No, no, you should ALWAYS question your sanity. If I didn’t question my sanity periodically then I’d have no way of knowing if I had had a psychotic break with reality. It happens more often than you might think!

Others responded but we fed them to the lions before they got a chance to say anything substantial.

“The most honest way I can state this is: “God exists”.”

Please submit the proof for this statement to the usual address… Sorry, that’s a bit flippant, and I’m not really here to attack what you believe. But it is a strong statement to make on the premise of faith. Even some of the most devout Christians will admit that it is a question of belief rather than an absolute… And don’t worry, you have the right to disagree with anything you read here.

I’m not knocking your faith, I’m having a go at religious types that belive my lack of god makes me faithless… which, as I described, is untrue.

Just as your faith in god is the best thing that has happened to you, so is my faith in people… and to some extent myself.

Here is a Neal Peart quote from one of my favorite of his books, “The Masked Rider”:

“Sure, I still wonder. As infuriating and senseless as organized religion seems, and with all the abuses of the evangelists and fanatics, I am still intrigued by the romance, the ritual, and the security of a Higher Power. Like most everyone, I’d like to believe in something larger than life, especially for those times when life seems small and mean. But, after I’ve admired the poetry of the King James Bible, appreciated the peaceful wisdom of Buddhism, recoiled from a vengeful Allah or God, wondered about the secret societies of the Freemasons and Illuminati, in the end I return to reality, and believe in Life. And that seems good to me.

“I can worship Nature, and that fulfills my need for miracles and beauty. Art gives a spiritual depth to existence – I can find worlds bigger and deeper than my own in music, paintings, and books. And from my friends and family I receive my highest benediction, emotional contact, and personal affirmation. I can bow before the works of Man, from buildings to babies, and that fulfills my need for wonder. I can believe in the sanctity of Life, and that becomes the Revealed Word, to live my life as I believe I should, not as I’m told by self-appointed guides.

“There are holy virtues too in this Life-worship: artistry, integrity, love, ideas, and discovery. Yes, even laughter. And no other system permits the one instinctive first cause: your own existence. You’ll never be asked to die for Life. At least not for a while.

I really adore Neil. I really recommend this book!

More on topic, I seem to remember somebody saying, “I like Jesus, it’s his fan club I can’t stand.” Or something like that. Was that George Carlin? Sounds like him, I think.

belief in anything is the start, but surely to make something happen you really have to work at it.

Similarly, my grudge with a lot of religion is that they believe in good will, universal love and peace and yet seem so reluctant to actually work towards it… in fact some tend to do the opposite.

That said, if anyone does invent away to stop either me or Joseph having to get off our behinds, please send us the schematics.

I just don’t like it when those people decide that my faiths aren’t worth the paper they’re not written on.

I’m glad you like this one, I thought you might

“Do not venture into those woods idly, my son.”

Top stuff.

And thanks

Nice quote and entirely apt.

And I like your screen-name too… any reference to JOA? I saw that recently too, wowzer.

That said, I like the idea of a souless ideas machine.

*nips off to go and make a brew*

I’ll try not to wear this beverage.

Conversely, I can talk but I can’t sing.