Greetings Ayinde,

and I give thanks for the response.

"Anyhow, you have shared YOUR views, and I have shared from MY experiences."

Pretty much sums things up from my perspective as well. You are right, I dont think that I have grasped the sort of truth that we are talking about, other than in very fleeting ways, and on rare occasions. Whether I choose to call this sort of truth transcendant or absolute is to me synonymous, though obviously to you it is not.

Fair enough, once again, difference is a thing that I cherish rather than despise.

As for the passive aggression thing, well I think that you are wrong. I actually have no problem whatsoever with the concept of actual agression, in its many forms, but only when it is warranted. I have served as an officer in my countries defence forces, and have spent a fair amount of my life studying the martial arts. However the need for violence, to me, is very, very rare, and is connected entirely to the defence of life and freedom. I certainly dont consider forums like this to be a place for such. I am not under any real threat, this is first and foremost an exchange of ideas. Given what I do for a living, where I pretty much constantly have people going through what I think with a fine tooth comb, I dont even feel remotely defensive about the notion of reasoning.

What you may have percieved as some form of slyness is in fact a genuine desire on my part not to give offence. To anyone. A consequence of the few things that I KNOW is a desire on my part to avoid causing harm wherever possible. I cannot honestly say that I am able to achieve this at all times, but it is a fundamental pillar of my livity. And it is my understanding that it is just as possible to hurt someone with words and ideas as it is with fists, feet, or projectiles.

I will debate in an occasionaly vigorous manner about theory with folks here, as is evidenced by my 'tussles' with a variety of people on the nature of behaviour and evolution. Altough I will only do this if I believe that my 'co-reasoners' are not likely to take what I say personally.

But at the end of the day I am committed to the fact that it is theory that we are talking about, not something that Iam 100% certain about, and I am constantly surprised by just how wrong I can get things sometimes.

This current converstaion is no exception to that rule. If you are more certain about the nature of truth than I quite honestly congratulate you, and have respect for your attainment of what so many of us are still striving for.

I am, by contrast, uncertain of where I stand on the path. Though I am comfortable with this uncertainty, and respectful of the many ways that truth may be sought and expressed.

Love and life
Paul