[IMRight]

A very well though-out reply and I thank you for it (and will charitably leave of a couple disagreements - actually I'm tired and need an excuse to go to bed. I'll pick up the "holy garments" idea on a later date).

One response:

I understand sacrelidge pretty much amounts to blasphemy

The two are often seen as synonyms, but they are not quite the same thing. It would be Blasphemous to say that Christ fathered 24 children by 8 women (forgive the example). It is sacrilege to speak in an irreverant way about the Lord. I do not now claim that that was your intention.

BTW - what's your job?

Oh... and I certainly would use the cat story. I can see myself relying on some Church authority for a belief that I cannot explain fully myself...then I can see you questioning that authority...and I can then compare the Magisterium favoribly to your devining the Lords will through your cat droppings.... You could probably come back you'll stick with the cat over the Magisterium and I will be chagrined. If you take a long time to respond to a particularly good point I can ask if your cat is constipated? Yes, I think I can get a lot of mileage out of this one :-)

[Havoc]

BTW - what's your job? Oh... and I certainly would use the cat story. I can see myself relying on some Church authority for a belief that I cannot explain fully myself...then I can see you questioning that authority...and I can then compare the Magisterium favoribly to your devining the Lords will through your cat droppings.... You could probably come back you'll stick with the cat over the Magisterium and I will be chagrined. If you take a long time to respond to a particularly good point I can ask if your cat is constipated? Yes, I think I can get a lot of mileage out of this one :-)

Ahhh.. a little twist on the story for humor. Oh well. You'll find I generally respond as quickly as I have available time to type. I'm a cube jocky - Computer tech/agent. I troubleshoot hardeware and software problems all day long.