DPRP Interviewer Attacks Neal Morse....

[BarryL]

...figuratively, of course.

How about these for questions:

Q. "Why do you keep rehashing the same old ideas over and over again?"
NM: "Hey, give me a break here, I am doing the best I can..."

Q. "Tracks like The Man's Gone, Cradle To The Grave and Father Of Forgiveness are kind of retro, song writing stuff. How do these fit in with the rest of the album?"
NM: "Gathering from the way you ask me this I assume that you do not really like these songs?"
Q. "In fact, I do not. To me they are just average rather boring fillers on this album."

Q. "Why did you decide to include a bonus disc with the four covers on it? As you also already know that I hate covers..."
NM: "Ha ha ha, I really do appreciate your honesty..."

The interview is a laugh a minute, and you can find the transcript at:

http://www.dprp.net/specials/morse1104/index.php

On the more bizarre side, NM's psychosis continues unabated:

"As you know I pray a lot and I prayed for this album as well; I prayed for inspiration and I am still seeking God's will in my life. In fact he kind of showed some resistance in making this album. With Snow God really resisted in making that album. But in the end God helped me to finish One and it is still hard to explain to other people how this works. I always run in the morning and during that run I talk/pray to God and he gives me instructions for the day so I know what to do actually."

Yikes! The man has lost his grip on reality and should seek serious psychological help (I mean this sincerely). He's a walking time bomb and is going to end up killing himself, someone else, or become a reclusive schizophrenic if someone doesn't intervene instead of encouraging this type of psychotic behavior through benign neglect.

[progfan]

I was a little shocked by the interview as well. I mean, I'm not the world's biggest Neal Morse fan with or without Spock's Beard but it definitely seemed that the interviewer had an agenda and set the tone for a strange and mildly amusing read.

Neal Morse psycho? I don't know, but it fascinates me how a guy can go from being a "normal" secular person who writes f-you in his lyrics on the first SB album to the proselytizing Christian he has become in a span of just a few years.

[BarryL]

I was a little shocked by the interview as well. I mean, I'm not the world's biggest Neal Morse fan with or without Spock's Beard but it definitely seemed that the interviewer had an agenda and set the tone for a strange and mildly amusing read.

Neal Morse psycho? I don't know, but it fascinates me how a guy can go from being a "normal" secular person who writes f-you in his lyrics on the first SB album to the proselytizing Christian he has become in a span of just a few years.

Wondering if there's more to this world (good Flower Kings song) or seeking some sense of spirituality I can understand in that most humans do it (why they care to do it is beyond me, though). But I think if you are asking God for instructions each morning and thinking that each day you are following his will and not your own to get you through the day, you need help big time.

That doesn't mean that he can't spend his days creating great music though.

[Troy]

*sigh*

So much theology, so little time.

First of all, that "reviewer" needs to be fired. He doesn't like covers and he tees off on Morse because of THAT? Amazingly unprofessional.

It fascinates me how a guy can go from being a "normal" secular person who writes f-you in his lyrics on the first SB album to the proselytizing Christian he has become in a span of just a few years.

That's the beauty/hypocracy of being born again. All past sins are automatically forgiven. Ask our president.

I think if you are asking God for instructions each morning and thinking that each day you are following his will and not your own to get you through the day, you need help big time.

Perhaps this is too literal. What it really means is that you live your life knowing that all your actions are ultimately being judged and that you get what you give. Cause and effect, yin & yang, do unto others. This is the basis of virtually EVERY religion on earth. Without this guilt we'd be slaughtering each other in the street . . . or in funky rock and roll clubs in Ohio . . .

[mad rhetorik]

*sigh*

(BarryL) It fascinates me how a guy can go from being a "normal" secular person who writes f-you in his lyrics on the first SB album to the proselytizing Christian he has become in a span of just a few years.

That's the beauty/hypocracy of being born again. All past sins are automatically forgiven. Ask our president.

(BarryL) I think if you are asking God for instructions each morning and thinking that each day you are following his will and not your own to get you through the day, you need help big time.

Perhaps this is too literal. What it really means is that you live your life knowing that all your actions are ultimately being judged and that you get what you give. Cause and effect, yin & yang, do unto others. This is the basis of virtually EVERY religion on earth. Without this guilt we'd be slaughtering each other in the street . . . or in funky rock and roll clubs in Ohio . . .

