would lead you to believe. As you are reading this, I can see you getting mad at me for even suggesting it. I understand your own initial hatred of the idea. The church is probably one of the biggest reasons you have such an internal conflict, that and your family... which again is most certainly in large part related to the influcence of the church. I certainly am not telling you want to believe, that is what fools do. I am trying to tell you something I found that works, which is what friends do. Hopefully you see it as that, and not some demeaning indoctrination. All i really wanted to do, was encourage you to give it another look, and try to squeeze some truth out of the words it has to offer. I supposed it would be rather shortsighted to encourage you to look at something, and not give you direction, so I'll just show you what got me started, and curious... "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. 20) Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21) "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22)These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23) Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence..." It was an interesting idea, and a promise that I wasn't ready to just ignore... It's no where near the point of my faith, but it did show me that there was much more that I had missed, and much to learn. Anyway, good luck with classes... I wish i could explain it all in just a few short words, but it really is the peace of God which transcends all understanding.... i wish something like it for you...