So, I just want to ensure I understand correctly. This Berlin, Germany based company sent two packages to 89 people across 49 states and because 5% of the packages went missing and , Christians are to blame? I realize that conspiracy theories are fun and all but this isn't even a well orchestrated one. Just because you mail multiple items at the same time does not mean the recipient of said items will receive them at the same time. It seems a more likely that government bureaucracy are most likely more to blame to than Christian bigotry. Given Customs inspections, freight hauling and delivery, distance between ports of entry for mail delivery and processing times the numbers aren't that surprising to me. Now, I show me that all of the packages shipped on the same day, went into the same freight container or multiple containers but boarded the same container vessel or aircraft on the same day, said container or containers with all of the packages were or not inspected by Customs at the same time on the same day, and then that container or set of containers arrived to a sorting facility operated by the USPS on the same day and from there the packages were mishandled, then I would believe that there was something specifically wrong with the Postal Services. The company would also need to show evidence that no other company shipping into the US has had similar issues. I am open to the thought, but not based on this companies obvious marketing ploy.

Creedo, that was by far the best response I have ever received from a blog posting. Thank you so very much. I will admit that I view myself as the world's worst word choice. I am not quite so eloquent as you and therefore quite often find myself defending my ideas. Many of your thoughts do make sense and it is very true that most people do not understand where I am coming from without taking a few weeks to research and write back. I suppose I write/speak in what people consider to be existential non-sense (although I do not consider it such). Okay, this didn't turn out well. I thought I had more time to rebut, but I do not (my apologies because I do enjoy this quite a bit, mostly because it helps me to better understand the religious views of others and it helps me to better understand myself). I do not have a blog (maybe I should have one) but you can feel free to message me at dfyllyr@gmail.com. Enjoy your day.

Well, that was certainly a long reply. Thanks for that Creedo. I would like to speak with you more about this as you seem to have a need to take your anger of religion out on me. Tell me, were you raised as a Roman-Catholic (I only ask because of the passionate way you have been responding to my religious beliefs specifically)? You could message me if you do not feel comfortable stating this in a public forum. In reference to my beliefs, I will offer no defense because, as I stated to you in the last reply, my faith is mine (which is something the Catholic church actually does understand and accept. You claim to have read the Bible from cover to cover (though this makes no sense considering the Christian Bible isn't meant to be read in that format) have you ever taken the time to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. You might find some useful information that would help you to continue to hate Catholics or might open you up to understand why I don't need to lie to the church to be faithful). Your comment about me feeling as though I have no right to question others beliefs, you claim to be superficial and that it would be easy to make me act as though my beliefs were better, If you truly knew me, you might find your opinion different (though I am not certain you would be the type of person open enough to be willing to do that which would be no different than the bible-thumping people I grew up around (I was not raised Roman-Catholic). They were equally hateful when I told them that no one's beliefs are better than any others'. I honestly was not attempting to diminish anyone for their beliefs. I realize that at times my choice of words are not always taken positively. For instance, I used the term elitist to describe a group of people who believe that their beliefs (or lack there of) are superior to others (superior meaning more evolved). Are you stating that your beliefs are not more evolved that those who have a religious faith (because your posts do not allude to that)? This term is often taken negatively, although I could not think of a more appropriate word at the time. I am sorry if you took offense. As far as my graduate work, I expect debate and question, not attack and insults. Perhaps you are not at an age where you understand that difference (that comment was not meant to be an attack either, merely an observation). As to your other question about defending my ideas, yes I often defend my ideas, although you have not called into question any of my ideas only attacked my beliefs. This brings me to my last question (which may help me to understand where you are coming from a little more). In your first post, you mentioned that you thought my post was "muddled". I am curious to discover what you were confused by in my post. I am more than happy to discuss and even defend my ideas. I will not defend my beliefs just I will not ask you to defend yours. Creedo (my apologies, I do not know your actual name), again, I apologize for offending you in my first post and I hope that we can continue to discuss this.

