Little Hawk

Of course, now that you've been to Cuba and been brainwashed by those commie bastards....*VBG*, Oops, sorry, godless socialist bastards *VVBG*

I always think of religion as needing an element of the unknown and unknowable. The element of mystery and unattainability seems necessary to a religion.

The explainable are something less. I'm not sure what to call it, but IMO anyway, its not religion. Maybe a distant cousin?

I think that the first is a very necessary part of life but that people mistake the latter for the former. And end up very unhappy, trying to find in money, power, possessions or whatever, something that isn't there. They can evoke passion but it isn't as pervasive (at least in the long run) as a set of religious beliefs.

Probably for different reasons, I agree that tolerance is one of those "wish everyone was that way" sort of thing. (Well, with a few caveats).

Regards

John