As a "believer," guess I'll weigh in here.

Troy: I never understood "being born again" as an automatic pass to heaven. In my view it's more of a long-term process of redemption. And our President is "Christian" only by matter of convenience. Oh, he believes in the theology all right, but his actions speak otherwise. The Bible has plenty of stuff to say about folks like that, but I won't bore you with endless "God talk." Judging by your past posts you have a pretty dim view of Christianity. Considering what it is associated with today (Religious Right, pedophilia-sp?, the current Administration, etc.) can't say I blame you for reacting in that fashion.

Other than that, you're right: All religion has a basis in reciprocity and the Golden Rule. But you can be an atheist and still acknowledge those principles.

BarryL: I know plenty of people who pray to God every morning looking for spiritual advice/guidance/direction. They aren't committed to insane asylums--they are hard-working, intelligent, and fairly rational folks. I could go into the "Puritan work ethic" and all that but I won't.

All that said, it does look like Neal Morse occassionally drinks a bit too much of the Kool-Aid. ; P I do wonder what intensified his beliefs so dramatically.

[Troy]

I never understood "being born again" as an automatic pass to heaven. In my view it's more of a long-term process of redemption. And our President is "Christian" only by matter of convenience. Oh, he believes in the theology all right, but his actions speak otherwise.

Call me a cynic, but I see a lot more hypocritical born agains than just W riding the rightous gravy train. I see it every day on bumper stickers and t-shirts proclaiming things like "One nation under GOD!" and essentially, "My god can beat up your god".

Judging by your past posts you have a pretty dim view of Christianity. Considering what it is associated with today (Religious Right, pedophilia-sp?, the current Administration, etc.) can't say I blame you for reacting in that fashion.

No, I think all religeon is the the thing that make humans both good AND bad. Good because as already mentioned the golden rule / cause and effect etc. Bad because each religion in turn completely rejects every other religion as heretical. If you don't believe you are going to hell at best and are less than human at worst. Even though all religion is basically about that good stuff I mentioned. It's quite insane if you think it through.

For me, I don't buy any of it and I think that there are very few people at the top of ANY religious cult that I trust to really have the interest of all of humanity in it's interests.

Other than that, you're right: All religion has a basis in reciprocity and the Golden Rule. But you can be an atheist and still acknowledge those principles.

Precisely how I live my life. I just don't consider myself an athiest, yet I practice no religion. I believe that everything is all interconnected but that any religion based on hardfast rules literally set in stone to be a manipulation of this feeling of needing to seek the ultimate truth and meaning to life in all humans by people in power looking to control the masses. Jeez, what a confusing sentence, you may need to read that one twice.

All that said, it does look like Neal Morse occassionally drinks a bit too much of the Kool-Aid.

LOL

[BarryL]

As a "believer," guess I'll weigh in here.

BarryL: I know plenty of people who pray to God every morning looking for spiritual advice/guidance/direction. They aren't committed to insane asylums--they are hard-working, intelligent, and fairly rational folks. I could go into the "Puritan work ethic" and all that but I won't.

I can only go by what was written in the transcript of the interview. What Morse said was this: "I talk/pray to God and he gives me instructions for the day so I know what to do actually." The word he used was "instruction", so that he would "know what to do." That's pretty specific stuff. Sounds like he's looking to God to direct what he does each day. Maybe Troy is right, that I'm being too literal. I don't have any experience with seeking God's guidance.

But that to me is significantly different than a moring prayer for vague "advice/guidance/direction" in one's life, or to seek a more peaceful and meaningful world, or wishing that as one goes about making choices throughout the day or facing difficult events that day, that things will work out well. When people say things like; "With Snow God really resisted in making that album," I start to question people's mental health and their grip on reality. Does he really think, literally, that he was having a battle with God, and that either he won, or that God compromised for his sake? Sorry, that's beyond the pale by any rational standard, which is the standard that I apply.

[Dusty Chalk]

Dang! That was brutal...it almost seems like a satire...almost like it was done to be funny...

[jack70]

As a quasi-atheist/agnostic, I feel a little strange "defending" religion here, but I feel a deep undercurrent of something I can only define as "hate" in the above posts... certainly intolerance, and probably misunderstanding. It echoes many aspects of the political divide we've seen in recent years.

