Gee, Steve Shaw, there were a number of points in your last few messages that I actually agree with.

The trouble is, you're inconsistent. Your usual mode of discussion seems to be argumentum ad absurdum. You redefine everything to the point of stupidity, and then argue with the stupidity. There's no doubt in my mind that stupid people are stupid, but then there's no point in arguing with them. But most people are simply not as stupid as the imaginary friends you argue with.

The faith of most religious people cannot be defined in the simplistic terms you use. And very few religious people have the unquestioning faith you speak of. As DMcG said so well, "Doubt, not certainty, is an important part of religion."

When my kids were teenagers, they seemed to think that everybody else was stupid. Now that they're hovering around the age of 40, they have a far more generous view of humankind, and occasionally even admit that their parents aren't stupid, either. So, Steve, don't go thinkin' everybody else is stupid. Otherwise, people are going to start thinkin' you're a teenager. Or are you?

-Joe Offer-