[Iscool]

One thing is common to all Protestants: letting their pastors interpret the Bible for them, and that was the subtext of my admittedly aggressive in tone post.

I don't think you can say all...There are some denominations that will instruct you to search the scriptures to find out if the pastors are telling you the truth...Mine included....

[annalex]

That does not excuse your pastor. It is like a car mechanic that swindles you and says: if you don’t believe me, here is the service manual, fix your car yourself.

The fact remains that he is the one who went to a seminary to learn how to lie about the Bible and you did not. You are at his mercy.

[verga]

1Pe 3:20 that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water: 1Pe 3:21 which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

Annalex is correct you all basically mind numbed robots. Sure yeah go ahead search the scriptures until you disagree with him. then you are disfellowshipped or shunned till you: 1) decide to follow his dictates.

2)Find another cult of the personality to follow. Or this is the most common

3)Break off taking about 1/3 of the followers with you.