Novaadeejis alus - tas man ir jauns vaards - but not a new concept: sounds like a 'Mild', which is what old guys would drink to avoid problems with gas.

I like your view of the Christian spirit. I have sometimes achieved ... I don't really know how to describe it - a deep peace and love after praying (in my own way) before challenging moments. And I found it helped a lot - it affected how other people around me behaved, too. They were calmer and less troubled. Sceptics can be sceptical: that's okay. It worked (and sometimes 'works') for me. It generated something deeper than rational understanding (and a conditional forgiveness), and though I wouldn't find it in the dry choreographed theatre of a Church service, you are right - the origins of it for many of us come from there. - at least as far as we can see.

When you talk of the Israelite God, I can't help feeling that Yahweh had an altogether more conditional attitude to love and forgiveness: something more human - or maybe more extra-terrestrial.

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Yes, praying before important events is like, ok, whatever comes, I ask for it to be according to the greater good purpose which I cannot see due to restrictions of my severely limited individual knowledge boundaries. That sets the inner self to be less ego-driven and more humble. With such an attitude other people will feel and act in your presence in a less competitive, rather collaborative way. We cannot circle out some well-hidden divine presence as an answer to the prayer, though, yet we won't be able to prove it either, only observe the outcome.

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