On 26 Nov 2002, David Dyer-Bennet wrote: #I get cranky when far-future societies have anything recognizable as #religion, personally. Makes no sense it would last that long. Oh, heck, why not say the same about sexism or bigotry? Do you get cranky about societies without those? Unless you foresee basic changes in human nature, I tend to agree with another poster that there is a very strong tendency in humans, in general, to look for patterns and powers beyond what is accessible to perception and reason. And if you change human nature your characters and their society will be harder for a reader to identify with or feel emotionally invested in. -- Mark A. Mandel