On Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:07:55 -0800, -rick- wrote:

Reginald P. Smithers III wrote:

I have no problems with any of the major religions, nor do I have a
problem with someone being an atheist or agnostic, but recently they
seem to be as forceful (or more forceful) in their Anti-God preaching as
a Jehovah's Witnesses selling their version of God after waking you up
at 8 am on a Saturday.

I personally hope I've not offended any one (or too many) by
simply expressing honest opinion, raising questions, or any
lame attempts at humor. If so that wasn't the intent.

None taken - reasonable debate and fun.

Coming from a strict religious family I understand that some
perceive expressions of doubt as threatening.

It's really the disintegration of civil discourse - in my opinion
anyway. Discussing the viewpoints civilly without injecting emotional
components is fun and you can sometimes gain additinal insight and in
passing, maybe dessiminate a few along the way to others.

None of us know the unknowable with any certainty and we
shouldn't pretend to.

In large measure, that is true - and I agree largely with one of your
other ideas of what happens after - belief in an "after" is largely
for those who are still living - it's a comfortable thought. In my
opinion, it's not relevant though - if you believe, you believe.

It's like believing Jesus was celibate.

One of my uncles is a Jesuit and Professor of Theology at a major
Catholic university. When I read the Da Vinci Code I asked him about
the belief in Christ being married and this is exactly what he said:

"He was a young Jewish male carpenter who was viewed in a similar way
as a Rebbe - it would have been normal for a young Jewish male
carpenter Rebbe to be married. To who is a different question."

Tell that to a fundamentalist Catholic or Protestant. :)

We also needn't be offended by differing opinions.

10-4.