Gawen,

1.  By "taking things seriously", I think you mean that criticism is
taken,
by the speaker (in this case, writer), to be condemnation of the
speaker.
In other words, the writer is not merely putting something forth for
consideration, but identifies with what s/he has said (i.e.: considers
his/her expression to be a part of him/her) and is hurt when it is
rejected.

In most cases, that's true, I believe.  Because that's so, I think we
should
strive to be gentle in our assessments and genteel in our expressions.

2.  What one says reveals more about the speaker than it does about
the
subject.

Judge not, lest ye be judged.

3.  I am not a vegetarian (I was, for many years), but I think that it
is
possible (in some cases preferable) to survive and thrive on a fruit
and
vegetable diet.

It's mostly a matter of through-put.  The more resources you express,
the
more you must assimilate.

A life of quiet contemplation (that of a mystic or philosopher, for
example)
would be better served, in my opinion, by a diet that is low in
building
components (protein and most fat) and relatively high in the factors
that
facilitate thought and expression (EFAs and monosaccharides).

A thirty-something who's raising kids, either alone or with a working
spouse, paying down a mortgage, building "a career" or a business, and
anyone who's very physically active, will need relatively more
construction
materials.  The waste from these building materials, however,
interferes
with concentration, creativity, judgement and wisdom.

Norm


---- Original Message -----
From: "Gawen Harrison" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: September 12, 2000 11:07 AM
Subject: Re: [P-F] religion and paleo


> When things are taken seriously everything is personal and a challenge.
Most
> of these list "debates" are entertaining to me.  I was having fun when I
was
> ranting about Amadeus's vegetarian delusions.
> All I know is what I experience. I realize everything I BELIEVE may be
wrong.
>  For 99% of the people religion (that includes nutrition) is about beliefs
> not direct experience, People get upset and threatened when their beliefs
are
> challenged.
> I don't get upset if someone tells me that vegetarianism is the healthiest
> way to eat.
> I KNOW that is wrong (at least for me).
> The same if someone say's the only way to heaven is through Jesus (or
Allah,
> Jehovah or Baal).
>
> -Gawen
>
> << Gawen,
>
>  <<You forgot
>  4) They take themselves too seriously.>>
>
>  I tried, but I can't see where this fits in a list of why people react
>  negatively to things.  Could you elaborate?
>
>  Siobha >>