That and the misogyny.

I wouldn't let that keep you out -- it's not in the rules of religion or anything.

But I don't know how important actually having faith is

Can faith be taught? You can be told you need to have faith, but I've always thought faith had to be acquired by oneself.

I may also be a Gnostic.

I've always thought faith had to be acquired by oneself.

It can be taught -- or absorbed, I guess. I don't think kids run around acquiring it by themselves, although some seek it and some reject it. Usually they just fall into what's around them.

Quite a while ago I was in a bookstore, checking out the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section and there were a group of people there looking at a JRR Tolkein book and commented on what a sick twisted mind could produce all this anti-christian stuff.

Well, duh. Tolkien was a big ol' flaming Papist. You don't get much more anti-christian than that.

And now I'm no longer sure where I stand in the whole ID/evolution thing. I do believe that Someone started the whole shebang, for reasons largely unknown or too large to be known or understood by us; but even though I believe that Someone made science, I also believe hugely in science and in evolution and the astounding puzzle box of questions and answers that lead to more questions that we've opened up.

And I sure as hell don't look to science to prove or justify my Someone or anyone else's, and it's rather irritating to watch other people trying to smuggle Someone in while lamely pretending that's not really what they're doing at all, oh gosh no. It is so, and they should be honest or quit it, but preferably the second. A faith that has to be all propped up with science and agreed upon by and taught to absolutely everyone is kind of tottery and un-faithy, IMO.

I don't know what that makes me; possibly a demi-libertarian ID privatist or something. Or just a hush-up-and-go-awayist.

I may also be a Gnostic.

That's just a letter away from being a Gnomist.

Usually they just fall into what's around them.

Most peopel get their religious views from their parents.

If species were created by an intelligent designer, it must have been an intelligent designer on crack.

I really like this theory. When in doubt? Add crack!

In other news, I really really really REALLY don't feel like working today.

So I don't have to, right?

Can faith be taught? You can be told you need to have faith, but I've always thought faith had to be acquired by oneself.

I was taught an awful lot of religion. I actively sought faith. But alas, I never found it. I got over it.

This makes me sad. They should feel that can talk about it. Prostelize, no. But talk about it, yes.

That is/was the point of the "Rally." To help the kids to know that they do have that right. (Teachers, Staff, NSM. I think).

I think at the very least belief is taught early, whether actively or by osmosis from observing parents and other relatives. Whether that really counts as faith before someone grows up enough to run into the big spiritual questions and decide for themselves is up for debate.