Many of us saw religion as harmless nonsense. Beliefs might lack all supporting evidence but we thought if people needed a crutch for consolation where's the harm? September 11th changed all that.

Religion is the frozen thought of man out of which they build temples.

Skeptical scrutiny is the means in both science and religion by which deep thoughts can be winnowed from deep nonsense.

I really have always wanted to be a parent and when I hit 36 and had just ended a relationship I remember thinking how much I still wanted it. But I thought I'd adopt.

I'd had a relationship with a French girl a Japanese girl an American girl a Filippina and she was there all the time - a Lancashire girl. I thought: 'It's a Lancashire girl I was looking for. Why didn't I realize it?'

When I was in my 30s I was at the end of a long-term relationship and going through a very hard time. I'd had about 15 different addresses and a series of relationships. I thought 'It's time to have a look at yourself.'

We feel unsatisfied until we know ourselves akin even with that greatness which made the spots on which it rested hallowed and until by our own lives and by converse with the thoughts they have bequeathed us we feel that union and relationship of the spirit which we seek.

If you have parents with a healthy relationship you don't learn that you don't have to be married. I thought being a healthy adult meant you had to have a spouse. I didn't know any different.

I've thought about it not a lot but I thought my relationship with Congress - the Democrats and Republicans - would help me get some things done. Not everything but at least they'd be willing to try.

Creatively I thought we were still viable and could do more records. But our working relationship just wasn't happening at all and our chemistry as people broke down because of that.