<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>In a message dated 2/19/2002 11:16:52 AM Eastern Standard Time, channingtaRCN.COM writes:<BR>
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<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Chris, I would like to give your questions a shot.<BR>
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>...I am troubled about what seems to be a heavy emphasis on religion and<BR>
spirituality. Is this an illusion of the "virtual experience" or is it<BR>
really a day to day preoccupation of people on the trail?<BR>
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As I mentioned previously, I am a non-observant Jew and I participated in many of the Catholic rites and rituals. On one Friday evening at a refugio sitting with some friends we got to talking about the spirituality of the Camino over some vino. I realized that it was a Friday and asked whether they wanted to hear the traditional Hebrew blessing over the sabbath wine. When they answered in the affirmative, I recited the Hebrew blessing and English translation and they were profoundly moved by it. Just another Camino anecdote. Howard Mendes, NYC</FONT></HTML>