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Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of Dolores Umbridge....

Troll or non-Troll, this happygay brought up a really interesting topic and I'm glad that I, socks, have participated. Although I don't have any data to support this contention, I get the feeling deep down in my gut that a lot of Christianity's religions - the diverse and abundant rituals, traditions and doctrines that have proliferated throughout history - don't really serve simple common sense "validation". Belief is considered synonymous with "faith" which is kind of loosely defined as "believing in something because it's "right" with or without any direct personal investment or attachment between the believer and the Believ-ee". Often benign, sometimes destructive, that's the way I do think a lot of Christian religions run their shows. It's as if to say "Look - up in the sky!!! It's a bird, no - it's a plane! No - it's...........well, it used to be Superman, and it would be if it he were actually flying, but LOOK! It's where we look when we want to think about looking at Superman!! Up there!!!!" Some kind of a reality check may be in order, methinketh (KJV) That's not say I'm not a believer and don't care about a Believ-ee. I do. Nor do I want to insist that others see what I see, have what I have, or do what i do. We'd all be happier if we would just do and see things my way, I agree :biglaugh: but I do understand the failings of humanity and the inability to set their standards that high, right out of the gate. Seriously though - we don't all need to walk on water, if we can all be like the followers of Jesus were said to be when written about in the Gospels - shortly after Jesus was crucified, not a one of them - none - expected or thought He was anything but very dead. And they were sad, understandably. Then, completely outside of any expectation or "believing" or anything else by mankind, the impossible happened. Everyone was surprised, amazed, and incredibly changed by what would still be today an incredible first hand experience. They all went from "Doubting Thomas" to acceptance. Why? Well, so the story goes - He was alive, they saw him, He engaged with them and continued with a new relationship with them. That shouldn't be that unusual. How it occurs and how it manifests itself will be diverse, personal and wonderful, to each it's own and in each person in it's own way. Similar, but different and unique. Reliably consistent, in surprising ways. As later written - though we have known Christ in the flesh, now we know Him that way no longer. There were many ways that Christ was viewed and validated even when He was alive and "in the flesh" - son of man, son of God, Lord, rabbi, prophet, teacher, liar, "devil". It's no surprise - it's very simply natural really - that the same would be true today. As a man or as resurrected Lord on the "right hand of God" He's been knowable from many differerent and diverse perspectives. excali really makes a great point and one that requires no apology. It is what is and that's enough - when it is. :)

It's not really all that bad. I've lost the need to have any kind of certainty in this life.. the consequence of half-baked religious answers seems worse than just enjoying the questions..

Nothing like jumping in with both feet! When I left back in 99 I had some real wild emotional things happen and going on. Someone pointed out that over 20 years dedicated to a lost cause and then finding it to be a lost cause was much like the loss of a dearly loved one. Grieving goes through stages and anger and lashing out are healthy steps. But those first few breathes of freedom and all that follow make it all worth while....

This sign I saw at a church might help: "Honk if you love Jesus. Text while driving if you want to meet him." Seriously, I won't argue the existence of a living Christ. I've had all the proof I need, but I don't think that would convince anyone who wants some sort of scientific evidence.