With reference to the above exchange, doesn't it go a bit off topic? A lot of Christians accept the scientific explanations for the origins of life. Why should the debate degrade into discussing the beliefs and personalities of so-called authorities? As far as I know, Hitchens and Dawkins aren't the topic of this thread. Keep the focus on the g-d d-mn lying Watchtower! Evolution and the origin of life have to do with Science, not questions about theism. The Watchtower loves for people to conflate the two issues because it makes their job easier.
PrimateDave
JoinedPosts by PrimateDave
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67
The Origin of Life / Was Life Created - Utter Lies!
by God_Delusion in"peter faces a dilemma.
his parents have taught him that god created the earth and all life on it.
they say that the bible's account of creation is trustworthy and that evolution is simply a theory-one not supported by the evidence.
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The Origin of Life / Was Life Created - Utter Lies!
by God_Delusion in"peter faces a dilemma.
his parents have taught him that god created the earth and all life on it.
they say that the bible's account of creation is trustworthy and that evolution is simply a theory-one not supported by the evidence.
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PrimateDave
make the topic honesty in journalism
Absolutely! Take them to task for their logical fallacies, hidden premises, and misleading quotes. Don't presume to tell people what to think, but give them the tools to think for themselves. Just stick to the facts and avoid emotional and subjective reasoning. You know you're better than the WTS, so prove it. Be direct and to the point like a hot knife through butter.
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WT September 15, 2010 - The Faithful and NOT SO Discrete Slave
by Designer Stubble inthe wt of september 15, 2010 (kool-aid version) has two articles on unity.
one is titled: unity identifies true worship and the other christian unity glorifies god.
of course it is more uniformity, not true unity.
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PrimateDave
In response to Bane's question, "Why don't we just move on with our lives?"
If only it were that easy! So many of us have family and friends who are still "in." I, myself, tried to attend some meetings to appease family, but it just didn't work out. So, while I won't go to meetings or "study" the literature, I do find it informative when others on this forum let everyone know what is happening. I get an idea about the indoctrination that my family is receiving without actually having to discuss it with them, thereby keeping the peace between us.
I am here to engage in respectful conversation with others. I find it amusing that someone would go through the trouble of signing up and posting just to tell us we're wasting our time on nothing.
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What if Jesus?
by Darth plaugeis ini asked an elder this question once and never got a response back.. as jw's know, only jesus could take adam's place, ect, ect, because he's perfect like adam.
we all agree right?
well then if jesus wasn't put to death, he would have lived for ever since he was perfect.. is this farfetched or plausible?
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PrimateDave
By the time I left the Witnesses, I remember thinking that if the promise of everlasting life was true, the very least that god could have done is let someone live forever. Imagine if Jesus had actually been alive in the flesh for the past 2000 years. What better proof of god's existence and power could there have been? If you're going to use the carrot and the stick, the least you can do is use a real carrot and not some imaginary one.
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WT September 15, 2010 - The Faithful and NOT SO Discrete Slave
by Designer Stubble inthe wt of september 15, 2010 (kool-aid version) has two articles on unity.
one is titled: unity identifies true worship and the other christian unity glorifies god.
of course it is more uniformity, not true unity.
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PrimateDave
Hypothetical conversation with a Witness -
Me: You people don't follow Jesus, you follow men.
Witness: We don't follow any human leader. We worship Jehovah.
Me: What about your Governing Body? Don't they tell you what to do?
Witness: The Governing Body has Jehovah's Holy Spirit to guide them.
Me: So they are your leaders, just like the Pope is the leader of the Catholics.
Witness: No they're not!
Me: Even your own Watchtower magazine says that you should follow the lead of the Governing Body, so that makes them your leaders.
Witness: The Watchtower helps us [Witnesses] understand the Bible better, but we don't worship it.
Me: Well, if they're not your leaders, then you should feel free to criticize them when they make mistakes, right? After all, even Catholics criticize the Pope openly.
Witness: .....
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A World Suddenly Teeming with Believers!
by wannabe ina world suddenly teeming with believers!.
i'm wondering if it's for the following, prophecies that the majority of this world have no respect for the god of the bible?
try telling him at this time when it occurs that you have your own beliefs, and don't care to listen to what he has to say to you.
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PrimateDave
Well, it's about time Jehovah stopped relying on humans to speak for him. I was beginning to think he had gone to the "privy" because he has (or is full of) "excrement."
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Stopped smoking
by Cagefighter in...again this time i am going to stick with it.
last smoke was 24 hours ago and i instantly started coming down with cold sympthoms.
i figure i'll save 200-300 a month..
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PrimateDave
Poppers, let me just say that I couldn't imagine spending $300 in a YEAR of pipe smoking, much less in a month like some of the cigarette smokers above, even if I smoked twice a day, which I normally don't. I went several months this year without a smoke. Didn't miss it. Then I bought a pouch of Captain Black (1.5 oz) and another of Prince Albert (also 1.5 ounce), and mixed them together in a jar. That was well over a month ago and I'm still working on them, smoking two or three times a week. I haven't noticed any difference in the taste of food.
I am pretty health conscious. Like a lot of things though, I think that the danger is in excess. That goes for the wrong kinds of food and drink as well. That said, I wouldn't take up cigarettes if you gave them to me for free.
