It seems once you start reading religion as metaphor it becomes harder to try to relate to. As oblomov commented above the idea of "god" becomes more and more abstract and you can't relate to it much. I've been fascinated by Jung's take on religion lately even tho I find it difficult to understand.

@OtisJesser Yes, it is harder at first, because it’s unfamiliar and abstract. It tells a very different story though, and one that has no conflict with science. Jung is good. Joseph Campbell, Bart Ehrman, Elaine Pagels, to varying degrees. It’s a lot of work, but the reward can be very liberating.

@skado how do you make sense of prayer? we can externalize the "god within" and interact with it as a separate personality, praying to it. Or we can anthropomorphize nature, all the while knowing it is just a projection of our own psyche onto the world around us. A fascinating way to interact with the complexity and multiple personalities and perspectives within us.

@OtisJesser Yes, these ways you mention are very much how I see it. I also see prayer as a close cousin to meditation, and in both cases there is a potential for training the mind in skills of focus and clarity, so that we don't allow our "monkey mind" to run away with us. It's largely about building mental skills through repetitive practice. The emotional component is brilliantly illuminated in the book "The Illusion of God's Presence" by John Wathey.

@skado that book sounds interesting I'll definitely check it out