Wondering if there's more to this world (good Flower Kings song) or seeking some sense of spirituality I can understand in that most humans do it (why they care to do it is beyond me, though). But I think if you are asking God for instructions each morning and thinking that each day you are following his will and not your own to get you through the day, you need help big time.

I think you're misunderstanding what he meant way too literally. As for needing "big-time help"... I know a lot of very religious people, and a lot of NOT-SO religious people. And it's the "NOT-SO religious" ones that tend to be just as wanting in the "help" area IMO, on a wide array of things... LOL.

Bad because each religion in turn completely rejects every other religion as heretical. If you don't believe you are going to hell at best and are less than human at worst. Even though all religion is basically about that good stuff I mentioned. It's quite insane if you think it through. .... For me, I don't buy any of it and I think that there are very few people at the top of ANY religious cult that I trust to really have the interest of all of humanity in it's interests.

You're looking at religion in a kinda "sports-like" analogy... only "our team" is worthy. That's awfully simplistic. Sure, you can site historical events to "prove" that view... but that really doesn't get to the heart of any religion. It leaves out the political & economic aspects of that history. In the end, it smacks of bigotry more than a desire towards true understanding.

Do you really think the Pope hates all non-Catholics, at least in the way you used the term "interests"? As an ex-catholic, and someone who finds more truth in Chris Hitchens (lambasting) look at the (Cath) church, I still think you're mistaken. I've met too many (good) Nuns & Priests to believe they're ALL charlatans, impostors and frauds. The fact I don't believe what they believe, doesn't mean I've lost my ability to appreciate them, their own beliefs, and the positive work they do. In fact I value it more than any similar benefit to society coming from, oh... a governmental creation. The fact many priests ARE crooked doesn't mean the religion is ALL bad, anymore than a bunch of crooked politicians proves our government is ALL a fraud. In fact, one of the main principles of ALL religions is that man is flawed... that he IS NOT god, per se.

I don't think most non-believers really understand the kind of thing Morse was talking about. I don't know if that's because they were never exposed to religion, studied it, or know lots of religious people, or if they truly feel it's all bad or stupid... but they are simply out of touch, I think. The fact so many people seek (and find) answers within religion doesn't make them stupid or bad. In fact I cringe at the thought of our society, if the 85+%(?) that believe in God, believed in all kinds of relative-morality based things instead. Be careful what you wish for. Brave new world... Lord of the flies... Escape from NY... and a hundred other heathen-like possiblities, none of which I find very edifying to contemplate, might be replacement.

It's always been, in this country at least, that all religions worshipped and lived their lives as they believed, within the freedom our constitution allowed. I could care less if the guy across the street, or the guy I work with, or the person at the store worships Yahweh or Methuselah. Today, it seems, there's a growing intolerance to that world I grew up in, at least in the public arena/debate (banning X-mas songs and banning the Declaration of Independence to school kids, etc). I guess it's coming as a result of our politics recently. It's not a violent debate, like in the mid-east, but people are more inclined to spout-off slightly intolerant, or very intolerant opinions in public more than ever before. I just don't see the necessity for the demonization of others simply for their personal beliefs, at least when they're not strapping on bombs.

Christianity is one of the backbones of our civilization. It's at the root of our concepts of law and government, let alone art. To dimiss it as "a bunch of crap" comes off just as 'wrongheaded' as the Wahhabi version of Islam comes off as... a belief structure full of intolerance.

I guess you could call me... an atheist for Jesus...

[Troy]

You're looking at religion in a kinda "sports-like" analogy... only "our team" is worthy. That's awfully simplistic. Sure, you can site historical events to "prove" that view... but that really doesn't get to the heart of any religion. It leaves out the political & economic aspects of that history. In the end, it smacks of bigotry more than a desire towards true understanding.

Nah, you're misunderstanding my comments entirely. I said that all religion is both good AND bad. Just like everything else in the world.

The fact reamins however that every religion believes that non-believers are less as human beings than the believers. Don't believe in Jesus? You're going to hell. It's not that christians HATE you, it's more that they *tsk tsk tsk* while shaking their heads at you while secretly hoping to convert your poor lost soul. Sometimes it IS hate, but most of the time is more a kind of condescension. To greater or lesser degrees, every religion is identical, just the names are changed.

Do you really think the Pope hates all non-Catholics, at least in the way you used the term "interests"?

