Posts by Midget-Sasquatch

26

Creator Book - Periodic Table - Part 1

by Amazing in

jw
friends

i believe in god ... but not because of any watchtower teaching.

it is actually fun to look back and see how they applied very poor logic and nonsense to try and prove their point.

Midget-Sasquatch

Hi Amazing,

I agree with you that the periodic table, as we have it, was deliberately layed out to bring out patterns, and that these simplified groupings are a human construct. The society does tend to exagerate orderliness in nature as evidence for a designer god.

I do want to let other readers realize though that the periodic table as we have it does bring out at least one genuine underlying pattern seen in the natural elements. That elements with identical electron configurations in their outermost shell will behave very similarly/almost identically in their chemical reactions. It was this similarity of chemical behaviour among elements and a seeming periodicity associated with atomic number that gave rise to the idea of setting up a table. (Again its more correct to look at the electron configurations). Elements are placed in the same groups to reflect that underlying natural pattern. But again that doesn't mean a god designed it that way.

I look forward to other thoughts you have on that book. Its less fun to take apart than the earlier book Life How did it Get Here? but there's still ample material to dissect.Later.

24

must we practice what we believe?

by tetrapod.sapien in

jw
friends

for example, i often hear atheists say that while they have a "lack of belief" in any gods (negative position), they are going to make the positive step in their lives and live them like there were no gods.

which is to say that they make their own morals and choices without fear of some god.

but what if an atheist decided one day that so and so religion, that worships so and so god, makes him feel good emotionally, and gives his ever vigilant left hemisphere a break on sundays.

Midget-Sasquatch

I'll reiterate the point made by JaguarBass. Its very useful to "test the waters".

And as a few have already touched on, motive is pivotal. If one is acting out of harmony with their beliefs strictly for some material gain at the expense of others, then I'd find it distasteful. I'm unhappy with myself, because I'm hypocritical in that I'm still trying to keep in good standing with the jws, even though I don't believe any of it. That just so my family will still talk to me.

Then we have the curious. If we always only followed one particular belief system, I think we then deprive ourselves of a key component of alternative belief systems: the experiential. And to some belief systems, its all about the experience as opposed to the doctrine. I think experimenting or practicing something even if we fully may not believe it, for the reason of seeing what may happen to us, can be eye-opening. Or then again, nothing may happen: like my not yet having any classic mystical experiences...tonnes of chocolate induces a satisfactory mood in me for the time being.

49

What were your reasons for becoming a JW?

by Narkissos in

jw
friends

reasons, not excuses -- even valid ones (like, "i was ignorant, depressed, fooled").. yours in the sense that you can still own (to) them -- even though you now know the "answer" was wrong.. this obviously applies to those who became jws -- hence mostly not born-in, although some of the latter might admit to having chosen the jw way for themselves at a certain stage of their childhood or teenage years.. this question is triggered by a previous conversation with purplesofa on another thread:.

i think most of us that came in and not born in were searching.

our hearts were pure in our search.

Midget-Sasquatch

I just want to say thanks to the idealists who posted. Who doesn't want a kinder and gentler society? That dream was a beautiful one, and now we know its to be pursued apart from Jehoober of the WTS.

I grew up in a religiously divided home (Dad JW and mother Roman Catholic). My father demanded my sister and I follow the JW life and my mother demanded we get a catholic education. I think I already had a predisposition to seek solitude, but the inevitable clashes and conflicts made me, not only feel, but actually be an outcast in both "worlds". I also had/have a less than stellar relationship with my parents, who I have disappointed on many counts.

Add to all of that this pertinent detail: Even from when I was fairly young, say 9 yrs or so, I never really believed anything I was being taught by either religion. Yet my whole family and so many people in the KH and the school were strong believers. Talk about feeling disconnected or alienated.

I knew many of the key teachings of the jws were simply wrong and baseless, and catholicism had its share of unfounded doctrines too. But at the same time I still (and I'll admit at times even now) longed for some kind of inner experience, spiritual birth, what-have-you. I decided to take a leap of faith and get baptised as a JW (having my own private set of amended votives). Maybe my motive was simply an attempt at being within instead of on the fringe. I'd like to think a part of it was actually an earnest desire to find/kindle spirituality.

I think this tin man is still without a heart. And if you're wondering why in the world I went with the JWs instead of the catholics, its because I also have the scarecrow's lack of brains.

53

Where did the universe come from?

by Blueblades in

jw
friends

if it was always here, how did it get here?

let's leave god out of the equation for now.. blueblades.

Midget-Sasquatch

In line with what Satanus said about the potential: I think we need to learn more about vacuum energy and quantum fluctuations. Subatomic particles can appear in a vacuum ---a matter and its antimatter analogue----then they disappear on collision with a burst of photons IIRC. The Big Bang may have been a quirky quantum fluctuation where there was a bit more matter than antimatter. One fluctuation of many in a multiverse. What is the basis of this vacuum energy? Fascinating.

10

The Gospel of Judas

by kwintestal in

what are your thoughts on it?

the link to the national geographic research of it.. link to the translated document of the gospel of judas.

i read the account and i must say it really sheds a different light on the whole story.

Midget-Sasquatch

I know the standard history is that gnostic christianities came in strong about the 2nd century. So the present protestant, orthodox, and catholic churches harp on that to discredit it.

