I won't repost the Lenny Bruce quote from his "Religions, Inc" here although it reflects much of what I beleive about organized religion. That said though, the one thing that differentiates people in any belief system or personal philosophy is courage of conviction. That doesn't mean rigidity, but instead the ability to defend your position while being open to opposing views......perhaps even to occasionally be won over.

I think this is what marked the life of John Paul II. And it is that that makes me feel a certain closeness to this man who I would pretty much disagree with across the board. Odd as this may seem, the attributes I admired most of John Paul II actually were shared by my Mom. Our minister had had long and far reaching argummnets/discussions with her during the long three years she had been ill and when she died akmost 40 years ago he said at her funeral, "You didn't have to agree with Margie but you knew where she stood." That is also what is being said of John Paul and for me at least, that is high praise and something worthy of aspiring to.

Spaw