No, I hope my above statement clarifies it.

I don't think most non-believers really understand the kind of thing Morse was talking about. The fact so many people seek (and find) answers within religion doesn't make them stupid or bad. In fact I cringe at the thought of our society, if the 85+%(?) that believe in God, believed in all kinds of relative-morality based things instead. Be careful what you wish for. Brave new world... Lord of the flies... Escape from NY... and a hundred other heathen-like possiblities, none of which I find very edifying to contemplate, might be replacement.

But I do understand. My last comment to Barry in yesterday's 10:13 post says basically the same thing you just did. Religion keep humanity in line. Sadly, we are incapable of self-government as a species. We have to constantly be held in check by afterlife guilt.

It's always been, in this country at least, that all religions worshipped and lived their lives as they believed, within the freedom our constitution allowed. I could care less if the guy across the street, or the guy I work with, or the person at the store worships Yahweh or Methuselah. Today, it seems, there's a growing intolerance to that world I grew up in, at least in the public arena/debate (banning X-mas songs and banning the Declaration of Independence to school kids, etc).

Yeah, and teaching kids creationism instead of evolution. Forcing religious beliefs on public school kids is a horrendous step backwards.

I see the problem stemming from the fact that people seem to be wearing their religion on their sleeves far too much these days. Look, 5 years ago, a thread like this would have never happened. People used to keep this stuff to themselves, now, everybody wants to tell the world about how great, how right, their god is. Religion, like politics used to be something that people kept private unless they KNEW they were amongst like-minded people.

Why has this change happened? Because we have a very vocal born again Christian in the white house, it makes other born agains feel more empowered. 9/11 happened because of religious and ideological differences. W's middle-eastern "crusade" (his word) smacks of religious war which only creates an environment for persecution on both sides. But I think there's more to it than just that, I'm just not sure what that something is.

Christianity is one of the backbones of our civilization. It's at the root of our concepts of law and government, let alone art. To dimiss it as "a bunch of crap" comes off just as 'wrongheaded' as the Wahhabi version of Islam comes off as... a belief structure full of intolerance.

If we are to survive as a species, we have to drop the Christianity thing just as much as we have to drop Islam and all the rest. We just have to treat each other as we all want to be treated because it's the right thing to do, not because if we don't we have fear of going to hell (or it's equivalent). Man has to grow up. We have to all be on the same page, have the same belief system. And the frustrating part is that we are already so close to that when you get to the root of all religions, yet it's the religions themselves that divide us.

[mad rhetorik]

Nah, you're misunderstanding my comments entirely. I said that all religion is both good AND bad. Just like everything else in the world.

The fact reamins however that every religion believes that non-believers are less as human beings than the believers. Don't believe in Jesus? You're going to hell. It's not that christians HATE you, it's more that they *tsk tsk tsk* while shaking their heads at you while secretly hoping to convert your poor lost soul. Sometimes it IS hate, but most of the time is more a kind of condescension. To greater or lesser degrees, every religion is identical, just the names are changed.

You're right about that Christian condescension in general, though that varies on an individual basis. Me? I don't try to convert anyone. You are entitled to believe in whoever or whatever you want (or don't want). Religious freedom is great, huh? This position may sound relativist, but as long as the presence of religion, any religion, makes you a better, kinder, more peaceful person, then I don't care if Christians view it as "right" or not.

And if you're an athiest, I don't care as long as you're not trying to shove your ideology down my throat. So many atheists I've met complain about the pervasiveness of Christians telling them how to live their lives; I dunno about everyone else, but on a state college campus I get a good deal of the exact opposite. Condescension, or even outright disrespect and mockery, by atheists. And then they accuse us of the exact same thing. That sort of bald hypocrisy galls me no matter what side of the fence it's on.

I guess my point is, atheism is just the same as any religion. A subjective set of beliefs, that when taken to a judgemental extreme are used to bash anyone that doesn't subscibe to your own belief system.

But I do understand. My last comment to Barry in yesterday's 10:13 post says basically the same thing you just did. Religion keep humanity in line. Sadly, we are incapable of self-government as a species. We have to constantly be held in check by afterlife guilt.

I disagree. It's more than simply "afterlife guilt" to keep humanity in line.

