My learning did not influence my experiences before hand either.  I have had very powerful Buddhist themed/ Hindu/ Native American/ Mayan experiences but I also encountered the archetypal Christ energy which profoundly effected my ability to be empathetic and compassionate towards other life forms.  

In fact... I was not at all genuinely compassionate towards my fellow life forms before meeting the Christ energy while on mescaline on one occasion long ago.  That experience did not make me want to go to church or anything...it made me feel vibrantly alive and deeply concerned for the welfare of all other life, even the lives of those I would normally hate.  I never understood the whole "love your enemies" thing until I came face to face with the Christ spirit. 

Also DisEmbodied wrote:

It is my understanding that the Santo Daime church claims to have spirits as members as well as people.  Any Sentient being can be a member as long as they recognize the Authority of Christ. 

The native American church has some heavy Christian influences as well.  

I mean no offence to DisEmbodied or anyone and I am not trying to say my belief is better than anyone elses I just feel like there is a lack of understanding when it comes to this subject and people can be quick to judge Christians as if they were all alike.