Spook

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Posts by Spook

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  42

  A question for Atheists

  by IP_SEC in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  if you are an atheist, what are your thoughts on the afterlife?

  mortality?

  we are what we are until we die, then are no more?

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  Spook

  I hold a natural world view. I am a part of life. Life is not a part of me. The meaning of my life is to add to the breadth, beauty, and power of life. By doing so, I experience BEING more fully.

  I highly recommedn the writings of Gregory Bateson to all fellow atheists. His 'Steps To An Ecology Of Mind' provides an interesting connection of natural sacredness to the human condition. He has also influenced modern society. The line of consciousness lies between the mechanical and the supernatural. A natural world, real, splendid, now.

  As for an afterlife, Epicurus was brilliant in his realization that so long as I exist, my death can not exist. If my death exists, I do not. My death exists in my head. I'll live life and die death.
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  46

  The Watchtower, Scholar and Misrepresentation of Source References

  by AlanF in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  our resident pretend-jw-scholar who calls himself "scholar" enjoys justifying lying and misrepresentation by the watchtower society and himself.

  the society, out of one side of its collective mouth, recommends not misrepresenting source references, yet out of the other side, goes ahead and does so without hesitation whenever it is convenient.

  the society understands that unfair quoting is dishonest.

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  Spook

  One additon:

  The misuse of quotes is identical to the misuse of bible passages. The context of the quote is ignored for the denotation of the words as being fit for a topical purpose.
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  46

  The Watchtower, Scholar and Misrepresentation of Source References

  by AlanF in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  our resident pretend-jw-scholar who calls himself "scholar" enjoys justifying lying and misrepresentation by the watchtower society and himself.

  the society, out of one side of its collective mouth, recommends not misrepresenting source references, yet out of the other side, goes ahead and does so without hesitation whenever it is convenient.

  the society understands that unfair quoting is dishonest.

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  Spook

  I might have more sympathy for you, Scholar, if the WT hadn't done away with traditional references years ago. Why is that? My claim is that they don't value conventions of scholarship. Firstly, because there are not true scholars in the organization (claim based on lack of scholarship in the publications) and secondly, it is just another form self-standardization. Refusing the written convention of bibliography is an insult to humanity.

  One example, the Creator book, is particularly odius. Where in this text is credit given to the Intelligent Design movement and all of it's productive authors? Evolution occurs, and yet I still believe that credit should be given for ID theory. Why are these ideas presented as novel or new? In the older Evolution book, frequent quotes were made from fundamentalist creationsits. I ask, why would quoting them give credence to the WT? If there arguments are sound, should I not give the credit to THEM and not the organization?
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  19

  4-1-05 WT Galileo and Catholic Church: Lessons to be learned

  by blondie in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i won't go through the whole account of galileo; he believed what his eyes told him, not the church, and died under house arrest.. .

  the wts has these comments:.

  because galileo rejected an interpretation of scripture based on greek philosophy, he stood condemned!

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  Spook

  My conclusion is that almost all of the bible is dirivitive from 'pagan' cultures. But the galileo response is typical.
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  63

  Our Future After Terri Schiavo/ What Hangs in the Balance.

  by prophecor in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  regardless for how one feels about the situation surrounding terri schiavo, this will be a landmark case in american history, politically, religiously, as well as within the medical profession.

  to put this woman to death in the manner for which is being done, is inhumane and ungodly.

  criminals on death row are afforded a more deserving death than she has been given.

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  Spook

  This is in no way a landmark case. Not at all. The laws that created this situation have been enforced this way for years.

  The first two posts here are great.

  http://direland.typepad.com/
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  68

  The evidence AGAINST evolution

  by AlmostAtheist in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  no, sorry, i won't be providing any.

  this is a thread for those that have done some research and concluded that evolution is not how various species came to exist.. have you done the research?

  do you believe that species exist as a result of god's direct creation?

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  Spook

  Most of the primary speciation of complex life happened long ago. There are (according to newest info on Nature.com) over half a million recorded animal species.

  A good starting point for speciation is http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CB/CB910.html

  There you will find some interesting links.
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  36

  Crap that hurts! Talking to an ex-LDS

  by Qcmbr in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i just got an email from someone who played a really formative part of my life who's since left the lds church (my rose tinted spectacles) and it really hurts.

  this is why i don't go to ex-lds sites.

  its wierd - a lot of you as posters are at the other end of the tunnel - having left/escaped - but it sure as heck feels gut wrenching when your still 'in' and someone you care about leaves.

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  Spook

  Gregory Bateson has some interesting theories on complex systems and organizational ecologies. The "leaving the cult" reactions are so powerful because the stance of someone who willfully exists the conversation of socially constructed reality is on a very powerful level saying *this isn't real*
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  18

  Why Are YOU Happy to be Out of the JW's? Memorial Topic

  by GetBusyLiving in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  well..?

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  Spook

  Hey you wisconsin folks! (Dustin & Brook) send me a PM with where you were from! I just moved from SE Wisconsin to Chicago. The memorial was my last meeting. I'm sending out my DA announcements on Monday.

  Whoopee! Let's Party!
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  63

  Memorial experiences 2005 thread

  by Jez in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  lets put all of our memorial stories/thoughts on one thread.

  mine: 45 mins.

  quick and boring.

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  Spook

  It was the last meeting I'm attending. I have my DA letter ready to go. But on more amusing tones, I liked that all the sexy disfellowshipped girls were there. Hehe. Finally some attractive, normal people in the kingdom hall! I wish I had scored some numbers, but that would have spoiled the surprise!
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  9

  6000 Year Old Dinasour Soft Tissue Found!

  by SixofNine in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the text says it's 70 million years old, but i'm sure that's just a typo.

  it's interesting otherwise though.. .

  http://www.cnn.com/2005/tech/science/03/24/rex.tissue.a... .

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  Spook

  Riiiiiiiight. I saw this on BBC earlier today. YEC will be masturbating to this for weeks until the analysis comes out.