@hollowtree
patriarchy the same as I'm not telling you that "you are just lost but God will find you" I don't need you to tell me I'm only a step away from growing up and losing my imaginary friend. We're both grown ups, believe whatever you like.
I too read the Bible and thought, nope, I can't pray to that God I'm afraid. I studied science and thought, yep, that makes sense. But there has always been an overwhelming spiritual presence in my life I can't ignore.
It's MY God. I pray, I give thanks, I live a life as my best self with my Gods help and guidance. I don't worship him according to an ancient mistranslated text. I use my moral judgement to make the best decisions I can and I believe He would have lived this way.
Maybe He doesn't have the power and control people think. Maybe, like a real parent, He made all this happen and is just desperately hoping we turn out alright and don't hate Him too much in the end.
For me, it is like a relationship. The respect is mutual. He understands I am not prefect and He accepts my flaws. He forgives my mistakes. He just hopes for my love and understanding.
HollowTree, that post that you put at 01.15am is absolutely brilliant. You said everything I wanted to say, but put it so much better.
@PartiarchyPersonifield is incredibly patronising and rude. I am not even going to respond to any of their rude posts. Laughable that they have the temerity to act all hurt and slighted when several posters turned their rudeness around on them though.
I used to go to Church quite often in the past (maybe 2 or 3 times a month,) but sometimes I would only go once a month. I have to admit that I also found it quite boring most of the time, and I did get tired of being nagged and badgered to join in with Church activities a lot more, and that is why I started going less and less and less........
As someone said earlier upthread, I felt they were desperately trying to get me roped into anything and everything they could, to get me sucked right in and it became tiresome. I have a family, I have a job, and I have hobbies, and I couldn't give the time they wanted and expected, to all these groups and activities. (Nor did I want to if I am being honest. I was happy to just go to Church a couple of times a month, and that was enough for me........)
Someone actually made an underhand comment once about 'if people don't volunteer for stuff, the Church will not be able to function,' and another woman said 'maybe if people don't bother, they shouldn't get to come.' 
After that, I didn't go for about 3 months, and had a couple of the 'Church Elders' (aka a couple of women who go to every single service and prayer morning at the Church, and are involved in everything,) knocking on my door, and ringing me, wanting to know if I was OK, and asking if I had 'lost my faith.'
I have a faith and a spiritual presence in my life and in my soul that I can't ignore (as hollowtee so beautifully put it,) but I genuinely struggle with going to Church, for a number of reasons, many of them listed in this thread.
I believe in Jesus, and I believe in God, and I pray on my own, and still go to Church occasionally, but I struggle a bit, because it's boring, and also I am not keen on most of the people who go.
There are 4 or 5 of the people who are OK, but most of them are either very bigoted and judgemental; OR they are bossy, controlling, and manipulative, OR they are just plain odd. Upshot is, there aren't any people there that I want to socialise with. I have a group of friends outside the Church, and at work, and in my cul de sac, and don't class anyone at the Church as friends.