Actually Creedo, my beliefs are my own. They are not for you or the Roman-Catholic Church. If you spoke to people openly (assuming they were willing to do so with you), you may find that most only believe in portions of their religion while not all at the same time. With that in mind, realize that I reside in the Roman-Catholic faith for my own reason (not theirs). I labeled myself a Henotheist because I truly feel that we all worship something and who am I (one singular person) to believe that my beliefs are better than yours or anyone's. As for studying society in a religious framework for the last five-years (actually, I've been doing it for much longer, but my degree work has only been in the last five), yes. I feel that by having a better understanding of how culture relates to each other through something as indoctrinated as religion, perhaps one day the world will be more understandable in my own eyes. You comments, while seemingly meant to be offensive were taken only as your attempt to disregard my opinion on Circlewell's comment. What I do not understand is your need to insult. I have not sought to diminish you in your beliefs (truly your beliefs are as valid or invalid as Circlewell's even if they seek to show you as someone who believes that he is better than others in some way because your beliefs are different). What right do you have to do so with mine?

Circwell, As a Henotheist who resides among the ranks of the Roman-Catholic faithful I find no fault in anything you say. As a man who spent the last five or so years doing his graduate work in Socioreligious Anthropology, I would like to point out that our fellow Slashdotters only seek to opine on what they perceive as educating the less educated on their elitist beliefs. This is their way of justifying an ethnocentrism of sorts (in that the practice of atheism among a version of social practice and education creates its own subculture within a society). What some of them may not realize (mostly because they are too full of themselves to realize it) is that upon observing society and culture symbolically as a plane curve everywhere equidistant from a given fixed point, with one section removed to show some distinction (however small) from left to right (good or evil, right or wrong, etc...) those who seek to proclaim the logic behind the disbelief in religion (or god - in whatever form you conclude - creator-gods, protector-gods, etc...), how primitive or unintelligent others are for believing in such structures, and use specific instances in history to support their belief which can be perceived as ad hominem (although they perceive it as logical in spite of it being a clearly emotional reaction over logical) place themselves at the exact opposite end of the aforementioned semi-circle. So, my internet friend, you need not try to point out their ambiguities as they are as interested in finding validity in your views as Thomas de Torquemada was interested in listening to the Jews, Protestants and Pagans in Spain.

If it makes you feel any better, I am against big brother and big business. I just want those who have the need to exercise power (for power's sake) to leave me alone.

Thank you Collin, I believe this is the most intelligent thing I have heard on Slashdot today (and by heard I mean read. I suppose I could have deleted heard and wrote read (by wrote I mean typed) but my level of OCD doesn't allow me to correct it that way (it's all about knowing your disorder)). Have a great day (or morning, afternoon, evening, night).

I'm just slightly concerned with the post itself. It may be a meaningless metric, but the poor individual who wrote it is apparently horrible at math. 27th to 47th place is not a 100% drop 27th to 57th would be a 100% drop (or is my math off? I haven't had much sleep in the past couple of days). I wonder if he wrote this in this way because he was trying to compare the U.S. to Chile (by placing them in the same field, that is "over a 100% drop")? Consequently, if my math is incorrect, please politely let me know. I'm not trying to be offensive, just curious.

tbannist, mattmarlowe is posting an opinion about what he feels is the difference between the Republicans and the Democrats. His is an opinion, stated as an opinion and not backed up with anything other than opinion. Your response on the other hand is presented as fact, although the post lacks anything other than what seems to be merely that, opinion. Could you please respond with the documentation that proves (or at least supports your argument) that the administration under Bush created the majority of the debt described in your post? I've not seen an analysis of how the tax cuts, stimulas packages or the pharmaceutical bill have affected the debt. I am always up for good information from a reliable source. I am not attempting to be insulting here, just curious as to how you formed your belief. Thank you