I was enjoying the faith conversation too. I watched a This American Life episode, I think it was called, "God's Closeup" and it got me thinking that maybe I'm missing out, with my lack of faith.

Much peace ~ma to amyth & fam and procedure ~ma for Drew.

Much good outcome~ma to Drew.

And much peace~ma to amyth.

amyth, lots of ~ma for your family.

Pix, thinking good thoughts ND's way.

Liese, I liked hearing what you had to say, too.

You know, Pix, just in case it hasn't been said enough, Drew is so freakin' lucky to have you. And I know he knows it, but just wanted to let you know we see it too.

Hey, all. I am sorry to hear about Drew; that's really disappointing.

Thanks for the dr. vibes -- I think she's a really nice lady, but I am going to call her on Monday and say "this is not working." I did some more reading up on traz last night, and took 100 mg., which was well within the safe ranges. Well, it put me to sleep. BUT I had awful dreams (dreamt I was a Jewish child on a Nazi boat -- seriously, a super strange, awful dream), was staggering up to bed like a drunk, and my sleep schedule is still fucked up as hell -- I slept til 6 pm. And I am sore and still staggery and my brane iz not werking wel.

I am going to say that this drug is not for me.

As far as religion goes, I was raised Christian, went through your typical preadolescent uber-fearful religious phase, got tired of it, nixed Christianity as not logical, dabbled in Wicca in college, nixed it as not for me, but slightly more logical, read a buttload.

Decided agnosticism was the logical choice, as I can't claim complete atheism, but am completely comfortable in deciding that I don't know what the heck is up with the universe(s), there may or may not be a higher power, but many people are way too smug in their righteousness, and I think if there is a god(dess)s/es, then the truth is likely to be far more complex (or far more simple) than any one religion has gotten it.

So I figure most religions have elements of truth in them, but elements of WTF also. I can't even balance my budget, so why the hell worry about God or NotGod -- if a God exists, well, s/he can take care of things him/her/itself, and if no god, well, life goes on anyway.

I just try to be a good person as I decide what good is. I believe in ethics rather than morals, dislike zealotry, and figure I'll find out What's Going On after I die. If there is a god, great! If s/he is so petty as to send me to hell for not believing, fuck you, petty god. That petty, your don't deserve my worship anyway; just a bully. I think the idea of a god so petty is not that likely. And if there is no afterlife, well, I'll be dead, and not in a position to worry about it.

There's really nothing I can do about ANY of it, so I would rather focus on living my life as well as I can, you know?

I love you, Erin.

Thanks, smonster!

Caveat: I have no problems with other people's beliefs; whatever brings you comfort. I respect that.

I DO have problems when other people try to force their worldview upon me, whether by proselytizing or politics. I enjoy a civil conversation; I like learning things, and thinking about things. I don't enjoy being strongarmed into things.

Agrees with smonster.

I hear some of the complicated, contradictory things that people say their God wants them to do, and I have to bite my tongue so very hard to not say, "And this is an infinite, loving God who nonetheless is prepared to toss a large portion of the population He/She/It allegedly created into Hell because they didn't perform some ritual in precisely the correct way--and wants you to perform weird rituals in order to get into heaven?"

In Mormon heaven, the men have to wear ties. There are paintings of the presumed afterlife that show this. That should be the dealbreaker right there.

Erin is me!

Speaking of which, Erin, I've taken Trazodone for many years. It was my first anti-depressent. It helped the depression a bit, but it was an excellent sleep aid. But I was taking about 300-500mg. I couldn't have stayed awake if I'd wanted to at that dose!

Now, I still take 150 mg to help with the sleep, plus and anti-anxiety drug, a muscle relaxant and anti-histamine. Staying asleep is hard!