Comrades. Since I've been on this list (admittedly a very short period of time) I've been pleased to see all the links to Belle and Sebastian related articles and criticism (thanks to all who take the time to find and then post them--lord knows I'm too lazy...). The link that was posted the other day by (oops...can't remember who...sorry) seemed to ruffle some feathers. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get the link (I'm not so computer savvy so I didn't know any "tricks" to getting there after my initial attempt was refused). Anyway, I ran across this quote while reading the other day that might just hearten those who find the band (or themselves) criticized for any artistic endevour... "Note just what it is about your work that critics don't like--then cultivate it. That's the part of your work that's individual and worth keeping."--Jean Cocteau. Admittedly, Cocteau wasn't talking specifically about music, but anyway... Religion: It doesn't seem anyone has really found an answer to this question for thousands of years. This doesn't mean, of course, that one should not try. I'm reminded of a story about a Buddist monk who was teaching/training his "disciples" (for lack of a better word) and who was attempting to get his students to throw away *all* previous belief systems. One young student finally got fed up with all this and went to the teacher/monk and told him, "Listen, I just can't do this. I'm only human and I need something to believe in. I need some firm ground to stand on." (Obviously, I'm paraphrasing here). The monk/teacher asked his student in return, "Precisely. But *who* are you?" (BTW--the monk was not just trying to indoctrinate the students with Buddist dogma, but rather trying to help them grasp a firmer understanding of themselves--which, I guess, is Buddist dogma--ahhhhh!) I guess what I get from this little anecdote is that religion/belief should be found through intense examination of the self and what seems right for you. If one finds out who one is, then one finds out what one believes. This is simplistic, I know, but really seems to be the only way to achieve any kind of spiritual/religious belief. Ideally, all paths lead to the same place and different people find different ways to get there. The problems arise when one person or group of people feel that their way is the *only* way and therefore must convert others to that belief system (esp. by intimidating people literally and with threats of "burning in hell"). Perhaps I've over stayed my welcome on this thread... Enjoy the weekend and hugs all around, Bill Always remember: "It's a short walk from the hallelujah to the hoot."--Nabokov ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the undead Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister@missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo@missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "peculiarly deranged fanbase" "frighteningly named +-+ +-+ Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+