My parents took my sisters and I to church when I was 5 years old. Well, actually it was sunday school. They didn't say that we had to attend. It was just something new to try since we had just moved to town that winter. There were other kids to play with, activities to participate in, social functions, and so we continued to go. We didn't stay with that particular church, and I don't recall the reason why. I do know that at that point I did indeed believe that god existed, along with Santa, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny, just like any other gullible 5 year old.

When I was 9 years old my parents took us to a Lutheran church. I met a boy named Tim in my sunday school class and we became instant buddies. Tim was my primary motivation for going to church. We had much in common, and church was the only place we would see one another. Tim's parents were very religious and he attended sunday school, church, youth group, bible study and confirmation classes, and as a result so did I. Thus I received a very thorough christian education complete with a cover to cover reading of the bible, intense group studies, oral exams, and eventually confirmation and baptism.