Our problem is that we fail to realize that we should all be seeking the same answers. Our goal is not personal survival but survival of the species.

Not sure what you're saying statrei, but every religion seeks to answer the same question, and every religion thinks they hold the patent on truth.

We can't know with any absolute certainty what those answers are or what they are going to be, so saying that we all should be seeking the same answers doesn't help much.

It would be more conducive to rational productive thought if we were to all work together to find the best explanation that fits the data, rather than "seeking answers".

Of course, I might just be arguing over semantics and in that case you can just kick me ;)

I agree with what you posted. But the above is rather interesting. There's an old saying that says that you can attract more flies with sugar than with vinegar. However, an addendum to that should be that "sugar" doesn't sell books too well. Print something very sensible, and you'll probably never get published-- with a few exceptions of course. Print outlandish and bazaar positions and you'll probably fair far better. It seems today you need some sort of gimmick.

Look at Fox "News" as an example in the t.v. media. It seems that the more wacko positions taken by O'Reilly and Hannity, the higher their ratings go.

__________________
"The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge."-- Einstein

That is something that I forget all too often, and it appears to be a well-supported saying.

Yes, and I have to pinch myself sometimes to remember it as well.

Shalom & have a nice weekend.

__________________
"The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge."-- Einstein