Paul Burke, why should I have to defend my religious faith to you? You push your nonbelief on me like you were a Jehovah's Witness on my doorstep. All I can say, is that it works for me, and it brings joy and richness to my life. If it's a delusion, what the hell? It's healthier than drugs. I am fascinated not only by my own Catholic tradition, but also by Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and various Protestant traditions. I find them to be rich, interesting, colorful, and full of both wisdom and foibles. Whether they are truth or not, is something you can argue with Pete. To my mind, "truth" is highly overrated, and smacks of ideological narcissism. To me, honesty is far more important than "truth."

Michael, it seems to me that there is a certain pitiable futility in looking for Noah's ark on Mount Ararat and seeking archaeological evidence that the Hebrews were in Egypt and that all those plagues really did happen. And from what I can see, such quests lack intellectual honesty, since the seekers cannot conceive that what they seek to prove might not be factual. Not that I'm about to stop them. It's good for the economy of Egypt and wherever Mount Ararat is (Turkey, right?).

Pete, how do you explain all the discrepancies among the four evangelists? My explanation: they weren't writing for historical accuracy. They were writing to convey their own experience of Jesus Christ, and every relationship is different.

-Joe-