Commie Chris

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Posts by Commie Chris

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  11

  Creationist Red Herrings

  by Abaddon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  everytime i hear someone say anything about how there are 'no transitional fossils' (fish-amphibians, amphibians-reptiles etc.

  ), i generally ignore it.. why?

  because if they say that, it tends to indicate the person saying it has restricted their research to pro-creation sites that generally repeat one of the classic fifty or so creationist arguements.

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  Commie Chris

  This subject interested me a great deal when I was a JW. I really wanted to believe that the WT was right about creationism, but I could never accept it without looking at both sides of the issue for myself. I read several books, including:

  Science and Creationism, ed. Ashley Montagu (Oxford Books)
  Scientists Confront Creationism, ed. Laurie Godfrey (Norton)
  Science on Trial, The Case for Evolution, by Douglas Futuyama (Pantheon Books)

  I eventually became convinced that evolution is a fact, but I could personally reconcile evolution with the existence of a creator god. What was disturbing, however, was the hostility of the elders to any personal research on my part on this subject. I was repeatedly warned that I was being influenced by demons and I was labelled "bad association" because I refused to accept the WT dogma which was clearly contradicted by overwhelming evidence.
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  13

  Evolution-bias(exposed)

  by moman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  why haz this debate on (evolution v/s creation) stil lively & well after all these years, when,it iz impossible to prove either case?.

  posters like (jan) exibit lots of arrogance & name calling when challanged, why?.

  my theory: people that have been involved in some religion (like the borg),after finding out they have been deceived swing their scale too far to the opposite side in a typical "overaction!

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  Commie Chris

  I have no bias. I would love to be convinced that the variety of life on this planet was created by a god rather than through the forces of evolution, and that humans did not evolve from other life forms. When I was a J-W I studied both evolution and the Biblical creationist theories. If anything, I was biased towards wanting to believe in creation and wanting to be convinced that evolution was just another unproven theory. But I kept an open mind and continued studying, against the wishes of the anti-intellectual elders. Eventually I came to the conclusion that "creationism" is pseudo-scientific mythology. The evidence for evolution is overwhelming. The worst thing about this whole "debate" is the rank dishonesty of most of the peddlers of "creation science". I found numerous cases of them (including the WT) falsifying evidence, and desceptively mis-quoting and selectively quoting from authors of scientific papers. Science has no need to resort to such tactics. "Creationism" is not science.
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  17

  A Socialist defends Americans

  by Rex B13 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for all of the anti-american cynics in range, here is a commentary from one of your own that plays a different tune, albeit a socialist one.

  do any of our regulars sound much like this woman named 'raven', cited in the article?

  (btw, i read the whole article).

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  Commie Chris

  Jelly: first of all, you still seem to be confusing your idea of "communism" with the kind of libertarian socialism that I am espousing. Again, I am opposed to coercive big government and my ideas have nothing in common with the authoritarian regimes of the former Soviet bloc, or any similar regimes. There is nothing "socialist" whatsoever about those states. I’d be happy to direct you to some literature if you are interested in learning more about libertarian socialism / anarchy.

  Secondly, what makes you think that a democratic economy (essentially based on worker-owned industry rather than capitalism) cannot work? In 1930s pre-fascist Spain anarchist ideas were very well known and practiced in large parts of that country. They were very successful until they were violently suppressed by the fascists and other parties who were threatened by the emergence of a truly democratic society. In the U.S. in the 19th century, worker-owned cooperatives were so efficient and successful that capitalist industries often could not compete with them. The state had to intervene with subsidies and anti-worker legislation to ensure that the capitalists prevailed over worker-owned industries. Today, although there is admittedly not a lot of empirical research in this area, the available research indicates that worker owned industries are generally more efficient than capitalist owned industries.

  In addition to the evidence that an economy based on anarchist / libertarian socialist principles would likely be materially more productive than the present state-supported capitalist economic system, it also seems to be in keeping with the fundamentals of human nature. Human history can be seen as a continual striving towards greater and greater freedom and away from coercive forms of authority. As I alluded to in my initial response to Rex in this threat, the U.S. and other capitalist countries have achieved greater individual civil liberty than in almost any society in human history. But there is clearly still a long way to go. Leaving aside for the moment the recent disturbing reactionary attacks by American governments on fundamental civil rights and liberties, people are still far from free economically. The freedom of most is to restricted to the freedom to attempt to sell their labour to a different capitalist or civil service employer. Either way, the vast majority are not in control of their economic lives – they are working for bosses who are not accountable to them. I believe that human nature will lead people inevitably to demand and obtain greater control over their economic lives just as they have demanded greater and greater control over their political lives. There are solid reasons to believe that capitalism is no more eternal than any system which preceded it. It is riddled with internal contradictions which virtually ensure its’ eventual demise. The overall trend of human history indicates that it will inevitably be replaced by a system which delivers greater freedom, wealth and equality.
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  7

  Christians and Nuclear Weapons

  by VM44 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for some reason i have been thinking about this question, .

  and i am posting it here to get your comments.. the question is:.

  would it be proper for a christian to work on the development.

