Thanks, Iona. If you'd take unsolicited advice from an old street-fighter, always deal with the biggest problem first. Then take 'em one after the other.

I appreciate your answer because it was honest, and whether or not I agree with your beliefs (which I'm sure you have surmised by now I don't), I like your spirit.

The universe itself is more than I can take in and I'm not smart enough to complicate my love of nature, science, philosophy, politics, anthropology, religions, farming, bird watching, songs, medicine, math, history--basically stuff I don't know much about--with other stuff I know even less about.

Way earlier in this thread Joe Offer said something that made absolute sense to me (not the first time he's done that but the first I'll admit to). It was a remark wherein he said that there is a 'force' that causes us all to seek, look, even argue over beliefs; he didn't say it that succinctly, but he was pretty good about making himself clear :-))). I took from that something I've thought since my youth: God's the reason we're here to figure all this out. I don't know whether God looks lots like my friend Vito or more like my friend Alain. Don't matter.

The people I know who believe in something are better off than those I know who believe in nothing. They sleep better at night. But please keep in mind that the people posting to this thread with whom you disagree and they you, have beliefs that are as sound as your own. S'true, the reasons are different, but the bottom line is the same.

Best regards to you.

PS I was a big fan of Roy's when I was a kid.

PPS The university education wasn't wasted on you.