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Fair enough, and well said.

I wish I had the historical and religious training to argue with you over the fine points. But I just have not wished to develop that knowledge.

I probably would be pretty good at it! I have an engineers mind on most other subjects, except this one.

I have always viewed my spirituality as a private matter. I suppose I am more liken to our Deist founders in that regard.

I wish to quietly live out the balance of my life as I quietly prepare for death and beyond.

I have been a bit more vocal since experiencing Gibson's "Passion" and my faith was renewed to higher plane at that time, or perhaps just clarified as to the meaning of the sacrifice.

We shall see where that leads me and my relationship with God and religion. But I doubt I would ever have the depth of knowledge it would take to argue the fine points on this fine forum.

"I wish I had the historical and religious training to argue with you over the fine points. But I just have not wished to develop that knowledge."

Please don't feel that way. Theological discussions are fine to a point. After that without the proper guidance and prayer, such discussions can spin off into some pretty dangerous territory, spiritually speaking. A number of us were recently involved in a discussion which reached that point and perhaps went a bit beyond it. The demons were howling outside the door of the library (I do mean that). One by one, and quite quickly, we dropped the thread because we perceived the perilous place we had wandered into.

All of us firmly believe that our Liturgies and services and devotions provide any person with quite literally everything which is needed for individual theosis within a Eucharistic community. All the theological discussing we do helps some of us along the way, but its an addition and nothing more. My great grandmother from Greece was a very holy woman whose Faith defined her existence. She couldn't spell dogma or canon and undoubtedly would laugh at all of us amateur theologians and tell us to go light a candle, incense and kiss our icons and say our prayers.

You'll do just fine, I have no doubt, my friend. Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.