No, religion was developed originally to answer questions about the universe, questions asked by the spiritual aspect of our being. Whether you want to deny that aspect of our being or not, it's still there. If it wasn't, why would there be so much debate over, say, man's origins? Why would it matter? We'd be just another animal.

Science has been trying to answer the questions originally postulated by our spiritual side, and it has been able to come up with rational theories that make sense. However, there's still plenty that science cannot come up with a probable explanation for. And religion answers some of those questions, or at least tries to, which is better (IMO) than simply ignoring it like atheism/agnosticism does. Will supernatural phenomena always be a mystery to science? Maybe, maybe not. There's already quite a lot we can explain, but then we'll find something that throws a good chunk of that out the window.

Yeah, and teaching kids creationism instead of evolution. Forcing religious beliefs on public school kids is a horrendous step backwards.

Personally I see nothing wrong with evolutionary theory. It's good, rational science and it doesn't really strictly prove or disprove the idea of divine creation (within the bounds of logical interpretation--the straightforward "Seven Days" explanation doesn't hold up, unless of course those days are considerably longer than 24 hours..). However, it should be known that evolution is a theory, in other words not specifically proven as scientific law. Neither is creationism/intelligent design, in fact. Both are theories and should be taught in public schools as such (and hopefully in concurrence with one another, NOT simply one or the other).

I see the problem stemming from the fact that people seem to be wearing their religion on their sleeves far too much these days. Look, 5 years ago, a thread like this would have never happened. People used to keep this stuff to themselves, now, everybody wants to tell the world about how great, how right, their god is. Religion, like politics used to be something that people kept private unless they KNEW they were amongst like-minded people.

Why has this change happened? Because we have a very vocal born again Christian in the white house, it makes other born agains feel more empowered. 9/11 happened because of religious and ideological differences. W's middle-eastern "crusade" (his word) smacks of religious war which only creates an environment for persecution on both sides. But I think there's more to it than just that, I'm just not sure what that something is.

Agree on all points. The Bush Administration in many ways looks like the beginnings of church/state interference to me. VERY bad. That State Of The Union speech, where he mentioned the war in Iraq as a "crusade," made me shake my head over just how stupid Bush is. It's not the fact that he's a Christian, plenty of Christians have served in the Oval Office. It's the fact that he is the first to bring theology and government in such uncomfortably close quarters with each other. Not even Reagan could claim that.

This goes way beyond simply having the words "under God" in the (optional) Pledge Of Allegiance. This has serious long-term ramifications. If it keeps up, we could be looking at the beginning of a new Dark Age. Scary shit.

If we are to survive as a species, we have to drop the Christianity thing just as much as we have to drop Islam and all the rest. We just have to treat each other as we all want to be treated because it's the right thing to do, not because if we don't we have fear of going to hell (or it's equivalent). Man has to grow up. We have to all be on the same page, have the same belief system. And the frustrating part is that we are already so close to that when you get to the root of all religions, yet it's the religions themselves that divide us.

What you describe, Troy, is utopia. No place. It'll never happen, and frankly a world with one monolithic belief system is something I don't even want to happen (images of global persecution, another Holocaust, painted in my head as I type this). The most attainable goal would be the complete separation of church and state on a worldwide scale. Once religion is no longer invoked in politics and vice versa, we can achieve a sort of secular, limited peace. Man is imperfect; we must think in terms of what is *possible* rather than subscribing to some intellectual ideal based in human morality. Marx and Lenin tried that, and look where Communism is today--millions dead throughout history, a legacy of human rights abuses, and a failed economic system. No thanks.

Whew, all that verbiage in response to just one Neal Morse interview, talk about opening the floodgates... ; P

[BarryL]

Whew, all that verbiage in response to just one Neal Morse interview, talk about opening the floodgates... ; P

And I'm going to keep out of it. I just thought that the interview was bizarre, both from the point of the interviewee and the interviewer.

But that's rock'n'roll.

Almost time now for a rock'n'roll weekend! Maybe even Christmas tunes!

[jack70]

And if you're an athiest, I don't care as long as you're not trying to shove your ideology down my throat. So many atheists I've met complain about the pervasiveness of Christians telling them how to live their lives; I dunno about everyone else, but on a state college campus I get a good deal of the exact opposite. Condescension, or even outright disrespect and mockery, by atheists. And then they accuse us of the exact same thing. That sort of bald hypocrisy galls me no matter what side of the fence it's on.

