Wow, strong message here! I was born into Christianity but moved away from it as I got older. These days I don't follow any particular religion 100% but I still appreciate what Jesus stood for, which is the unconditional love and acceptance that you talked about. The suffering part though... yeah. It's there in so many of us. I sometimes get caught in causing needless suffering for myself so I have something to overcome, so I can say "I did it! I overcame!"

But if I just started from self-love, I would have been much better off. I guess it's hard to admit to ourselves, or at least myself, that things can start from love and stay here. I don't have to create a mountain to climb in order to feel worthy of... well, my own love I guess.

Sorry, this is veering away from your article, but it got me thinking.

Thanks for this piece Jenny!