In regard to self-deception, I did not mean Elvis in particular but people in general with respect to beliefs of all sorts. It likewise applies even to myself in regard to many things some I have to encounter I'm sure, but at least I am aware of it. I rarely take any thing at face value and am not easy to convince about anything I believe otherwise about already. However, I evaluate my own beliefs and how strongly they are proven in a given area before I propose them as fact to others for that very reason.

Evolution and all the things proposed here in favor of it provides an excellent example of that. Evolution is an area that I have never studied in any real depth. Do you know why? Because the theory of evolution is exactly that, a theory... reams and reams of theory with no real facts. The greatest error which caused me to even stop wondering about it years ago is the 'assumption' that dating methods are valid, exactly as Russ has mentioned. Certain things are 'assumed' to be a certain age and all other dating is done in comparison to those assumptions. This is not science. It's assumption. There is nothing valid to bother studying here beyond those reams and reams of assumed theory though I do enjoy archeology very much when historical artifacts are found and published.

In regard to God, it's highly unlikely he will ever fit into the boxes we shape for him especially when superstition enters the picture. Many religions are very very superstitious, but athiests and non-believers tend to be some of the most superstitious people I have ever met, funny enough.

In regard to Jesus, many, but not all, Christians claim to know him personally. I have asked many, because of my experiences, and likewise have found many. I have never met a muslim, buddhist or hindu or anything beyond an indian shaman that could claim he knew his god. In the case of indian shamans they are well aware that their gods are nothing more than 'spirits' and some even demonic.

My writing may sound buddhist to you but actually it is quite Christian. Based on the bibical idea that people suffer from the lack of (real) knowledge and many are blind to the truth (because of lies they 'want' to believe).