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What made Jesus' followers believe that Jesus rose from the dead?
by John Kesler inwhat made some of jesus' followers believe that jesus rose from the dead?
my best guess--and as e.p.
sanders says, we really don't know--is that jesus' followers--distraught, sad, and disillusioned--had visions in what we now call altered states of consciousness, a condition that can be induced by fasting, sleep deprivation, and fatigue.
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PrimateDave
There is a difference though, the apostles KNEW Jesus
While I appreciate the sincerity of belief in these writings that you and other have, it is not enough for me to accept these stories at face value any more than I would believe fantastic stories of Muhammad, Moses, or Siddhartha Gautama. I don't question the historical fact of Jesus existence any more than that of those other "prophets." I do think that whatever Jesus said or did was embellished upon, and those embellishments were the key to the growth and acceptance of Christianity. Also, the fact that people of other religions experience "the divine" tells me that there is nothing unique about Christianity as a spiritual path. I furthermore disagree with the premise of Christian faith which is the need for salvation though a mediator to be accepted by a god. The emotional need to believe in a particular way speaks more of the believer's culture than the validity of the path itself.
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Stopped smoking
by Cagefighter in...again this time i am going to stick with it.
last smoke was 24 hours ago and i instantly started coming down with cold sympthoms.
i figure i'll save 200-300 a month..
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PrimateDave
Mad Sweeny, nicotine gives a kind of calming, soothing feeling, at least to me. It doesn't last long. The nicotine is absorbed in the mouth, so it doesn't hit hard and fast. Fact is, I would continue to smoke pipes even if there was no nicotine. Some pipe tobacco varieties like Prince Albert (in a can? That's an old joke) are very mild. You might not even feel it. Whereas, one variety I tried, Peterson's Irish Flake, hit pretty hard. It's like the difference between decaf and a triple espresso. I strongly caution beginners to avoid the strong blends, which are usually called English varieties, until they learn proper technique. At the very least eat a good solid meal beforehand. I'm not sure why that helps, but it does. Beyond that, it is not like the buzz from alcohol or the high from marijuana. Frankly, I hate being drunk, and after being really, really stoned on pot, I decided that wasn't for me either. Not that I wouldn't try it again, but considering the legal implications it just isn't worth it.
I realize that for some it may be an acquired taste. For best enjoyment of a pipe, get a quality aromatic blend to start with. A local tobacconist who specializes in cigars and pipes should be able to recommend one. He should be able to set you up with a pipe, tamper tool, and a few ounces of tobacco for a minimal investment. Good tobacco can cost as little as $2.50 an ounce on line. If no tobacconist is close to you, do some online research for pipe tobacco reviews. Some online suppliers like Boswell Pipes and Tobacco in Pennsylvania are very pleasant to deal with.
How I enjoy a good pipe: After a good meal, pack a pipe. Pour a cup of nice coffee or a mild alcoholic beverage. Sit out on the back porch and relax as the sun sets. You may even get compliments on the aroma.
It is sad that the Witnesses condemn all forms of tobacco use out of hand, calling them a defilement of the flesh. Smoking pipe tobacco in moderation is nothing of the sort, imo. It is legal. When done with proper consideration of others, it can be a pleasant, relaxing hobby.
Darth, loading weed into a good briar is a virtual crime against humanity!
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Stopped smoking
by Cagefighter in...again this time i am going to stick with it.
last smoke was 24 hours ago and i instantly started coming down with cold sympthoms.
i figure i'll save 200-300 a month..
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PrimateDave
That's great! I hate cigarettes. Now, the following may sound strange in light of what I just said, but bear with me...
You could take up smoking pipe tobacco. It is less expensive than cigarettes (I think). Imo, it smells a lot nicer than cigarettes. There is a wide variety of fine pipe tobaccos to choose from.
Start out with a $5 corn cob pipe and a pouch of Captain Black from your local Walgreens. (Avoid cheap otc like Borkum Riff and those big plastic bags. They'll put you off pipes before you even try the good stuff.) If you decide you like it, there are lots of cool pipes to collect and plenty of online tobacco suppliers that are better quality and value by far than your local drug stores. Check out http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/
You can get a nicotine rush from pipe tobacco, but in my own experience, there is no nicotine craving between smokes. I can put my pipe down for days and weeks at a time.
But isn't all tobacco and nicotine bad? Granted there are still health risks associated with pipe tobacco. I tend to think that personal hygiene plays a factor. Don't inhale the smoke! Brush your teeth and rinse out your mouth after smoking, just like you would after eating and drinking.
In one forum a pipe smoker compared cigarettes to pipes: Cigarettes are drug delivery devices, whereas pipes are a smoking experience. With alcohol there are ways to get drunk fast and cheap, and there are fine wines and micro brew beers that can be enjoyed for the pleasure they give to our senses and the buzz that comes from the alcohol. If all you ever drank was moonshine to get drunk, you might assume that fine wine and specialty beers and liquors were just expensive ways to get drunk. So, if you go into pipe smoking with a cigarette mentality, you're missing the point. (Except for the fact that cigarettes are an expensive way to get a constant supply of nicotine, kind of like walking around with an alcohol IV drip.)
Finally, there are a number of pipe smoking videos on You Tube that review tobaccos and explain some of the technical aspects of the hobby if you're interested.
