Mike,

>>Indeed. Still, that's not a real 'proof' either way
>
>No, its proof that you don't know exactly what you're basing your faith on. You just admitted that.

I'd be happy to admit that at some point one must exercise faith. That should be considered a given. What I am asserting though is that it is far far more reasonable for me to believe the Bible than for a scientist to believe in evolution. Why? Not because I've tossed reason out the window but that there are FAR more 'proofs' for the accuracy of that text than anything else. IOW, it's just plain the most reasonable thing to do - given all of the evidence.

And that evidence MUST be observed both with an open mind, without any prejudices in any direction whatsoever. You should no more believe what I say or what anyone else says than the man in the moon. IMO, however, you should be willing to look at the facts without prejudice and if you do I'm convinced that you will at least know you are rejecting the truth, should you so do or you will accept it. But NEVER NEVER believe any group or individual without checking the facts they present! That includes me as well.

>
>>IOW, cults want to control your thinking whereas the Historic Christian teachings want you to study, read, dig and learn.
>
>Read the book, read the book, read the book.

<s>

And think think think! <s> I have absolutely nothing whatsoever to fear should you read the Bible with an open mind at all. And neither should you. Check the facts man. <s>

>
>What ever you want to believe.

Nope.. The absolute last thing I would want to do is approach the Bible with a pre-conceived idea.

>
>>LOL.. You're a smart man. I don't recall asking you to do this but your reaction causes me to think that your ability to discriminate knowledegebly between different religious and spiritual approaches is in need of a little boost. <s>
>
>As a Catholic, you don't do Ash Wedensday?

I'm not a Catholic Mike, unless you lean lower-case 'catholic' which in the Latin means 'universal' or 'general'. The Historic Christian position knows no artificial or sectarian barriers whatsoever. It also know no group above or below another. That's why it has always been the foremost champion of human rights and so forth. Not the nonsense that some groups put out in the name of God but the simple truths of the Bible. You'll get no argument from me whatsoever should you assert that man has all to often totally gotten "the message" wrong. None whatsoever. However, that does not invalidate the message. <s> It just shows that some are real knuckleheads.