This is a bump of this topic here as I think it needs more conversation:
Awake February 2013: Scientist says JWs are the best.
by garbonzo 11 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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garbonzo
My mom just gave me this article to read knowing that I support evolution and I am an atheist / agnostic (she doesn't understand the difference or non-difference, so I just say agnostic), so I looked him up and found that thread. It's a shame that experiences like this cement people's faith, as it's not really something you can debunk, unless the WT misquoted him or made him up, which right now doesn't seem to be the case. All I can say is that he (a scientist for pete's sake) really hasn't done his research. Look at his experience. He accepted evolution as fact without researching it. That's not scientific right there. Even before it said that in the article, I saw that he said he was "taught" evolution. None of the atheists here would say that. The truth of evolution was not one-sidedly taught to us, but we learned it and researched it ourself. Religion is taught, not learned. Evolution should be learned, not taught.
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Tiktaalik
>> Religion is taught, not learned. Evolution should be learned, not taught.
I think you might have run off the rails semantically with this line of reasoning Garbonzo. This sentence makes no sense. You can teach anyone anything. And when you do they learn it. Don't matter if its religion, or evolution, or quantity surveying.
How can you learn something if you aren't taught it? You say you know about evolution. If you do then it was taught to you.
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jgnat
I think you do that discussion a disservice, garbonzo. We found out the scientist quoted is an engineer and is a current witness. Apparently he did not respond to the e-mail we sent him.
Since evolution is established it should be taught, IMO. It is doubtful that a person on their own would research all the source studies that led to evolution as a conclusion, on their own.
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garbonzo
>> How can you learn something if you aren't taught it? You say you know about evolution. If you do then it was taught to you.
Yeah, I worded it wrong. The point being was this:
>> He accepted evolution as fact without researching it.
(and he goes on to do this)
I still don't think a lot of us would say we were JUST taught evolution even if we were, technically, because we also researched the evidence behind it. So we would say we were taught, but we ourselves also researched. And that is what we would say to someone if we were explaining our beliefs.
Does that make more sense?
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problemaddict
The person is a JW. I don't think the article hid it. If anyone smarter than you confirms what you already believe to be so, it just hammers in the indoctrination.
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cofty
He is an electrical engineer, why should his opinon of evolution be of interest to anybody?
"There's a guy works down the chip shop swears he's Elvis"
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garbonzo
Because people think he should be smart. Hence why they use the word scientist.
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Pickler
I followed this from the other thread, so I read all the links about the misleading information in the creation book, and then I've read this science guys background......my blood is boiling!!!
I would like to say to this guy.....
Your a JW and a scientist, whatever your name is? Sounds like you have a really cool job too, money, self respect based on your intellectual achievements etc etc
You do realize that if you had been raised a JW you would never have gone to university? You would now be a relatively impoverished 40 something with a bad back from whatever laborer/cleaning job you had?
Ae your kids going to go to university? If they do you are a hypocrite, and if they don't your an a**
Will we need face recognition computers in the new system? Why aren't you pioneering?
This guy makes me sick to my stomach.
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Apognophos
Because people think he should be smart. Hence why they use the word scientist.
He probably is smart, too. Sometimes smart people believe foolish things. The real problem is with people who elevate the "smart" peoples' opinions above their own and don't think for themselves.