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I'd be against enforcing such a society, but if one had evolved, would it necessarily have been much different? People behave the way the do, good or bad, because they choose to. My own observation is that if someone follows a religion that commands or expects "love thy neighbor" or some version of that, they will find a rationale to behave against those strictures if they feel strongly that their neighbor shouldn't be loved. On the other side, one who has religious beliefs can very easily choose to live a life indistinguishable from what a religion might teach.

I'm grateful about the good stuff, but I would NEVER come back.

"You hear that, Elizabeth? I'm coming to join you, Honey!" George

I've never heard of the ones in Formula 1, Darts, Curling, or Bridge. I have vague recollections of the ones in golf and tennis. I kind-of said "what do baseball and Denny's have in common?" and got there.

Totally. Your turn.

Family Ties? (Sounds like Alex Keaton) George

Hotel California "I was born in a crossfire hurricane And I howled at the morning drivin' rain." George

Billy Joel's "Piano Man." "Baby, there's an enormous crowd of people They're all after my blood I wish maybe they'd tear down the walls of this theater Let me out, let me out." George

Exactly. In baseball, a grand slam is a home run with the bases loaded. In golf, Formula 1 racing, tennis, darts, and curling, a grand slam is winning the major events. In bridge, a grand slam is to take all 13 tricks in a hand (but you have to bid it first, or it's just 13 tricks). In Denny's, a Grand Slam is a breakfast item. George

"All freshmen are required to take a humanities course." "What's so bad about that? " "Well the choices are absurd. Listen to this one. 'Humanities 1. Man, society, civilization, and the universe.' How am I supposed to relate to this stuff?" "Just don't talk in class, and they'll think you're one of them." "I'm in college to learn about money, not people." "There's more to life than just getting rich. 'People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.' " "People who have money don't need people." "I know, 'Every cloud has a silver lining.'" "No, silver's down this week. Say 'Every cloud has a zinc lining.'"

"On a dark, desert highway"

"It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday, and the manager gives me a smile 'cause he knows that it's me that they're coming to see, to forget about life for a while."

Um, they each feature a Grand Slam?????

Many years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Debby, to whom this piece was dedicated.

What do baseball, bridge, golf, Formula One racing, and tennis have in common? Football, soccer, and basketball do NOT have the same thing in common. Interestingly, curling, Denny's, and darts DO. George

Differences of opinion! Differences of opinion are allowed at the GSC! Politics are verboten. Anyone who takes a position that "vpw was the greatest man of God since the apostle Paul" will find they've taken a VERY unpopular stance and will be debated. But they will be allowed to post- as will everyone who disagrees with them. Differences of opinion, agreeing to disagree, and independent thought are not allowed at twi, and never were. So, people used to twi and ex-twi ONLY may find freedom to think unsettling. But it's an asset.

I will second the motion for Joseph Campbell. Well worth it.

Agree. I've read some definitions of it and appears quite "spiritual" in the sense of doing good for your friends and neighbors as a duty.

It's a bit lengthy but well worth the time spent.

I have started a thread called "A Complete atheist, anti-supernatural society" in the Atheism, nontheism, skepticism: Questioning Faith sub forum if anyone wants to discuss the above.

JoyfulSoul wrote the following in the "I had a very interesting stop at HQ" thread in the "About the Way" forum: "I began as a college atheist 45 years ago. I'm long gone. Over the edge gone. Unreachable. Forever lost. If we ever enforce a complete atheist, anti-supernatural society, take me first, drag me around back and shoot me." What would such a world be like without all the supernatural beliefs in a heaven and hell be like? Or without the concept of a chosen people and a promised land? Or with the concept of humanism being our motive to love and care for one another? There are many other "Or" examples that could be given from either side of a supernatural vs atheism POV. If ad hominem attacks can be avoided, this could be an interesting discussion.

Thomas was skeptical. Because Thomas was skeptical, he was given a spiritual awareness not given to the others. The others had to believe. Thomas found out.

Pardon me for including my atheistic comments on this thread in response to Joyful Soul's disconcerting post about dealing with a demonic transference between LCM and himself. If there is any interest in discussion this topic, I will start a thread in the Matters of Faith forum.