Wes queried:
[ >And what about your BELIEF that raw fish (or whatever) is good or
[ >necessary for you to eat?

Kirt responded:
[ What about it? Like your experience with raw starches, I have found RAF
[ very beneficial to my health. Further, I have experimented further and
[ found cooked animal foods useful as well. Certainly this experience leads
[ to my belief. But I know that such belief is incomplete and must remain
[ simply a belief, not reality. Such that I can accept new information and
[ incorporate it into my experience (some instinctos recent mercury troubles,
[ or the utility of eating cooked fishbones, or whatever). When you elevate a
[ belief to the height of a precondition (which is what you seem to have done
[ with your Raw Truth) you will loss sight of what's going on and become
[ "crazy" about your precondition, to a greater or lessor degree.

Jo sez:
Don't think I can put it any better. From my own experience, I got stuck in
a rut with natural hygiene and fruitarianism because I had become too
complacent about what they offered (short term improvements in health) or
offered for the future (perfect health). For me, this led to a dangerous
denial of new information. And maybe unneeded suffering and stagnation over
the years. Who knows? In any case, I urge you, Wes, to keep your options
open as you've already declared as your intention. And sharply monitor any
resistance to new ideas based on your current beliefs. It's easy to say
that "I'll stay open to new ideas" when things are rosy, but it's when
things are NOT rosy that you have to dig down and honestly evaluate what is
or is not working for you; admit to mistakes; and move on with new
explorations. I realize you've done your base knowledge work; now it's time
to allow further experiences to guide your future choices.

[ >I have arrived at this bottom line (no need for cooked food for me)
[ >after a LOT of careful thought. I didn't just assume it and say "COOKED
[ >FOOD IS POISON". I came to this conclusion after much thought,
[ >experimentation, and study. Ultimately my own body made the decision for
[ >me. Cooked food lost all appeal to me in many ways. Is that hard for you
[ >to BELIEVE?
[
[ Not at all, Wes. I could've written those words way back when myself. The
[ trouble comes when you declare that what you believe is Right for more than
[ yourself.

The hammer hits the nail on a windless day. I may sound like an old fart
giving unsolicited advice to a junior list member, but like Kirt I had the
same twentysomething enthusiasm and sureity as you do now, Wes. I feel I
still have the enthusiasm. I've also gained a bit of wisdom since those
days (although I know people who would disagree violently) and all I can
say at this point is to enjoy your journey, offer your insights (they are
valuable) as contributions from your OWN personal experience, accept other
posts in a likewise manner, and then I think you'll feel more comfortable
with the underlying spirit of this list (and possibly others as well).