I have a lot of respect and affection for many people here at Mudcat. Some of them bitterly disagree with me on matters of religion, even though I often have a fair level of agreement with their perspective (I'm speaking especially of Jim Carroll, a man for whom I have a lot of respect - but also of Steve Shaw, Bonnie Shaljean, Frank Hamilton, Peter K (Fionn) and a number of others).

No, I don't want to relinquish my religious perspective - it's a major part of who I am. But on the other hand, I don't want to fight with people I respect so deeply.

So, yeah, most of these religion/atheist threads make me nervous. I wish there were a way to exchange ideas in a nondestructive, mutually respectful way, but I haven't found that way yet.

-Joe-