(Sensitive Subject) What motivates you to be religious...what pushes you away from your faith?

I was raised to be a devout Catholic. I left the Catholic church at 18 not because I was bored and wanted to sleep in on Sundays….but because I felt I wised up that there was a bit more going on to this Sunday Shuffle than the leaders were letting on to.

My cynicism grew and not for any other reason than my over active mind that began to realize that not everything that was preached to me added up…Sure I can point fingers at lecherous pastors who took advantage of Alter Boys that made headlines…but it was when Bozos like this that I long time ago cut my ties with organized religion.

How do you maintain your faith in your religion despite the indiscretions of the elders of your faith?