I think that's because of the age. When people get older, they tend to, at least, mellow a bit. I think much of it's from a conflict of young ego's... you feel you have to prove your beliefs to legitimate your exisitence, and that means putting down others that DON"T believe as you do. It's not much different than the stubbornness of a 5 year old. As young adults, surrounded by so many others, many of whom disagree on very deeply held beliefs, it's to be expected.

The fact reamins however that every religion believes that non-believers are less as human beings than the believers. Don't believe in Jesus? You're going to hell. It's not that christians HATE you, it's more that they *tsk tsk tsk* while shaking their heads at you while secretly hoping to convert your poor lost soul. Sometimes it IS hate, but most of the time is more a kind of condescension. To greater or lesser degrees, every religion is identical, just the names are changed.

Well, that's just totally wrong IMO. At least you're painting certain religious types with too broad a brush methinks. Or else you've seen too many religious zealots from movies (where they tend to get caricatured). In talking to hundreds of people, I simply don't see that condescension you do. I know it exists in spots. I've never experienced it. In fact many very-religious-types pray for unbelievers MORE. Most true religions are not really about hate, but about love, and generosity. And if it gives people guidance so they don't go berserk, it's fine with me (many of them probably would, without it... LOL).

Yeah, and teaching kids creationism instead of evolution. Forcing religious beliefs on public school kids is a horrendous step backwards.

Well, I expected that was coming... LOL. Yeah, I have problems with that, of course, but I tend to take a more larger & more independent view on it: Let the local schools control their own curriculum... (that's in the orig intent of our constitution) let em do whatever the f_ck they want. If they end up with a few stupids (from a science standpoint), so be it. Now, if you saw some of the stuff kids in GOOD schools don't know or understand... then this (creationism) is the least of our worries. Kids today can't even count (wish I had the link for an article I read last week).

Do you have an equal outrage over the schools not teaching the anything about our religious /cultural history... from it's basis in art (music & painting), to it's place in history, in law, in the philosophical concepts of ethics and right & wrong. That's where many schools are heading. In their politically correct zeal to avoid anything with "God" in it, they're heading toward creating a generation of culturally retarded dunces... equal stupids to the creationists, and just as worrisome to me, in the long run. It (this intent to "sterilize" kids from ANYTHING that mentions God or religion), kinda reminds me of what Mao & Stalin did. Indoctrination, of any stripe, is not education. BTW, did you see a PBS Frontline piece on this... very interesting as kids raised in very "literal Bible" families moved above that when learning the scientific method. All is not lost Troy... have some hope. LOL!

Why has this change happened? Because we have a very vocal born again Christian in the white house, it makes other born agains feel more empowered. 9/11 happened because of religious and ideological differences. W's middle-eastern "crusade" (his word) smacks of religious war which only creates an environment for persecution on both sides. But I think there's more to it than just that, I'm just not sure what that something isWhy has this change happened? Because we have a very vocal born again Christian in the white house, it makes other born agains feel more empowered. 9/11 happened because of religious and ideological differences. W's middle-eastern "crusade" (his word) smacks of religious war which only creates an environment for persecution on both sides. But I think there's more to it than just that, I'm just not sure what that something is

Boy, first I find myself (a freakin agnostic) sticking up for the religious, and now you're forcing me (a libertarian) to defend Bush too? LOL. OK, I'll try.
First, Bush's "religiosity" is something he's never "flaunted". Certainly no more than Jimmy Carter did. But because the press is generally leftist & don't understand people who go to church or have faith, they often tend to emphasize this & paint him as a zealot. Heck, I don't care what he believes as long as it's kept personal. So I think the "gathering religiousity" you're talking about comes more from a political corner... those that just hate republicans and will do any & everything to disparage them... make them appear stupid, brainwashed, etc. You should have seen some of the stuff I read on some Dem boards in the run-up to the election ("he's the anti-christ! Bush= Hitler!") It's the media you should be more concerned with, since it's them that "spin up" much of the stuff you're taking about. Most religious people take their faith very personally, meaning, they don't brag about it, and talk about it only generally (I can't speak for all branches). I think you all stretch a few words Bush may have said in a few speeches to mistaken definitions.

