[MineralMan]

"I do wonder what you find in common with most of us."

Well, we're all human beings. Most of us live in the United States of America. We all speak and write in English. We're all interested in political matters.

Really, about the only area in which we differ is in our beliefs regarding supernatural entities.

That's not a very large difference, it seems to me.

[sittnick]

Really, about the only area in which we differ is in our beliefs regarding supernatural entities.

That's not a very large difference, it seems to me.

It is an essential difference. It changes the basis for our rights and responsibitlies and the very meaning of our existence. It makes us come up with different results over the question of whether man is better than the dumb beasts of the world, or only different. The "Why" of everything changes. "why" shouldn't you kill a human. "Why" should you sacrifice your life for someone you know, or an idea, or someone you haven't met, "Why" mercy killing or suicide is right or wrong.

It is what changed Whitaker Chambers from being a hardcore Communist to risking his life fighting against them.

For me, anyway, it provides hope, the ability to continue to love those who died, purpose, a moral framework larger than any imperfect government can provide, a way to (imperfectly, I'm afraid) try to see good in people I'd just as soon not like, and finally a way of thinking and looking at the world that is consistent with my own nature: a desire for order, and a love of creativity and higher ideals and purpose.