Interesting point, Wolfgang. I agree. A good experiment beats any amount of faith. However, one may first need some faith in a certain direction...and some expertise...to be both willing and able to make the experiment. The pioneering scientists were people who had faith that their way of seeking knowledge would yield valuable results, and they were often opposed bitterly by the clergy who had faith in different propositions entirely.

I would love to be in a better position to actually test out the more interesting theories that intrigue me the most.

Every language has its own fascinating ways of expressing things. I don't know much French, but it strikes me as very expressive in its own way. I have always liked the Spanish word "simpatico", because it says a lot in one word. Do you have any German phrases or expressions that can't easily be matched in another language? How about "weltschmertz"? (I hope I spelled it correctly).