: : All the claims and beliefs in magical powers, the only expression of such that I have ever found to be of any real value are the workings of science: chemistry, electricity, even thought (comination of both...). : : It makes me wonder about the stories in old texts, if there is something to them, then they must have been knowladgeable in the latest science. : +++++++ : Yes. Miracles and magic hide behind the guise of inexplicability. Once these "miracles" are explained through natural laws derived from science, these miracles cease to be miracles. : It's an attempt at futily clinging to outdated dogmatic ideas with little scientific basis (or those views held at the time). If traditional world religion helps bring comfort, then by all means, it's fine. But when one crosses the line by parading it around as if it were a science, it's utterly wrong. Take religion for what it is, a beautiful reflection of culture and history, not a substitute for science.

Hi T, been awhile, have been looking but been either unintrested in the subject matter or more possibly to burnt out to care. Anyway, what do you think about taking what is good about religions, adapting these to a humanist philosophy, and chucking the rest, just as an experiment for beginers? Is there such a code currently in place and operating sucessfully anywhere that you are aware of?

• Experiment for beginners - tenacious - December 1, 1999 - 02:01 UTC