Hi, Sharon: Whoah! I didn't know the phrase was loaded! All I meant is to say what you honestly believe. I guess even that invokes images of people knocking on your door and trying to tell you about Jesus. I don't like that either. They usually know a different Jesus than I do and start telling me that I'm wrong. Just as Atheists don't seem to agree on what an Atheist is (see the Atheist Hymnal Thread,) believers are as different as Atheists or Agnostics. Labels are an awkward way to break up a continuum.

I'm with Wolfgang in feeling that in the long run, it's foolish to argue about religion or politics. I don't do either. If the subject is raised, I'll say what I believe. That doesn't mean that I am trying to make everyone believe what I believe. Unless the subject of God is raised, I'm usually not the one to raise it.

Truth is, "Have a nice day," can have all the punch of the little yellow smiling face. :-). Depending on who says it, so can "I'll pray for you," or, "We've got to get together some time." In my cynical youth, my friends and I questioned what "You're welcome" meant. If anything. We figured it meant, "Forget it." Most of the time we are so busy trying to figure out our own life and deal with the problems as they come winging their way toward us that we're not thinking or praying about anyone else. If someone can step outside their own lives long enough to think about, wish well or pray for someone else (or better yet, DO something good for them) that's something worth being happy about.

In the Atheist Hymnal thread, my dear friend Art Thieme suggested including Handful of Songs. It's a song that he's recorded and the song means a lot to him. Could you put a song by a believing, practicing (but not always getting it right) Christian in an Atheist hymnal? Why not?

So much for labels. :-)

Have a nice day! I'll be thinking about you!, We've got to get together some time. Lovely weather we've been having. :-)

Life is just too much fun to get all wound up about this!

Jerry