your tone never drifted from exemplary, your courtesy impeccable, your capacity to continue showing up and patiently explain your arguments to all posters a lovely, high-level example of blogging as it should be.

being of hot blood and hasty disposition myself, it is a welcome feeling, tuning into your calm, yet lively replies.

you tell a good story, and play a strong net game.

hope to see you comment more here with us, perhaps on other subjects than religion, if you so choose.

this diary and its replies have popped up in my thoughts frequently while offline these last few days, and i had a nice flash that was born of those thoughts, which i'll share...

god is everywhere, in every thing and every not-thing, however s-he delights in playing peek-aboo, hiding and revealing, laying low and emerging, diving and surfacing. sublime lurking in the banal, leaping out in moments of heartstopping reminding.

substitute 'art' for 'god' and it works on another level also, including those allergic to the idea of the latter.

i lay a wildflower i picked today on a tablecloth chosen at random a few days ago. suddenly something clicks and i realise there is art in their juxtaposition, the colours with the textures with the light and shadow, the forms and patterns' music suddenly striking a new chord for the senses to hear.

i race for my camera before the light changes...

as might any atheist artist! i personally love having someONE to thank, because that's my, (and i think your) way i want my 'supreme being' to be, and so it works really well. the great spirit as shapeshifter extraordinaire...

some don't need to feel that there's a need or a joy in that kind of gratitude, or feel it's delusional, or an affliction even, lol.

 it's how you're made, like being bi or gay,  atheists make life more interesting, at least when they have deigned to give the subject at hand a little due diligence and possible respect, if that's not too much to ask! i know it's hard, but need it be?

god is a word, inspiration is a feeling, words often divide when they intend to unite.

the word 'god' has possibly the most divisive baggage in the whole world's vocabulary.

so i salute you for holding up a banner in a very stiff wind, and doing it with a light, self-deprecating hand, all too rare in these adolescent years of this 'ere blogosphere!

here's another gift aphorism for ya, since you seem to enjoy them. this one's mine...

Gratitude is short for Great Attitude

thanks for laying out such a nice, serene spiritual picnic potluck for us all to share wonder with you at.

i am so grateful.

ciao!

 

The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it. Chinese Proverb.