it was REALLY WEIRD reading the history of Byzantium with the
   _exclusion_ of the religious context. Felt foreign to me to see
   it from that light, even though I recognized it as accurate
   enough.

   I learned about it through 5 years with the Eastern Orthodox
   Church, [from around 1995-2000, tapering off towards the end
   after picking up some Osho books tongue emoticon ) but I was
   pretty close to becoming a monk. I could live that lifestyle
   easily.

   Anyway, did lots of research. It was within a theological
   context, lots of Desert Fathers, and mystical and practical
   writings alike about "how to think clearly" and watching your
   thoughts and feelings as they pass by and such.

   But there was logic stuff in there too. smile emoticon The sense
   of continuuity was tremendous and filled in the gap of knowledge
   I had about that area of the world _and_ of world history in
   general.