I find some aspects of gnosticism very appealling though. I also think there's a strong case for early forms having roots going right back to around the time of Paul,

But it looks like this copy of the Gospel of Judas, fits the description of a version used by the Cainites. So unlike, say, the Gospel of Thomas, I don't really think this gospel holds any genuine early traditions. It might also not be properly interpreted so I'm waiting for the alternative.

Besides my general interest in variant forms of christianity, I also luv this gosple for a very unintellectual reason. Its gotten the local dub CO and elders, as well as some local fundies I've come across riled up and its fun to discuss it with them.

9

Ontario, Canada opposer community?

by CharlieBrownsLovelyDaughter in

i was going to say apostate.

lol.

is the anyone here who is a member of the jw-opposer communtiy in ontario, canada?.

Midget-Sasquatch

I'm from Ontario and haven't heard of these LOAs. Then again, I've never worked in the medical or health profession.

142

Study Detects Recent Instance of Human Evolution

by zagor in

jw
friends

study detects recent instance of human evolution by nicholas wadea surprisingly recent instance of human evolution has been detected among the peoples of east africa.

it is the ability to digest milk in adulthood, conferred by genetic changes that occurred as recently as 3,000 years ago, a team of geneticists has found.. the finding is a striking example of a cultural practice the raising of dairy cattle feeding back into the human genome.

it also seems to be one of the first instances of convergent human evolution to be documented at the genetic level.

Midget-Sasquatch

From the get go I stated that I have no problem believing in adaptation and natural selection, but not so far as it can add more complex genetic material to an organism that could create a more complex life form. The antibiotic resistant bacteria is still.....bacteria and will always be bacteria.

Kate

Yeah I can see your point there. I guess you wouldn't be all that impressed either with the discovery of bacteria that can now degrade nylon.

So how's about this: Syncytin is a protein expressed in the mammalian womb and helps fuse together the cells that eventually will connect to the placenta and provide nourishment to the growing embryo. Here's the interesting part. Syncytin is the envelope protein for an endogenous retrovirus -- in humans its called HERV-W. Consider what this strongly suggests ----> that viral infections shaped the development of the placenta, and so the evolution of mammals. Not just bacteria to bacteria there.

142

Study Detects Recent Instance of Human Evolution

by zagor in

jw
friends

study detects recent instance of human evolution by nicholas wadea surprisingly recent instance of human evolution has been detected among the peoples of east africa.

it is the ability to digest milk in adulthood, conferred by genetic changes that occurred as recently as 3,000 years ago, a team of geneticists has found.. the finding is a striking example of a cultural practice the raising of dairy cattle feeding back into the human genome.

it also seems to be one of the first instances of convergent human evolution to be documented at the genetic level.

Midget-Sasquatch

Now lets focus here. Show me any scientific evidence that a chromasome can evolve into a higher more complex life form. I am not interested in opinions or theory's. If there is research proof we will see a legitamate PHd's name on it.

Kate

I think I understand what you mean by the above question. Although be prepared to be called on its wording. I'm sure you know that, literally, chromosomes arethe DNA of the organisms and not the organisms themselves.

To your question, consider the following evidence. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes while the great apes like chimps, gorillas and orangutans have 24. Since evolution holds that ape-like creatures were our ancestors, at some point, our speciation and subsequent evolution involed an apparent loss of a chromosome. Actually karyotypes have shown us that only a very little bit of information was lost and that the change in number occured by a fusion of two chromosomes into one.

Its still a chromosomal change though. Here's a link I think you'll find interesting.

http://www.gate.net/~rwms/hum_ape_chrom.html

5

Atheist Book Study ... Anyone interested?

by kwintestal in

jw
friends

with everyone on the board who's reading the god delusion (myself included) how about we start our own little study group ... we can get together, sip tea and go over pre-prepared questions.

maybe we can do it tuesday or thursday nights?

kwin.

Midget-Sasquatch

Sounds fun, but I know I won't be regular. I won't be receiving any sheperding calls then will I?

To be honest, the job I'm currently at has a frequently changing schedule that messes up my days, nights and weekends. I've had the perfect excuse for not being at many of the dubby meetings but it also means I now have practically no social life.

P.S. You know me kwin so be kind on that very last line I wrote.

142

Study Detects Recent Instance of Human Evolution

by zagor in

jw
friends

study detects recent instance of human evolution by nicholas wadea surprisingly recent instance of human evolution has been detected among the peoples of east africa.

it is the ability to digest milk in adulthood, conferred by genetic changes that occurred as recently as 3,000 years ago, a team of geneticists has found.. the finding is a striking example of a cultural practice the raising of dairy cattle feeding back into the human genome.

it also seems to be one of the first instances of convergent human evolution to be documented at the genetic level.

Midget-Sasquatch

Kate,

I also wanted to quickly add in another little tidbit you might find interesting. I don't have any references right now but maybe you'd like to research this further. The stretch of genetic code responsible for the fish fin is very similar to the corresponding code for the vertebrate limb. Apparently, having additional repeats of a certain kind results in the formation of digits.

(Note to the experts: I'm not pretending in the above that thats all there is to it new limb structures appearing. Because I realize that just as important as what the code is "saying" , is how its expression is being regulated. That notwithstanding, small changes can potentially have some awesome implications)