I too am a lapsed Catholic. I find the Abrahamic religions mostly flawed but if I disregard the Jesus resurrection myth I find a lot of goodness in the new testament. I found some equally good news in religions originating in Asia. No religion matches my beliefs but many have valuable lessons. I think the biggest problem with most religions is that they expect you to accept some dogma that is clearly false. They expect you to belong and make contributions to the religion/organization. I practice charity, so for me it is not about the money it is about giving money to an organization that is essentially political. I won't support a church that practice politics I don't agree with. Religions are no longer apolitical. The Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islamism are clearly very politically active and violent despite the peaceful messages of their founders, well except Judaism, seem violence is at the core of that.

It is good that we are writing and not talking in person. If we met and I picked up a strong trans vibe, I would be uncomfortable. Just like Flab gives me a bit of the heebie jeebies, people who display openly different gender/sexuality than my preferences give me a bit of the heebie jeebies. Of course what I don't know and can't see does not bother me. I call it the heebie jeebies for a lack of a better way to express how I feel, it is a physical manifestation. It can vary from almost nothing to fidgeting and even maybe sweating. I get nervous sweats very easy. One of the worst is effeminate strait guys (forgive me) sissy boys. People have the right to be the people they are but some of them make me uncomfortable to the point I don't want to be around them.

I don't hate these people, flabby, or what ever, it just makes me uncomfortable. I am not my real self around them. Mostly I just want to get away from the discomfort they cause me. I don't blame them, I know it is me and probably some sort of conditioning I received growing up.

I fix things instead of throwing them away. I take other peoples trash and fix it and use it. When I fix something often my labor is more than the cost of buying new.