My personal experience with religion has been overall a positive one. It has challenged me to be critical of ideas and has pushed me to better understand how both Christianity and science work. I grew up in a Christian home but it wasn't until high school when the youth pastor of the church the church we attended challenged us students to understand some of the deeper theology in Christianity beyond just Jesus died for my sins. Long story short, I realized that in order for a belief to be valid or could not contradict itself. While this is a commonly accepted view of things a problem lies in not fully understanding the idea or ideas and so things being mislabeled as contradictory. So while I was in college I studied electrical engineering and also minored in mathematics and physics on the side in an attempt to better understand science. As a 25 years old and a recent college grad I have realized that things are not as simple as they are portrayed. Most of the criticism against both sides is in the form of misunderstanding either the other or both viewpoints. This has lead me to the point were I understand that I cannot scientifically prove my faith, all I can do is show that any disproof comes from a lack of understanding or misunderstanding. I try not to force my beliefs on anyone but I am always willing to discuss them with this who are interested.