Mike,

>>A belief system doesn't have to be one that is 'spiritual' in nature - at least on the surface.
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>I know, thats why I prefaced "belief" with "spiritual" this time.

I noticed.. <g>

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>>But, it is a belief system. It's what you believe in.
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>But what if I don't believe in it? What if I'm just riding it until something better comes along. I'm not going to make a belief out of something I don't know if I'm sure about.

Well, remember, while I am very much evangelical I would never want to be anything but up-front with folks about it and PLEASE understand that I also am COMPLETELY aware that I cannot make other people's minds up for them - nor would I want to. I just like talking about it and if we can keep folks from feeling threatened then all the better. But - I also think it is very unhealthy to do as some (not you) do which is (to use another metaphor from my bag of them <g>) hide their proverbial heads in the sand.

You haven't and whether or not we agree I see that as very healthy Mike. It shows you are alivew inside <g> and that you care...

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>>Now, probably an area where we might disagree is whether or not man has a spiritual 'side'. I believe he does and you may not.
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>I'm a very spiritual person, just not the way you are with religion. Spiritual <> Religion. Deal with that.

Well, I don't know if you missed a few of my posts on this issue but you and I are a lot closer on this issue than you may realize. For me it's a one to one relationship, not a formal, cold religious system. I think most religious systems are stone cold dead.

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>>Well, for me, demonstrating respect or taking what I consider proper and necessary steps to try and avoid disrespect is a logical conclusion I've made as a result of where I am at business wise. It makes a lot of sense to try and treat veryone I deal with on a professional level with respect and I'd hate to lose a multi-million dollar sale over a mis-spent word.
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>But what makes them offensive, what makes them un-proffesional? Nothing, its just a belief that some people have, wether it makes sense or not and they're not going to change.

Good question! And, that's the problem. SInce I do not always know beforehand I have found it wise to be more cautios - in addition to my personal distaste for foul language. IOW, the way I'd 'go at it' would be to not use certain words until I discovered that the other folks I was talking with indicated it was ok - again, if I use them at all.

It's kind of like going to a business meeting with a tie on. You can always take the tie off if you find you're overdressed but it's harder to improve your image and put one on after the fact..

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>>Nothing at all in the sens that that os where you're at. Regardless that is the definition of your current belief system - which has been my point all along.
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>Its my idea, not my belief system. I might be acting like a dick here, but there is a very big difference between the thoughts.

I accept your word definitions for the concept. I'll most likely continue to use 'belief' as it seems more correct to me.

Hey, in case I forget.. Have a great Christmas, would you?