The Logic Off Topic list

At 8:59 AM -0700 10/18/01, Kool Musick wrote:
>  > > > Dennis Gunn wrote:
>>  > > But on the other hand in the context of *this* conflict, in which
>>  > > nothing whatsoever is rational, that stuff does actually seem to
>>  > > matter.
>
>Kool Musick wrote:
>>  > Why?
>
>Dennis Gunn wrote:
>
>>Don't ask me ask the guys with the long beards and funny hats.
>
>No. I am asking you. That document came in; GA Moore wrote what I
>considered a reasonable response containing a lot of good points ...

Good for you both.  I don't necessarily think he responded with 
anything particularly illuminating since he himself did not claim to 
have much information on the subject.  I know I don't.

>You then accused GA Moore of pretty much having called Tiran Edri a
>fascist. Far as I can tell that description involved Mr. Moore's debate (or
>non-debate) concerning the matters raised in points 6, 7, 8 of the original
>document and to which I referred you. (You studiously ignored, in your
>reply, Point 8 (about how when Muslims pray they turn their backs to
>Jerusalem)).

I studiously don't give a fuck which direction they face consider the 
whole thing absurd.  I do seem to recall some obscure story  that the 
origin of the tradition of facing in a prescribed direction to pray 
was actually a reaction to a perceived slight by members of one the 
competing faiths against the other.  It may be of vital importance to 
the practicers but just looks silly and petty to someone outside 
looking in.  That said I also understand that Tiran was trying to 
make the point that the most holy site for the Islam faith, Mecca, is 
in another place that Jerusalem altogether.

>YOU levelled that accusation and not the people whom you have characterised
>above via their apparel.
>So ... my original question stands.
>Why?

My original answer ask them not me why it is important.  Because they 
not me are the ones who think God is any more in piece of dirt than 
another.  They are the ones who rightly or wrongly cite and interpret 
scriptures as supporting their positions.  They not me are the ones 
who say God gives them and not someone else a right to do a certain 
thing in a certain place.  And they not I are the ones who make those 
issues articles of faith and thus by definition out of the realm of 
rational analysis.

And they not I wear funny hats.  All of my headgear is exceedingly 
tasteful.  Quite useful to conceal my baldness and thus enhance my 
reproductive options.
-- 


                                 Dennis Gunn
                                 Mightyjohn@...

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