Ultimately it's a leap of faith and a leap of imagination to put yourself back in time into those conditions and situations and see how you would react.
No relief was forthcoming from my then-Catholic faith which said the practice of homosexuality was a 'mortal sin' subject to damnation.
I'm on the board of a national group called Faith in America. It's designed to fight religious-based bigotry.
But how odd that in this heathen nation of empty pews where churches' bare ruined choirs are converted into luxury loft living a Labour government - yes a Labour government - is deliberately creating a huge expansion of faith schools.
For the record I believe elected officials should talk about faith. Our founders believed the moral principles of faith were indispensable to our nation's survival. The Declaration of Independence mentions God four times.
The balance between faith and reason is for the determination of each individual and of the people as a whole not of unauthorized government officials uttering impious humbug as they arbitrarily try to define that balance.
I'm a Christian. I go to church when I can. I was raised Baptist. I went to a Lutheran school. I'm a nondenominational practicing Christian. I have a lot of faith.
True fans of the Constitution like true fans of the national pastime acknowledge the critical role of human judgment in making tough calls. We don't expect flawless interpretation. We expect good faith. We demand honesty.
Competition got me off the farm and trained me to seek out challenges and to endure setbacks and in combination with my faith it sustains me now in my fight with Alzheimer's disease.
As crucial as religion has been and is to the life of the nation America's unifying force has never been a specific faith but a commitment to freedom - not least freedom of conscience.
While we remain a nation decisively shaped by religious faith our politics and our culture are in the main less influenced by movements and arguments of an explicitly Christian character than they were even five years ago. I think this is a good thing - good for our political culture.
With gridlock the norm Congress's approval rating is below 10 percent and the public has lost faith in its national leadership.
The other day the President said I know you've had some rough times and I want to do something that will show the nation what faith that I have in you in your maturity and sense of responsibility. He paused then said would you like a puppy?
Our national motto is 'In God we Trust ' reminding us that faith in our Creator is the most important American value of all.
The separation of church and state is a source of strength but the conscience of our nation does not call for separation between men of state and faith in the Supreme Being.
Faith crosses every border and touches every heart in every nation.
As a people of faith we know that prayer is a powerful instrument. And as one Nation under God we know that many times our most powerful tool is prayer.