Thanks for shortening that coulda been, sort of thing Agnes. Got a chuckle from it.

thanks for hearing me out cheryl.

i also wanted to say more of what i don't know

there are the philosophical questions...and the physical questions...i was reading the string theory thing ceas posted which seemed somehow connected to...all of these questions...and answers...that only raise more questions...all of the historical references...i've said it before there is something that has everything to do with them but goes beyond the postings themselves, beyond the words, their implications, ...their meanings...something beyond that i got too and i liked it.
explain that

okay i think i may be off somewhere...i'll be back

i love you guys

love you too!

That's how the newer religions always do--place any reference to the mother within the male context. Who said the Goddess is necessarily sweetness and light? Not I. Forgiving is not letting off the hook, so to speak. And if it's modern religions we're discussing, I'm more of a Magdalene fan than an MMOG fan, as you certainly expected. But then we both read Campbell.

yes we both read Campbell, so tell me more about your take on this world (Shel and/or anybody)? do you think i am insane or psychotic, i can handle it?

p.s.: Insane or psychotic? Hardly. Crazy? Yes, that's why you wound up here. Agnes, I think that we design our gods to quell our fears about what we don't understand. And then religious leaders create religions around the gods, first to interpret the unknown to the people, but then to control the people, benignly or not, but especially when there's contact with outside "others." And then the war god comes into play. Now, with different cultures in daily contact all over the globe, where they used to be more separate, there's more conflict. Maybe in time, if we make it so long, increased exposure will lead to less fear and science and philosophy will be more in sync in the public mind. I hope so. I may sound heretical or crazy to some, but I love this place because we can talk about such things. And laugh. Oh, and I'm not what you'd call a Bible scholar, but I was a Bible Drill champion in Sunday School--does that count?

I'm not sure, but I think string theory is somehow tied to the Flying Spagetti Monster religion, I mean spagetti is very string-like, doncha' think? Not to mention, that both of these theory/religion concepts must be tied to ancient Egypt.......I mean those people worshipped cats and who is better with a ball of string than a cat? This may mean the the Master of the Universe is actually a cat that enjoys Italian food and is good with string............MY GOD!!!! It's GARFIELD!

( it's logic like this that got us into Iraq......sorry)

That appears to be superior logic to any used to involve US in Iraq!

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/ ... 32,00.html

huh!

humph!

Nice words from someone who is supposed to be 'infallible' - This is why I prefer the FSM faith!

The cartoons in a Danish newspaper and the reaction to them was pretty bad... but this is unconscionable.

hi! i'm still enjoying the discussion but...this computer's sure gone crazy! i'll check in when i can.

carry on!

AS usual, Shel took the words right outa my mouth.......(have you guessed yet that we are really one and the same person??? in Celery time that is, I mean have any of you REALLY ever MET ME??? (apart from adg, but did he really? And who brings my photos and goodies to the Tailgate eh???)
But with me it was summer holiday Bible school in Oregon (Episcopal), just for a couple of years as my folks wanted me to be able to make up my own mind. I did get confirmed in the Church of England here in Oz at thirteen. That was the end organized religion for me ,now I just do my own thing, which is the spirit of nature. I have to amit I love animals and plants more than most people and like to be far from the madding crowd most of the time.
And PSB, your just you.
And I'm with Shel also on the Magdalene thing. I get very tired of NICE and WOMAN being seen (or wanting to be seen) as the same thing.
And boy if you try to keep those to words seperate some people just can't take it.
e.g. How Germaine (the untamed shrew) Greer recently got Crucified by some people here after what she said about the phenomenom that was Steve (the croc hunter) Irwin.

I think I just may offer up a sacrafice of lasagne to the god garfield after all........

Larry, if i were to go with a feline God it would definitely be Fat Freddy Scat, that cat is a true guru! but God is a doG, and his ultimate manifestation was OLD BLUE on the Beverley Hillbillies or the Jetson's doG or he could be a chicken, either Foghorn Leg Horn or possibly the Roadrunner (a fast scrawny chicken). i need 40 days in the wildernesss (with my Uke and a guitar and some cold beer and some enchilada's and my best girl friend) to sort this out!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_Freddy's_Cat