Steph:

Sorry this took so long to respond to and post.

I can finally get to this because my access here in India is quite restricted. I cannot use my machine at this site.

On your responses: I notice you skipped over lust. I think you get the point (without having to agree to it). Not every response in us that seems ingrained is moral. In fact, some tendencies deep within require attention and correction. No effort here to define innate for you, simply making the point that to say it is there and deep does not answer the morality question.

On pt 1: If you are describing my approach as fundamentalist, then I think you do not understand most fundamentalists. That was my point and the claim I make of labeling still stands, although your response saying your secular appraoch is an alternative is noted and I agree that is where the discussion lies as my posts have said. The Newsweek argument is a secular one, not a religious one.

On Pt. 2: I thought you were responding to a specific description I made in that post about other religions and cultures adn syaing mor ethan I claimed. Thanks for clarifying. Sorry for misunderstanding you here.

On pt. 3: I never implied I am open on this question in my responses. I came in responding to claims Newsweek made about the Judeo-Christian religious tradition. However, I do take my position having attepted to hear the issue people raise. I have formed opnions on their cogency is all.

dlb