"1. the beliefs, ideas, or mode of thought of mystics.

2. a doctrine of an immediate spiritual intuition of truths believed to transcend ordinary understanding, or of a direct, intimate union of the soul with God through contemplation or ecstasy.

3. obscure thought or speculation."

"3. (Philos.) The doctrine that the ultimate elements or principles of knowledge or belief are gained by an act or process akin to feeling or faith."

Now, this is new for me. And, been trying to understand it. Why this same idea is used in so many religions around the world.

I think that JD might have some insight into this, Crouty.

I'm sorry that I might sound stupid to you. But, can we talk in "everyday" language, instead of talking like were in a University Lecture Hall, lol! Without me having the need to have a dictionary and thesaurus on hand, lol. It doesn't impress me. It's just getting boring. In plain laymen terms. Everyone is allowed to believe in what they so choose. Without the interference of someone else's personal beliefs. We can discuss. But, not push or impose.

I agree with this philosophy, Crouty. Belief is such a highly personal thing. I enjoy having others share those beliefs (or lack thereof) with me. I think when they do, they are sharing a highly personal part of themselves, and I am grateful that they did.

Once you scratch past the veneer of wanting to think we're something better, it's amazing how close we still are to that frightened little proto-mammal quivering in it's burrow as the dinosaurs thundered by. Fear is hardwired into our DNA, although it obviously does serve a purpose.

We instinctively fear what we don't understand, and as a result, we comfort ourselves by making up an explanation for everything around us. It's just who we are, and it's what we've always done. God was just an easy "one-size-fits-all" explanation, as was witchcraft at one point. God just had a better PR firm.

For millenia, people have been using our inherent fear of the unknown against us, either to control us directly, or to increase their own social position by profiting from our fear. That's why religion hates competition so much, because it has something to lose. Ever notice how it's always the religious leaders calling for a crusade, and not the people who have to actually fight in it?

So can you tell which one of us is the practical half of the marriage? Unless we're talking golf gear.