Pericles
It is not viewing the world in terms of absolutes that I am referring. I am referring to simple logic that we all use to get by every day.
If you wish to assert that the rules of logic do not apply to reality, feel free, just remember it is not to do with absolutes, just simple logic.

Scott, your essay was an excellent contribution to OLO, but unfortunately, your message seems to have sailed right over the heads of most of your commentators, with the honourable exception of Pericles. Courage, Scott.

I don't know who Pericles is, but he has been doing battle with the god-botherers on another OLO forum (Mark Christensen, "Take time before judging god"). Worth a look. You might also be interested to read what Plutarch had to say about Pericles:

"One day, Pericles was in the marketplace of Athens doing business, and all day long some noisy pest kept following him around, yelling vituperation. He even followed Pericles home. Throughout the ordeal, Pericles maintained his composure. It was dark by the time Pericles arrived home, so he gave orders for one of his servants to take a torch and guide this critic safely back to wherever he lived.

Some people said that Pericles was only trying to fool the public with a false front of virtue. But Zeno replied that if Pericles were faking virtue, his detractors should do the same, because even pretending to be good, if this is continued for long enough, will give a man the desire and practice that is needed for good habits....Truly good men do not put on one face for strangers and another for their friends."

Grey

My point is that if it allows itself, the human brain has the capacity to process and understand phrases that are intrinsically illogical, such as "I am a liar", when these are presented in a particular context.

If you look at it in this light, the statement that reality is a construct of language becomes, not self-contradictory, but quite challenging and illuminating.

Grace, I blush. Thank you.

You obviously know your Plutarch, so I suspect you will also be familiar with Plato's view on the function of rhetoric... :-)

Boaz,
The Christians and Muslims have been at each other’s throats for centuries, but both religions have similarities in that there is a belief in a God which is separate to oneself and an afterlife. The bible and the Quran are man made or man written documents. They are interpretations only of what certain prophets have said of God and of the afterlife, and there have been different versions of the Quran and of the Bible.

Not all of Christian history has been good. The Inquisitions are an example. Not all of Islamic religion has been good also, but we are now in the present. I don’t like what various fundamentalist Islamic leaders are presently telling Muslim followers to do, but at the same time I don’t think that the Jerry Springer show or a feminist course at a university is the height of mankind’s evolution either.

The conflicts between the Muslims and the Christians (based on differences of opinion as to who is the best prophet of God) cannot continue because the weaponry both sides now have is too deadly. So there has to be more conferencing between both sides and more middle ground established. The us and them (or other) type approach cannot continue between Muslims and Christians.

Pericles.
let me re-state my position better.
The Islamic culture/faith is not compatable with Australia's Judao Christian heritage, values, Laws and culture.
When speaking to a general forum like this, I should emphasize the 'difference/compatabilty' issue.

Your making too much of my 'dont want to live under THAT'. I told it as it is. I would hate to live under it. You could equally attach a notion of me not wanting it because I want to live a permissive lifestyle .. suggesting I regard it as 'too moral' and therefore superior. Chill on the pedantism.

Condescending ? me ? :) The way I said it.. yes.. it was. Sorry.
I think u took it in good humor.. seems that way.. always be robust.. that little jibe is probably deserved. (yours of me )

Care to introduce yourself a bit ? age, occupation.. interests ? (journalism ?) and 'get out more' :)