I think we simply have a different view, Steve. For me, that would not involve putting religion on the back burner at all. But I don't think there is much to be gained by exploring that further.


As far as the numerology things Iains raised, I think there is something of interest, but probably entirely different to the things Iains is talking about. There is something in human nature or experience that makes some numbers more significant than others: 2, 3, 7 and 12, for example. Given that, multiples and combinations are to be expected. But why those have such significance is something worth exploring (not that I do so here)


Take the zodiac for example. What we have in the night sky is, along the milky way, a pretty random collection of stars of varying brightness. It is an entirely human projection to pick out twelve constellations: it could have been 10, or 13 as easily. There is not a 12-ness inherently in the skies as far as I can tell. And this is reinforced by the differences in the Chinese and Western constellations. So the signs of the zodiac to me are not intereating in themselves but do say something about human nature at that 3,7,12 level.