As for Bush going into Iraq for quasi-religious reasons... this is the kinda left-wing drivel propaganda you're too smart to fall for. Jesus. Look, I (as a libertarian) had plenty of reservations about that strategy in the middle east. But the fact is, it has some very logical and thought-out reasons... it is NOT a simple Jihad-like Crusade that Bush heard from God himself... certainly not when many libertarian leaning writers, and many leftists alike believe it has merit, at least in it's overall philosophy (guys like Hitchens and Tom Friedman). Without trying to defend a policy I myself am ambivalent about, I will submit it does attempt to solve a number of potential future problems. Yeah, it's a grand scheme, maybe grandiose, but so was Churchill's and so was our cold war strategy. So even if this fails, it doesn't mean it was strategically wrong, or specious. The failure of Kerry & the left was that they expressed NOTHING (of substance) in response to it, not even a simplistic bone, and that, to most people, meant more of the same -- ie, wait... until all the mideast tyrants all get Nukes and really get busy. So criticize Bush on the merits, not some half-baked impression that he's hearing voices in his head or something.

If we are to survive as a species, we have to drop the Christianity thing just as much as we have to drop Islam and all the rest. We just have to treat each other as we all want to be treated because it's the right thing to do, not because if we don't we have fear of going to hell (or it's equivalent). Man has to grow up. We have to all be on the same page, have the same belief system. And the frustrating part is that we are already so close to that when you get to the root of all religions, yet it's the religions themselves that divide us.

Well, from a practical standpoint, that's just not going to happen soon (LOL!). Maybe we'll be able to 'fix' a few genes in the future, but you know, that kind of thing has as much danger as promise, no?

I also think you express a "too simplistic" view of many religions (going to hell, etc). That was typical for Cotton Mather's day. Lots has changed since. There are many very sophisticated and intelligent scientists and artist who have faith, of many forms. It's not a "simplistic" kind of medieval devotion they're apt to seek. I think you may be pre-judging a bit there.

I also think you don't realize that most religious Christians, Jews and Muslims all get along rather well. We tend to focus on the negatives we see, but most are quite similar in their teachings and matters of belief. Most all the negative aspects of religion (Crusades, current terrorism, etc) has been the result of political impetus using religion, (corrupting it) by tyrants and megalomaniacs. In fact, it's political & economic corruption where you tend to find religious sects at each other's throats. In governments like ours, it doesn't exist.

I think I'll let this go. Enough figure skating for today. As an agnostic, I don't like skating on ice that's (in my case) so thin, ya know?

I don't (necessarily) think science has the final answer to everything human. In fact, without something more (like religion) we may lose part of our humanity. I just see the anti-religious fervor today as highly destructive in many ways. We should remember that most atheists and agnostics were raised religiously, and many who are raised as atheists... become religious. We're an interesting lot, no?

[3-LockBox]

I don't know if I'd call it psychosis, but I do believe in the spiritual world. I do believe in God, Jesus, the Holy Trinity (I guess you could call me a Christian). I do believe in prayer. I think prayer works on some levels because it causes a person to self-reflect (or at least I think it should). When positive things happen after prayer on a personal level, this could be just as much a product of self-healing as it is devine intervention. I don't mind people when they say they pray, or express their faith.

What I am weary of, are what I call "Stepford Christians", who glaze over every time the name Jesus is invoked. I think a person sometimes sits down and reflects on what eternity is, or might be, and it really scares the HELL out of them. The type of faith the Morse is showing seems like its a form of escapism. It seems some people just tend to check out of reallity; they are enamoured with the concept of being lead rather than being 100% responsible for their own actions and behavior. Or maybe they miss their Mom. Funny how the term 'born again' is used to describe someone in the fetal position. Some people wear their faith like a badge of honor, sometimes even weilding it like a sword, as if it protected them from harm, or better yet, gave them dominion. For these pugnacious people, religion is a boon, for without it they'd probably be in some sort of trouble. When people get into serious trouble, religion is a great way of laying the blame on demonic devices, such as drugs or booze. Ever know a serial killer who didn't find Jesus on death row?

I guess his professions of faith and use of prayer as guidance is supposed to stave off any critizism, since it was after all, God that told him to make the album, God who pushed his pen, God who told him to listen to old Genesis and Camel albums. It's a cop out. I knew Morse's music already had a strong spiritual base and that's why I liked it. I just don't why the need for the visquine. Religion and faith is supposed to make us better people, not better than other people. And salvation saves us from death, not from living life.