I was just fortunate enough to have been able to have gone to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (nifty place). I had a couple of odd notions while there. First, does it not weird any other pagans out how powerful a symbol an old, handcarved crucifix is? I was honestly struck, though I'm not about to convert. It's something that's absolutely mesmerising. I guess my one friend has a point about symbols. You put enough faith in them, even passively, and they'll knock you over. Secondly, does anyone else find it odd that oriental arts never wavered from being sacred? In centuries that Europeans spent dealing with only secular matters here were hundreds of thousands of people still wholeheartedly obsessed with their faith. Maybe a generalization, but an interesting observation nontheless. Finally, we all grew up with the idealized and romantic visions of knights in armor and the like... But what remains of them? It seems to me that the ideal didn't extend beyond itself. The reality was that knights were portly or extremely vertically challenged noblemen. You had more Prince Johns than Robin Hoods. Again, maybe a generalization, but probably not too far from the truth. One positive side to this though: it is very apparent to me that a true class of warrior that lives by the ideals created by the noblemen of the past is emerging. Interesting enough given the times in which we live.

Well, that's enough from me. I'm thinking in idealism mode, so this may or may not make sense to anyone other than myself. Have fun with it kids.

Runicen

I think both your points emphasize the power of myth. The fantasy often outlives the reality because reality is, as Peter Paul Rubens would say, "weak and paltry." Straight up. Many people who idolize knights idolize the folklore, and many people who cover themselves with crosses know jack about what it stands for, but hey.... ignorance rocks.

Wooo for ignorance!!! Let's start our own little cult where nobody knows or does anything but they give us money! Er...ok, Christ beat me to it. Nevermind.

haha, right on, man! you've made a new friend

Antihero...You're still alive?!?! Damnit...Where have you been??

Eh, around. Just not here. Wish I had had some wacky adventures in my absence, but no.

Wacky adventures? Would you believe that I hit a cow while driving towards Ocean City, Maryland for no apparent reason? How's that for a fucking misadventure. I may be 18, but let me tell you, the parents weren't overly thrilled by that little trip. I personally have more of a vendetta against cows after that >_<. Hey, at least I learned how to rap courtesy of the people who kept putting in music to keep me awake during the 4 hour drive there. Don't get me started on the nightmare that was the 4 hour drive back with no sleep in between.