Since the Monday Mission got me in so much trouble last time, I thought I might as well invite more trouble. Stop over by promoguy.net to give credit where credit is due. I don't know how he keeps coming up with all his questions.
Here goes:
1.What is the difference between spirituality and religion? One is personal and private, the other is established and enforced by society to some degree. The two can obviously cross paths.
2. What is the difference between someone listening to what you say and hearing what you say? Hearing means it can be repeated afterwards, whereas listening means the listener is thinking about what is being said at the same time. This is true in all cases except when people say, "Do you hear me?" and the listener responds by saying, "Yeah, I hear you, man." Really, he was listening.
3. What's the difference between a Father, and a Daddy? Fathers are scary. Daddies are creepy if their children are adults. I prefer the neutral (albeit funny and all-around-good-guy) Dad.
4. What's the difference between being married and living together? Well, the Boy would argue that the difference is just a stupid-ass piece of paper that represents and outdated tradition which no longer has any purpose in our society. I would argue that the difference might just a be a ring.
5. What's the difference between growing up and growing old? Growing up is a bittersweet process. Growing old is just painful. And, depending on the person, it can be boring.
6. What's the difference between getting what you want and getting what you need? Jesus Christ, these questions are killing me. Ask the Rolling Stones about it.
7. What's the difference between punishment and discipline? Punishment indicates some level of cruelty, discipline is necessary. Discipline does not require punishment, but punishment can be a form of discipline. I'm not sure I know how to respond to this question. Thank God it's the last one.
I saw some graffitti (I've tried to spell that word four times and it never looks right) about the difference between spirituality and religion:
Religion is for those who are afraid of hell. Spirituality is for those who have been there.
I think your answer for number six is probably the best Monday Mission answer that I've ever seen.
All this reminds me of an (Ogden Nash?) poem about a stripper. The ending, the only part I remember, goes (something like) "She entered this world naked. She left it nude."
Papa - Not sure what to make of that.