So goes the tale told long ago by storytellers promoting one of the multitude of religious belief systems.

Is there any verifiable evidence that any of it is truthful and accurate -- something beyond opinions and wishful thinking of ancient people who thought disease was caused by demons and droughts by sins?

When we are fresh out of a relationship, particularly if the breakup has been difficult, feel needy and desperate for a replacement -- not exactly the best frame of mind for finding a worthwhile relationship.

Though it may be difficult, the best advice may be to "cool it and don't be in a hurry."

Have you met him in person? If not, falling for someone based on what you read or hear without in-person contact can be very chancy.

Even if you have met briefly, the "honeymoon effect" can be misleading. Not everything is as it appears at first glance.

When I send a first message I do not expect a response. Occasionally it happens; the 1 in 15 mentioned above may be in the ballpark.

When I receive a first message I sometimes wonder why the sender didn't read my profile and realize that we are poles apart (personally and geographically).

It can be difficult to tell if a person is active -- and even more difficult to determine if they are real.

Feeling rejected by absence of a response seems to be overreaction or over-sensitivity. Why care if an anonymous person on the Internet replies or not? It may not be wise to put too much time and effort into initial contact messages.

A female celebrity when asked what she would take to read on the island answered, "A tattooed sailor."

Great answer

Has it been established with verifiable evidence that "the beast" is anything other than an invention of human imagination?

If that has not been credibly established, what is being discussed cannot rationally be considered anything more than mythology.

Numerical digits have significance in mathematical calculation. Can they be DEMONSTRATED to have celestial or ecclesiastical meaning (with anything more substantial than quotations from unverifiable ancient writings by unidentified authors / folklore / religious opinion)?

It might be best to say that "with age wisdom MAY come" because in many cases wisdom seems to have failed to arrive with passing decades (or actually reversed itself).



"projections of your own self" is right on.



Agree 100% -- society and people in general DO have expectations based on age. Some of that may be based in maturation processes but much is just folklore, custom, averages or other "one size fits all" thinking.



Understand and agree. Since my thoughts and actions NEVER have fit the typical, I learned long ago to totally disregard what others think, say or do. What they do is none of my business, and what I do is none of theirs.

EXCELLENT observation.

It seems as though many or most people fail to distinguish the two.

An associate or "friendly acquaintance" is often given the designation "friend" -- although the latter term should probably be reserved for those with whom a greater depth of relationship has developed.

It is unreasonable to expect / require an acquaintance to act in the role of friend (though it may happen occasionally)

If a topic interests me I usually speak my piece -- even if doing so irritates some people and/or is greeted with a lot of flak.

Agree.

We might add that a temporary preoccupation may be necessitated by circumstances and need not be unhealthy unless extended beyond the original cause.

Notice that in the OP I asked a question -- and made NO claim that anyone was obsessed.

The definition is not "mine", but is from Dictionary.com as cited.

And, many guys are afraid to approach gals -- for the same reasons -- basically fear of rejection and/or fear of creating a bad impression. It is reminiscent of high school with the girls congregating on one side of the room and boys on another side -- and never (seldom) the twain shall meet.

Fear limits contact and communication. Someone has to make the "bold move" and take a chance. Is there any reason that gender should be the deciding factor?

Our society has indoctrinated people to expect the male to initiate contact, take the chances, do the driving, and pay the tab -- but still touts gender equality.

What have Christians lost by worshiping the "god" of Judaism (and sidekick)? They forfeit the opportunity to worship one or more of the other two thousand plus "gods" proposed, worshiped, feared, loved by humans.

Even if one of the "gods" actually exists, choosing the right one among the 2000+ (all with lack of verifiable evidence), has a half a percent chance of being right and a 99.5% chance of choosing the wrong "god."

Christians also lose the opportunity to live free of guilt and fear associated with "breaking god's rules" (as stated by clerics claiming to know the "will of god").

Pascal's Wager and its variations are extremely weak arguments to justify Christianity -- but perhaps the best available.

I once thought that being coupled or "seeing someone" was a key to happiness (and have had remarkable, satisfying relationships). However, after a recent divorce I came to realize that depending on "having a relationship" for happiness or to relieve boredom is largely a matter of habit -- and that life can be (is) full, rich and interesting provided that I make it so.

Boredom never enters the picture because I have plenty of worthwhile things to do without needing a mate / date / partner / wife to "give it meaning" (as some have said). I must admit, however, that it took a couple or few months to change the habit.

Some of the positive changes I made were to increase physical activity by making more frequent use of my fitness center membership and by rekindling my involvement in bicycling. Another was to increase volunteer work and community involvement. A third was to undertake long-deferred projects around my property and take on new ones.

I like the freedom

Well said. I use the term "realism" for accepting what is.



Well said again.

Prayer is a form of wishing --�� and produces no more effect than chance alone.

However, those who pray for divine (or other) interference with the lives of others must assume that they know more about what is best than the person directly involved. How presumptuous (and ignorant).

Among my acquaintances are people who devote themselves to religion. It seems to occupy their thoughts all or most of the time. Does that fit the definition of obsession?

Obsession defined: "��the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc.

"[From] psychiatry: a persistent idea or impulse that continually forces its way into consciousness, often associated with anxiety and mental illness

"��a persistent preoccupation, idea, or feeling."

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/OBSESSION?fromRef=true

You are not wrong. If religion made sense it would not be religion, it would be knowledge, it would be verifiable, it would not require "faith" (believing what you are told without evidence that it is true or accurate).

Atheism, properly defined is "without belief in gods" -- denial of existence is not required by lack of belief.

My position is that one or more of the human-proposed "gods" MAY be real; however, I have encountered no evidence to support such claims

If not believing in "gods" is a religion then perhaps not believing in Leprechauns is also a religion



OH? You KNOW that "Most of the atheists pray to god" SECRETLY. Are you omniscient or do you work for NSA? How is it, exactly, that you know what most Atheists do in private?

Since humans have no way of knowing how the universe originated they propose THEORIES. Some are scientific theories. Some are god theories. Many claim to KNOW what they only theorize or they accept what others (ancient or contemporary) claim to know.

In the conduct of my life it makes absolutely no difference how the universe came to be. To those who say, "You will see after you die", I respond "There is no assurance that the proposed 'afterlife' exists or that humans possess a 'soul' that transcends death. Those are just more theories / beliefs that cannot be verified. Believe what you want but you waste your time telling me unverifiable opinions."

I do not call attention to anyone's errors in posts or communication (that is not in my job description). However, a person's use of the language DOES “speak for them.”

When deciding if I wish to communicate with a person, I DO consider their spelling, grammar, punctuation – and particularly their word usage. I have difficulty communicating with those who repeatedly mistake (or don't know the difference between) – your, you're – to, two, too - their, there – site, cite – hear, here – pair, pear – waste, waist – know, no (etc)

Typing in all caps is as difficult to read as typing with no capitalization, and demonstrates lack of consideration for the language and the reader.

With spell checkers readily available all of us should be able to avoid most of the common spelling mistakes.