Response to johnnyfavorite's questions

[hohum]

apparently you finally got the college thing worked out, after a near-infinite number of fits and starts. what changed? what is your major? what do you plan to do with the degree, when you get it? Two events locked me onto school, I think. #1 was bumping into Religious Studies, my major. I took a class called "Life After Death" for an elective and

Comments

Re: follow-on questions

[hohum]

I consider myself an atheist, but maybe religious in a functional sense-- as in, there are some things I approach "religiously" that many people would say did not qualify as religious. (For example, when people say baseball is their religion, or music is their religion, a common reaction is, "Oh, but that's not really a religion." But if you think about the purpose many religions serve, or the dedication involved, the parallels are not really that silly.)

Spiritual, perhaps, though I've struggled to make sense of the word. That's why I think it's fair to use it for experiences and feelings that are similar-- ineffable, beyond one's capacity to express, and somehow essential. Maybe for times when meditating on matters of life and death, or experiencing bizarre moments of peace. I wouldn't consider spirituality to be something I cultivate, though. It's a feeling of connectedness to a greater something that I sometimes get, but I would only define that greater something as "god" if I was able to lend a lot of qualifications to what a god is. I mean a "greater something" such as the future and history, or maybe humanity and people in general. In which case, spirituality for me isn't always an ideal ray of sunshine, unless joined by some kind of faith. :D I don't think this made much sense, but I'm tired, and like I said, I struggle with the term.

Yes, lots of those. And no, not really-- my bankroll was the money I had after leaving my last serving job, and in retrospect, it wasn't a wise plan. Shouldn't play with money you can't afford to lose- that's pretty much the number one rule of poker. But at the time, I didn't really give a fuck, and I was looking for some fun more than anything.

Re: follow-on questions

[hohum]

humanity and nature in general*