The most important thing I think you said was ??the whole process has never led me to change my view on god.? I am glad to hear that. A lot of people take their experiences with religion (especially at a young age) and see or hear something that doesn??t sit right with them and than use those experiences to question or even totally abandon their faith.

In the Bible Jesus criticized the religious teachers of the day. He said you shall know a tree by its fruit. A bad tree cannot produce good fruit and a good tree cannot produce bad fruit. I use those words when evaluating people I come into contact with.

I think what matters is your personal relationship with God. I choose to seek him out through scripture. I read a few pages of the Bible almost every night. I make notes in the margins of questions I have or things I want clarity on. I find Jesus to be funny, level headed, with a fiery sprit. All things I admire.

As for your experience. I??m sure it was very real for you at the moment and who is to say that it was not genuine. I myself am distrustful of mainstream religious teachers. I think you should trust your own judgment and intuition about them on an individual basis. And remember that none of them speak directly for God.