Cornflower,

<<So according to you the moderate mainstream of Christianity should find another label to worship under and dump the bible?>>

Not if they don’t want.

<<Moderate Muslims should find another label to worship under and dump the Koran?>>

Not if they don’t want.

<<Moderate Australians should find another label and dump their constitution, laws, parliament, country or what?>>

We’re talking about religion here. This is a red herring.

<<All so you don't have to make 'exceptions' in your stereotyping of others.>>

I’m not necessarily stereotyping. That’s the whole point

I suggest you go back and read what I’ve said.

A delightful little parable rather than joke, Foxy, that beautifully portrays (for me) the vital role of ideology in making our capitalist saturnalia seem preferable to the really important things in life: compassion, friendship, moderation, self-knowledge etc.?
And this is perhaps the problem with a nihilist-atheist (a certain kind of atheist) or rationalist perspective; there's nothing to know about the Self that can't be deconstructed, that doesn't vanish in aporia. Whereas, I would argue there's a great deal that might emerge were such a catharsis of ideology possible and the Self were able to develop in a healthier medium.
The rationalist perspective is legitimately for boffins who ideally live their ideology in practice (think of "The Big Bang Theory), but it's an imposition when it takes on the proportion of an ontology for the rest of us--necessarily impoverished of moral/ethical attributes that amount to anything more than pragmatics.
To me it's not really important whether anything essential survives death, it's more a matter of being "worthy" to survive death (whether or not we do), which puts the emphasis on transcending the limitations/temptations of life. The essence of the parable?

I sound decidedly more mystical than I'm comfortable with here; but I won't be censored into the kind of binary logic and reductionism that the current rationalist-orthodoxy fetishises.

Dear Squeers,

You certainly do sound very mystical.

However - it was meant merely as a joke.
The friend who sent me the email is not
at all into any form of "mysticism."
She just thought it a top joke - is all!

Whereas, I thought it funny as well - and
topical (as in - there's an election coming
up at the end of this year).

Foxy: "You certainly do sound very mystical.

However - it was meant merely as a joke."

How mortifying!
However, I can assure you, I only "sound" mystical---anything beyond the level of CDF generally does, but there's solid thinking behind it.

'Tis still a good parable too, if you've got the ear for it.
:-)

Before I forget Dear People -
I want to take this opportunity to wish
you all a very Happy Easter break.
Enjoy time with your loved ones, relax,
take time out to do the things you enjoy.
And try not to eat too much chocolate.

I'm looking forward to my daughter-in-law's
cooking. She's invited us for Easter Sunday
lunch. She's an excellent cook, and I get to
spend time with my beautiful (first) grandson.

Prior to that - I shall spend my time reading
Richard Dawkins' book, "The God Delusion."
My husband bought it for me today -
and it does look interesting.
I wonder what he has to say about an afterlife?

easter?...passover was a few days ago..

The holiday of Pesach,..or Passover,..falls on the Hebrew calendar dates of Nissan 15-22...

Here is coinciding/secular dates/2010: March..30-April 6...as usual jesus own..knew not even the day he died/..let alone that he..came back/returned..3 days later..ie he died on tuesday...rose from the dead today...!

near as i can tell easter/comes from ester

Hidden/Revealed
Traditional Jews believe that God is hidden behind all the events of the Megillah...Rabbis referred to God's role as hester panim,..or "hiding of the Face",..which is also said to be hinted at in a word play..(Megilat Hester)..regarding the Hebrew name for the Book of Esther,

Megillat Esther—literally,.."revelation of..[that which is]..hidden")...

as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther (Megillat Esther).

Jewish exiles from the Kingdom of Judah who had been living in the Babylonian captivity (6th Century BCE) found themselves under Persian rule after Babylonia was in turn conquered by Cyrus the Great, King of the Persians and Medians and founder of the Persian Empire

who according to the Biblical Book of Ezra released them from captivity and allowed those that wished to return to Jerusalem, giving them back the money which Nebuchadnezzar II had carried away from Jerusalem[2].

According to the Book of Esther, Haman, royal vizier to King Ahasuerus planned to kill the Jews, but his plans were foiled by Esther, his queen. Mordecai, a palace official, cousin and foster parent of Esther, subsequently replaced Haman.

The Jews were delivered from being the victims of an evil decree against them and were instead allowed by the King to destroy their enemies, and the day after the battle was designated as a day of feasting and rejoicing.

Note:..The Jewish calendar date begins at sundown of the night beforehand.

Thus all holiday observances – including the Pesach,..or Passover – begin the night before the dates listed...Jewish calendar dates also conclude at nightfall