If you don't know what's wrong it can't be fixed

by N.drew 220 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  Knowsnothing

  What if they passed all your tests? The fairy example was to point out that there are human experiences that are confirmed by eye witnesses at the time of the experience. Even within the scientific method such a fact has scientific weight as well as in the courtroom. When two people say they saw the same thing, such as a murder, questioners can accurately determine if they are lying or not based on the science of psychology and other factors. More than one person is greater than one person.

  That is for the scope of human reality, Sab. You are entering the unproven supernatural. Thousands have claimed to see aliens, and there is yet to be proof. Don't let numbers fool you.
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  SweetBabyCheezits

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16E-4avtddE
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  Low-Key Lysmith

  So if the book is so full of disposable values, how do YOU decide which are useful forever?

  LOVE this!
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  N.drew

  So why then are 'unexplained' experiences provoking such cynicism which produces anger and ridicule?

  why then are 'unexplained' experiences provoking such cynicism which produces anger and ridicule?

  One wonders! I think it's because this is true:

  Hebrew 4:12

  For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart

  and this prophesy

  Matthew 29:9

  "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me."

  (When someone is silenced it is some kind of death experience).
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  sabastious

  As is typical of mythical fairytale creatures... Nonetheless, we're talking about your memory of a perception that you shared with a friend. An anecdote.

  NC said that believers seek to confirm their beliefs whereas scientists look to invalidate them. A personal experience is NOT an anecdote to the one who saw it. It's only an anecdote to the ones the person tells about the experience. Therefore for the person who saw the flying person very well may live their life attempting to confirm what they saw by other means since they can't get the fairy to come back. This is the essence of religion.

  -Sab
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  Knowsnothing

  This is the essence of religion.

  Zeus, Odin, YWHW all laugh in our faces.

  Who knew gods played hide and go seek too?
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  sabastious

  Well I don't know about principles not going out of style. Savage pretty much named a significant list of such. But let me ask you this. How do you decide? What criteria do YOU use to decide what parts are bullshit and what parts are valid? Do you base it on your own personal feelings? People used to really believe it was right and just to stone adulterers. They did, or they wouldn't have done it. THAT has gone out of style. Whose to say that more won't go by the wayside? We've already thrown the prohibitions against divorce to the garbage dump. Hopefully we'll be trashing the Bible's view of homosexuality soon. So if the book is so full of disposable values, how do YOU decide which are useful forever? And if you are only choosing what is useful for this time and place, that's what we all do. It's all relative. We don't even need a book or the spiritual to make those decisions.

  Stoning is a good example. The principle is capital punishment. Is it ever the correct decision to take someone's life as a result of them breaking a law? It's an age old question and I am a very strong proponent of the death penalty. However, the means of that death has refined over time. America has a law against cruel and unusual punishment which is a very enlightened law, but death is not always cruel, it's sometimes the right decision.

  What criteria do YOU use to decide what parts are bullshit and what parts are valid?

  The Bible was written thousands of years ago and I believe in the principle of human progress and evolution. So naturally parts of the Bible are going to be outdated and some parts are not. Like with stoning the practice became outdated, but the principle just evolved. Really in the end the criteria is contingent on cultural acceptance. When something becomes culturally acceptable is when it's ethics have gone through a process of societal refinement.

  Take homosexuality for example. How would you like to be a leader in the ancient world with a view of pro homosexuality? It's the culture that ultimately makes the decision. Homosexuality was not accepted in the general populace otherwise you would eventually get revolt and change would occur.

  I believe in the purposeful direction and progress of mankind as the creation of the One True God.

  -Sab
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  NewChapter

  By the way I'm sorry you have sleep paralysis, that is a hardcore disorder, my little brother has it.

  Not a big deal for me. It barely affects my day because it does not scare me. Yet another interesting fact. Even though science has explained this phenomena quite well, including what happens in the brain that leads to common experiences (floating, flying, human-like faces, flames or light) there are STILL people with it that insist that they are connected to the spirit world. They believe that have been gifted a special door, and with explanation in hand, continue on with that belief. Which is to say, nothing shakes belief.

  For whatever reason, I never thought demons, angels, aliens or anything else. I just wondered why it happened. Even as a JW, I did not think of demons. I was more curious than quick to jump to conclusions, but still found my answer by accident. It was before the internet was really big, and I didn't have a lot of skill yet. So it popped up on TV. Gratefully my mind was open to the real explanation, and I didn't need to worry myself any further.

  NC
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  sabastious

  Zeus, Odin, YWHW all laugh in our faces.

  Stars are real and that's what Greek Mythology is based on.

  -Sab
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  SweetBabyCheezits

  Therefore for the person who saw the flying person very well may live their life attempting to confirm what they saw by other means since they can't get the fairy to come back. This is the essence of religion.

  Agreed.

  Using mythical creatures to explain the unexplained and using confirmation bias as a validation - that sums up religion quite well. I bid you folks good evening.