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  Commie Chris

  Proper for a Christion? Maybe. For a rational human being? No.
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  17

  A Socialist defends Americans

  by Rex B13 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for all of the anti-american cynics in range, here is a commentary from one of your own that plays a different tune, albeit a socialist one.

  do any of our regulars sound much like this woman named 'raven', cited in the article?

  (btw, i read the whole article).

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  Commie Chris

  Expat: I was hoping to pick a fight with you - you're much more interesting than Rex.

  Jelly: I am certainly not a social democrat by any stretch. I am against big government. I believe a fair, free, just society should be based on free, voluntary association. The present economy of the U.S., Canada and Europe is dominated by state (tax-payer) subsidized giant multi-national corporations and state-owned industries. This system should be replaced with one based on worker-owned co-operatives and small to medium sized private enterprise. This is a vision of a democratic society which is not practised by the European social democrats, despite what they sometimes preach.
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  17

  A Socialist defends Americans

  by Rex B13 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for all of the anti-american cynics in range, here is a commentary from one of your own that plays a different tune, albeit a socialist one.

  do any of our regulars sound much like this woman named 'raven', cited in the article?

  (btw, i read the whole article).

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  Commie Chris

  Gee Rex, you're so clever. I'm sure you came to your conclusion after extensive study of the theory and practise of libertarian socialism. Thank you for correcting me. I intend to abandon my beliefs and become a knee-jerk right-wing christian.

  Expat: There was nothing peaceable about Lenin or his teachings. he was a despotic treacherous thug. Have I suggested otherwise?
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  17

  A Socialist defends Americans

  by Rex B13 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for all of the anti-american cynics in range, here is a commentary from one of your own that plays a different tune, albeit a socialist one.

  do any of our regulars sound much like this woman named 'raven', cited in the article?

  (btw, i read the whole article).

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  Commie Chris

  My, my, you have me all figured out, don't you? What makes you think I have ever supported any the regimes you named? As I said in a few of my earliest posts on this board, "Commie Chris" is a nick-name that I have carried since my days as the front man in a punk band in the late '70s. I do not like labels, and I do not find that any of them fully describe my beliefs, but, if you must, my ideas could best be described as libertarian socialist, or anarchist. There is no more important value to me than freedom. I oppose all forms of oppression. So there. Apologize.
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  17

  A Socialist defends Americans

  by Rex B13 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for all of the anti-american cynics in range, here is a commentary from one of your own that plays a different tune, albeit a socialist one.

  do any of our regulars sound much like this woman named 'raven', cited in the article?

  (btw, i read the whole article).

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  Commie Chris

  I read the article and agree with almost everything in it. I have not read any posts on this site which reflect the ideas of Raven quoted in the article. Who are you accusing?

  Like many others on this site, I have the greatest respect for Americans, and find many things about the U.S. great. That in no way lessens my disgust at the foreign policy followed by successive U.S. governments of supporting many of the most repressive and corrupt regimes and most violent terrorist movements of this century. There is nothing "anti-American" about opposing a U.S. foreign policy which has brought massive suffering to much of the world in order to protect profits and markets for U.S. multi-national corporations. In fact, I believe that the vast majority of Americans would also benefit from ending their government's policy of protecting and promoting corrupt repressive dictatorships.
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  49

  DA'd myself today

  by Pierced Angel in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well, i did it.. it's official and i'm relieved.. the elders wanted to try talking to me once again, but after awhile it was obvious that they were only interested in changing my thoughts not answering any questions.

  so, i just calmly asked if i could disassociate myself.

  they acted stunned and they got tears in their eyes, but i told them that i had already grieved and was ready to move on with life.

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  Commie Chris

  Congratulations from the Arctic (I'm in Yellowknife today) Anne. I wish you and your family all the best.

  - Chris
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  9

  Countries you couldn't visit for dying of Laughter

  by Celtic in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ummmm what am i up to now?

  its ok, i'm just being mischievious.. so graham norton was on channel four this evening in japan, what a very peculiar race!!.

  which countries do you think that you could not visit for knowing that when you were there, you'd just fool about laughing at the absurdity of the culture and why?

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  Commie Chris

  The U.S., where the words of Britney Spears are admired more than those of Noam Chomsky and CNN is considered "left-wing news" (it's neither).