Greetings, you stated, "We have totally lost the sense of who we are - our identity, value, and essence." The African Way of life my friend has the same response and challenge as all human lifestyles on the planet, of course, some more dramatic than others, but this institution called religion is in fact changing the human experience. The challenge I set forth today, in my studies of the similarities of religious facts, is not in the doctrine of information that can be proven, but in fact not able to prove. Meaning, all religions do have a spiritual aspect to them, separate of that of fact finding, hidden knowledge and twisting of doctrines. The spiritual aspect of them all tend to suggest the same inner workings of the individual practicing the art, if I may use this term. As a Christian taught individual, the information provided to us is very confusing and quite simply various, even though the information suppose to come from the same Bible. Other major religions have this same effect. I have yet to find a major religion that have one solid doctrine. However, like Christianity, the art of the spiritual experience all require a separation from physical attachments to an attachment to spiritual growth. Words expressed in this spiritual matter also changes, like the Christian word faith. Most Christians will tell you that faith is related to believing, that is similar to school, learning that 1 plus 1 equals 2, but adding a spiritual aspect to it, faith is based in hearing. This inner working of major religions is not supported by things or stuff, but it provides the truth of the inner identity, value and essence of an individual, a community, a people and a nation, which can not be proven, but seen. If you understand my challenge, then you understand that I hope we have totally lost our sense of who are, and I hope we can learn to become the true nature of our inner being.