TImelies.

Interesting conversation about Catholicism. I was raised Catholic, and left, but not really for ideological reasons. It just got to the point where going to mass didn't uplift me or make me think or make me feel anything, so that was that.

I'm sorry you're in such a difficult situation with your friends, JZ. I hope they end up in the right place and find happiness again.

So jealous of Cashmere's hair.

My body is mad at me for getting out of bed this morning and is clearly going to make me miserable until I go home and go to sleep. Unfortunately, that's still 6.5 hours away.

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Timelies.

Loved the Catholic discussion, even though I am heatheny heathen with a side of heathen sauce. Complex social organisms are always fascinating to me, and I adore the people involved in the discussion, so it was a Good Thing all around.

I'm curious, though - we spend a lot of time discussing Christianity and the particular brands practiced by the folks in this thread, with Judaism cropping up on occasion. Would the heathens/pagans/Others care to explicate their stances and/or spirituality? I merely ask because I am one of those people who never tires of the "How Do YOU Do It?" game, and I love hearing more about people.

JZ, much comfort to you and your friends.

Connie, your husband is very lucky to have you.

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JZ, so much ~ma going towards your friend. I'm dealing with a similar situation with my friend J, and it's just heartbreaking.

I just let the coordinator of the honors program know that I finished incomplete number three. She was thrilled. She also told me that my "project" for incomplete number four came up in their staff meeting yesterday. They all can't wait to see what comes of and are just fascinated by it. Now I'm scared and nervous...will it be good enough?

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It always has been before, vw. and remember, you are talking about some very facinating people...

hugs to JZ and ma~ to her friends

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{{{connie and hubby}}}

Anne, how's everything coming with readying your house for the market?

I'm about 2/3 of the way done with the painting, and I keep finding drippy bits. I really should not be allowed to paint. Part of me feels good about where things stand, but the majority of me feels like huddling in a corner in the fetal position and gibbering as if I've seen something from out of a H.P. Lovecraft novel.

The biggest fear I have is what they'll find at the inspection.

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heatheny heathen with a side of heathen sauce

Heh. One of my British co-workers once described herself as a heathen to me, and it took me a beat before I remembered that most people use the word to mean "atheist/sinner" rather than "follower of any of a number of earth-based religions/paths, including but not limited to British Isles-related Reconstructionism."

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Would the heathens/pagans/Others care to explicate their stances and/or spirituality?

::sitting quiety in the heathen corner::

I don't think it will ever be possible to prove or disprove the existence of God, so on an intellectual level I'm sorta agnostic - except that there being no God makes so much more sense to me than there being one, so I call myself atheist. There are many different reasons why atheism makes more sense to me, but I don't know if I have the time now to go into details.

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it took me a beat before I remembered that most people use the word to mean "atheist/sinner" rather than "follower of any of a number of earth-based religions/paths, including but not limited to British Isles-related Reconstructionism."

Heh. Yeah, I tend to use the Church connotation of heathen - strange and Godless. There's an idea in my head of how this neatly illustrates the phenomenon of the conquerors writing the history, but I don't think I've had enough coffee yet.

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Oh, JZ. I hope your friends are able to get through their ick.

Though now I perversely kinda want to see an LJ from you saying stuff like

OMGWTF JZ sez when JPII sez JUMP she sez SIR YES SIR HOW HIGH SIR POPE SIR? OMG can u beleve it???1?

Oh, and now? I totally want to write this and abandon the approximate 2500 words I've already put in the subject. Maybe I'll make that a cryptic footnote dedication to "The San Franciscan". It's an open entry, or will be, if I ever finish it. It's hard writing with children around. Every time Deena finishes any sort of assignment, I feel like I should build a shrine to her.

I'm curious, though - we spend a lot of time discussing Christianity and the particular brands practiced by the folks in this thread, with Judaism cropping up on occasion. Would the heathens/pagans/Others care to explicate their stances and/or spirituality? I merely ask because I am one of those people who never tires of the "How Do YOU Do It?" game, and I love hearing more about people.

juliana, I am glad you asked that. We do spend a lot of time on Christianity with a side of Judaism, I suppose because it is something we have in common, at least culturally speaking, if not spiritually speaking. But speaking only for myself (while imagining people like JZ, Maria, vw, Anne, and Susan probably feel the same) it is not a one-facet interest for me. I know for some people though, it is personal enough, they prefer not to, so I don't generally ask the "how do you do it questions" of particular people, but not because I don't want to know.

There are many different reasons why atheism makes more sense to me, but I don't know if I have the time now to go into details.

FWIW, I know I'm interested if/when you have the time at the same time you have the inclination, and not in a bring-him-back-to-the-fold way--just human interest.

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I'm about 2/3 of the way done with the painting, and I keep finding drippy bits.

I always think I'm a terrible painter (and I hate painting with a fiery passion), but I've discovered in obsessive examination of paint jobs by professionals that they're just as drippy as mine are.

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