I can relate. In pursuit of a heart-felt cause last year, I also got caught up in a climate inimical to my nature and, um, way of thinking. As I recall, P, you asked me a similar question.

I always blame the demiurge. In fact, I frequently vent all my rage and ire on him, he who is not really a him or a her, but rather a dynamic that people have come to idolize and worship over the eons, when they are not emulating it -- behavior that is something akin to "identifying with the offender", in a sense.

While I consider myself a spiritual person, I do not support organized religions that promote the ego-centric concept of authority; nor do I support churches with a history of dominance, cruelty and ignorance.

I think Selkie and I were really just giving you a hard time . . .;) And you made good use of it.