My Dad got baptized when I was about 5.
Midget-Sasquatch
JoinedPosts by Midget-Sasquatch
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106
Another poll: raised in or came in?
by under_believer insomeone asked a question in the "what generation are you" thread:.
were you "raised in the truth," or did you "come into the truth?".
i was raised..
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17
If the Bible is in such a mess is the Quoran God's final version?
by Spectrum inat least this is what the muslims claim.
until i had come on this forum i didn't have a clue as to what complex and convoluted problems biblical text offers upon scholarly examination.
i never took the muslim claim seriously i was quite derisory about the whole thing but now i have to give it more thought.
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Midget-Sasquatch
Spectrum
I've been told by a muslim aquaintance that in the original Arabic the Quran was very enjoyable to read and to listen to (of high poetic calibre). It loses its beauty in translation. And that beauty was one of the central "proofs" of its divine inspiration. "How else could the unlettered Muhammed come up with it?" Oh, I'm convinced.
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Are you tired of the whole atheist/believer debate?
by nicolaou ini'm usually the first one to stir this particular pot but it get's so frustrating to keep coming up against the same old arguments.
the phrase "banging your head against a brick wall" springs to mind.
how many times have believers argued for a designer but refused to answer the obvious question of the designer's origin?.
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Midget-Sasquatch
Heathen
There's a good deal of confusion over the punctuated equilibrium model of speciation. It still holds that the changes would require at least tens of thousands of years if not hundreds of thousands. So "overnight" geologically speaking is still a fair stretch for natural selection to work within.
AuldSoul
Since we don't know what sort of beings might exist outside our perception we cannot rule out that they may be sentient energy. In which case, it would be right to claim never having had a beginning and never having had an end—energy can change state but can never "not exist."
Not being 100% sure either way....and quite possibly our never being able to be sure....that to me is the most frustrating aspect of an agnostic position. I would at least have to have some kind of experiential confirmation of the existence of the spiritual to seriously consider it . But then how do I know its a genuine interaction with another part of reality and not just a misinterpreted neural glitch from within me? At least the atheist and the believer can move on either way.
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If the Bible is in such a mess is the Quoran God's final version?
by Spectrum inat least this is what the muslims claim.
until i had come on this forum i didn't have a clue as to what complex and convoluted problems biblical text offers upon scholarly examination.
i never took the muslim claim seriously i was quite derisory about the whole thing but now i have to give it more thought.
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Midget-Sasquatch
The Qu'ran does make use of biblical material as well as non-canonical christian material. Like Mary (JC's mom) being fed by angels, or someone else (it says Judas) being substituted for Jesus at crucifixion.
As for it being the very word of Allah, I suggest you look into the abrogated verses of the Qu'ran.
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115
Are you tired of the whole atheist/believer debate?
by nicolaou ini'm usually the first one to stir this particular pot but it get's so frustrating to keep coming up against the same old arguments.
the phrase "banging your head against a brick wall" springs to mind.
how many times have believers argued for a designer but refused to answer the obvious question of the designer's origin?.
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Midget-Sasquatch
The positive side of our changing models for reality is that with each iteration we do gain more control and power over our surroundings. Strongly suggesting that our knowledge is at least on the right track. Newtonian classical mechanics are still quite valid and can be successfully used in our macroscopic day to day world. Quantum mechanics makes us humble in just how incomplete our knowledge really is though. But I'm still satisfied with what can be done with that limited amount.
I'm with you though that these are all models. And so I'd be presumptious to ad hock rule out any other plane or realm to reality (for this discussion that means any "spiritual" reality)
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115
Are you tired of the whole atheist/believer debate?
by nicolaou ini'm usually the first one to stir this particular pot but it get's so frustrating to keep coming up against the same old arguments.
the phrase "banging your head against a brick wall" springs to mind.
how many times have believers argued for a designer but refused to answer the obvious question of the designer's origin?.
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Midget-Sasquatch
How do you respond to the charge that the Scientific Method is a belief generator, any of which beliefs may later be proven false? Ultimately, if you accept something as fact that may be false, and you use it as though it were true, and you rely on its truth for developing other things believed to be true, how is this not a belief system?
I can see your point. Since our knowledge (scientific as well as other kinds) is currently incomplete, we're left extrapolating and positing some of it to some degree. And since some uncertainty is always to be expected it'll always have that element of "believing". Thats why I never tire of these debates and one reason why I presently lean on agnosticism. Although in nearly all my actions and thoughts I'm practically atheist.
Yes, materialists presuppose that there actually is an objective reality beyond each of us. How our consciousness interacts with it is by no means free of subjectivity, but I'd say that the "beliefs" arrived at by the scientific method are some of the surest we've ever had.
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Someone wants to know; are KH's taking pictures or video during meetings?
by Apostate Kate insomeone said a camera was pointed at her during a meeting.
anyone here of anything of this?
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Midget-Sasquatch
Actually, there are cameras in one KH in my current city of residence but its for parking lot and entrance security. Nothing aimed at the publishers inside.
The assembly hall in London Ontario does have cameras inside, but they're positioned to zoom in on the stage and the baptismal pool. (While the cameras can be rotated about to focus in on some of the seats in the first 3 rows or so, the angles are awkward)
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JoJo's Story.......
by kittyeatzjdubs inwell.......i figured it's about time to tell my story...bear with me, it's close to bedtime and i'll probably have to break this up.... .
i was born on may 22, 1985 into a family full of dubs minus the dad...my father never had much to do w/ religion.
after that, it's pretty much blank, except for what was recounted to me by family members..
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Midget-Sasquatch
Thats one of the reasons why I've come to resent the WTS. The nasty mind games and conditioning inflicted on people.
I admire your strength and how you were still showing love for others even when you were most in need of it. You're an inspiration for coming out on top.
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Apology of cults
by Narkissos incharles(chasson)' thread about alain garay made me think, more generally, about what we often perceive (rightly or wrongly) as an apology of cults under the banner of "freedom of worship".. it seems only natural that cult members, officials and their attorneys should take such a stance; it is also understandable that communities which have similar interests, like small churches who tend to see anti-cultic policy as a potential threat to their own existence, support them to an extent.
so we have seen, in france, the protestant federation criticising the heavy taxation of jws by the fiscal administration.. i wonder about the motivations of some other voices joining in the chorus.
i suspect they may do so for very different, even antagonistic reasons.. one noteworthy example is the us department of state, whose yearly report on freedom of worship regularly criticises the governmental attempts to control cult activity in other countries (notably, in the eu, france, germany or belgium).
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Midget-Sasquatch
Alot of groups define themselves by using others as a contrast or foil. The greater the antagonism, the greater the tendency to keep separate and apart. So relatively low levels of cultic activity could help societies to set more tolerant "boundaries"(Since they're usually on the fringes). Higher levels of cultic activity may contribute to the division of a society, but I doubt America or anyone else is actually working that angle or could control that genie.
I agree with most of you here. Just because we're becoming less xenophobic, doesn't mean we should accept any kind of norms. We know first hand how some cults can be detrimental so some form of monitoring is prudent. I like Jgnat's proposal in this regard.
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The Big Goodbye
by SickofLies inthanks everyone for the support and help.
i've enjoyed doing my project and i'm proud of myself for doing it.
i've spent a ton of time here posting and getting to know everyone and its been fun.
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Midget-Sasquatch
I hope you find the co-op enjoyable. If its at Mac, is it the pharmacology program that your in? I'd have offered my input on your research paper if I were qualified, but I've only gotten bachelor degrees.
Wishing you the best that freedom can offer!