The knowledge of the realm of death makes it possible for the shaman to move freely back and forth and mediate these journeys for other people.

I think that the core doctrines of Christianity - the incarnation the resurrection life after death-these are as strong as ever. In fact the belief in life after death has increased in this century.

Vets do what doctors used to - diagnose the injury or the condition patch it up as best they can and remind you that these things happen and that in life we are also in the midst of death.

Perhaps we don't need these religious concoctions to pillow the fear of death. Just the fact that there is an unknown and something greater can bring a feeling of peace. That's enough for me.

'Hamlet' is one of the most dangerous things ever set down on paper. All the big unknowable questions like what it is to be a human being the difference between sanity and insanity the meaning of life and death what's real and not real. All these subjects can literally drive you mad.

The U.S. couldn't even get rid of Saddam Hussein. And we all know that the EU is just a passing fad. They'll be killing each other again in less than a year. I'm sick to death of all these fascist lawsuits.

You hear a lot about God these days: God the beneficent God the all-great God the Almighty God the most powerful God the giver of life God the creator of death. I mean we're hearing about God all the time so we better learn how to deal with it. But if we know anything about God God is arbitrary.

I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own so both of them together is certain death.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations all pride all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death leaving only what is truly important.

Birth and death we all move between these two unknowns.