What period in history would you have loved to go back and see for yourself

[Allegra]

Sorry to interrupt but I just have to venture a question here:

Originally Posted by Marvolo

But I just can't let the athiests not practicing a religion issue rest.

WHY?

Considering millions and millions of people around the globe have never bent their knees to anyone, you won’t get a rest yourself. Let the believers believe whatever they choose to believe and unbelievers not believe whatever you think they should believe. (And never even try to persuade me eating blue cheese cos I’m not gonna buy it! - Sorry blue cheese lovers, mind you I love practically any cheese except that, yuk.)

[j. d. worthington]

Folks... the discussion per se can be an interesting discussion, but I'd suggest opening up another thread if we're going to continue it, and let this thread get back on topic. (And yes, I realize I contributed to the entire thing. Without meaning to "alibi", I was simply attempting to clarify a point and, in the process, also introduce a possibly less ambiguous phrase for use, to help with reaching an understanding.)

At any rate... as I said, the discussion is a valid one, though assumptions about the other person should be treated warily, and I'd suggest phrasing them clearly as assumptions, rather than knowledge of what one or the other believes, feels, etc., unless they specifically say they do.

If anyone wishes to continue this discussion, I'd suggest opening a new thread, but we do need to be careful. We've had one or two threads on religion/lack of belief that managed to stay open, but usually they become extremely heated. I think we'd all prefer a civil discussion on the matter, addressing the points raised by each and debating them, to getting into personal attacks or disrespect for each other.

As noted, this is a surprisingly friendly community -- a rarity on the internet, from what I've seen -- and it'd be nice to keep it that way....

[Sephiroth]

I agree. At the other board I post on sometimes, these discussions frequently get out of hand and degenerate into a slanging-match. I wouldn't like to see that happen here. It's an evocative subject for all of us, myself included, as evidenced by the fact that I felt the need to post a comment.

Marvolo, thank you for the intelligent and thoughtful statement of your position; it certainly helps me to better understand where you are coming from.

[Allegra]

Yes J.D. is right (isn't he always?). I apologize if I offended anyone unintentionally with my above post. It’s just that sometimes my tongue gets stuck in the cheek - Chrispeny has something to do with this because he does it all the time and it’s contagious!

Seriously though, I understand and respect both believers and unbelievers (learned it hard way from my parents) and I believe that understanding and respect are all we need for about everything on this planet.

Now back to the topic, apart from 15 - 16th century's Florence, I also wish to travel back to perhaps 9th century's Iceland when people were still using fish for currency!

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by Allegra

Yes J.D. is right (isn't he always?). I apologize if I offended anyone unintentionally with my above post. It’s just that sometimes my tongue gets stuck in the cheek - Chrispeny has something to do with this because he does it all the time and it’s contagious!

Seriously though, I understand and respect both believers and unbelievers (learned it hard way from my parents) and I believe that understanding and respect are all we need for about everything on this planet.

Now back to the topic, apart from 15 - 16th century's Florence, I also wish to travel back to perhaps 9th century's Iceland when people were still using fish for currency!

Well, not quite, yet.... Just to clarify: my own post just above was simply a general statement, not aimed at anyone in particular. I've just found that that's the best way to keep the discussion focused on the issue, rather than personalities; in which case it can often be a very meaty discussion, and one I hope all parties (or at least, all sides) can feel was worthwhile and rewarding.

As for what period... well, for me, I've always been fascinated by the various witch-hunts... their causes and the change in zeitgeist that led from an acceptance that such things were, but without the harsher penalties being inflicted, to the outright panics and mass murders that were often the result... especially as the causes seem to vary, and are quite complex, both from region to region and from one time to another. (Certainly the Salem incident in American history is by no means unique; what makes it stand out is that it was so concentrated and in such a relatively short span of time... but it was part of a pattern that had been around since shortly after the colony was first established, and lasted for a good while after.)

So I'd probably pick one (or several) of those... just so long as I could avoid being in the middle of the darned thing as a participant!

[LJonesy]

To be bluntly honest, i'd like to live during the time of Jesus, and follow him around. I've been reading all the posts so it doesn't look like saying that'll provoke an argument.

[Shadowmancer]

I'd like to go back to either the time of the Reformation or Ancient Egypt. I'd love to be a heretic or just see the pyramids built.

[Bentony]

Living in Southern France during the Medieval Warm Period (about 800 to 1200 CE) would have been good, except you want to skip the end part due to all the trouble with Northern France and the Cathars. So I think living there as a Cathar between 800 and 1000CE would be best. Food production was at a high, there was very little disease, and no real conflicts as such.

Living in a roman city during the height of the empire would also have been quite good - somewhere in Southern Europe between 01 and 200CDE.