Nice work, exjwguy!
I know PZ linked to the one shown above, but this one sure hit closer to home with me:
Shepherd Book
JoinedPosts by Shepherd Book
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PZ Myers links to exjwguy video
by cofty inin todays pharyngula blog pz myers has linked to the latest video by exjwguy about the irony of the "new atheists" awake.
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well done exjwguy - its one of the biggest blogs on the web.
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Origin of Life Brochure--Excellent Video re how life may have originated
by Cadellin inhi, folks--i'm not sure if this vid has been posted before but its worth watching for a simple (and likely simplistic) hypothesis on the formation of life.
as many of you know, one of the (numerous) difficulties with the latest wt brochure the origin of life, five questions worth asking is the way it conflates evolution with abiogenesis, then quotes scientists like robert shapiro who say that, for instance, the rna world hypothesis won't work because of thus and such.
then, the wt (somewhat dishonestly) uses those words as "proof" that any kind of naturalistic origin is impossible (instead of revealing what shapiro, in this case, is really saying--that while the rna world hypothesis has problems, there are other hypotheses that overcome those problems).. at any rate, this is worth watching, both for the easy to understand explanation of one possible hypothesis from a harvard scientist and for the cool way the text is calibrated with the final movement of beethoven's 9th symphony.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yojsflhx7ts.
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Shepherd Book
Here's a video I made last summer regarding the Origin of Life brochure:
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New Watchtower Videos - Was Life Created?
by Shepherd Book ini created a trilogy of short documentaries (about 3 minutes long each) exploring some of the claims and assertions in the watchtower's new brochure was life created?.
i intend to upload the third one in the next few hours; just need to tweak a few things:.
the basis for some of your beliefs, part one.
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New Watchtower Videos - Was Life Created?
by Shepherd Book ini created a trilogy of short documentaries (about 3 minutes long each) exploring some of the claims and assertions in the watchtower's new brochure was life created?.
i intend to upload the third one in the next few hours; just need to tweak a few things:.
the basis for some of your beliefs, part one.
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Shepherd Book
I created a trilogy of short documentaries (about 3 minutes long each) exploring some of the claims and assertions in the Watchtower's new brochure Was Life Created?
Here are the first two. I intend to upload the third one in the next few hours; just need to tweak a few things:
The Basis for Some of Your Beliefs, Part One
The Basis for Some of Your Beliefs, Part Two
(Make sure you rate the videos and subscribe to my account, if you'd like.)
Also - I recently gave a presentation regarding JWs to a Critical Thinkers' Club. Here is an article that an attendee wrote about my presentation: CLICK THIS.
Enjoy!
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New Books: The Origin of Life & Was Life Created?
by ForbiddenFruit inso family forced me into accepting the two new pro-creation books released at the convention.
i haven't had a chance to read them properly yet, but i expect to be drilled to death by friends and family on how brilliant the book is.. anyway, i was wondering if anyone was working on a critical analysis?
or could join me in putting together a list of flaws in the books?
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Video Review of New Brochure "The Origin of Life"
by Shepherd Book ini recently completed making this video:.
the origin of life.
it's a quick look at the watchtower's new brochure.
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Shepherd Book
Thanks again, everyone, glad you liked it.
I've just learned that I will be discussing this brochure during the next episode of Atheists Talk (it airs in the Twin Cities, MN). I plan to elaborate on some of the things I touch on in this video. I'll post that episode to this site if it becomes available online.
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Video Review of New Brochure "The Origin of Life"
by Shepherd Book ini recently completed making this video:.
the origin of life.
it's a quick look at the watchtower's new brochure.
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Shepherd Book
Thanks guys.
Rocketman - I wasn't trying to say that God came from a single cell, merely that any given god is far more complicated than any cell, and therefore far less likely to have not come from pre-existing life.
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Video Review of New Brochure "The Origin of Life"
by Shepherd Book ini recently completed making this video:.
the origin of life.
it's a quick look at the watchtower's new brochure.
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Shepherd Book
I recently completed making this video:
It's a quick look at the Watchtower's new brochure. I try to:
-point out their sad reasoning,
-show how Witnesses actually believe in evolution - a ridiculous version of it, in fact
-let one of the quoted scientists tell how she feels about the Society's use of her quotes.
Hope you find it helpful/useful/funny.
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Newspaper Letter (use as template)
by Shepherd Book in[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>normal</w:view> <w:zoom>0</w:zoom> <w:punctuationkerning /> <w:validateagainstschemas /> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:saveifxmlinvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:ignoremixedcontent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables /> <w:snaptogridincell /> <w:wraptextwithpunct /> <w:useasianbreakrules /> <w:dontgrowautofit /> </w:compatibility> <w:browserlevel>microsoftinternetexplorer4</w:browserlevel> </w:worddocument> </xml><!
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Shepherd Book
Below is a letter I sent to the Rochester Post-Bulletin, which is the largest newspaper in Rochester, Minnesota. That's the city where the Witnesses' Convention will be held this year. I don't know if my letter will be published (it's a little long for their liking), but I'm attaching it here in case anyone wants to copy it and send it to their nearest convention city. Just be sure to alter location (I specifically mention the city and convention center a couple of times) and the dates (e.g., July or August or both?).
Also, I know some of you already have this, but here's a link to one of the new brochures: CLICK THIS LINK (hope it works).
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It's that time of year again. Jehovah's Witnesses will descend upon the city of Rochester for four consecutive weekends this July, as they’ve done for the past 21 years. They certainly help the local economy – especially the restaurants and the hotels, and they seem harmless enough: this year, their conventions (held at the Mayo Civic Center) will include the release of a video detailing their early history, an explanation of their revised definition of the word “generation,” and two brochures designed to prove the creationism over evolution.
But beneath this economy-boosting and literature-distributing comes a seedy underside: every single loyal member of the Witness religion practices full shunning of former members. Far from being relegated to a by-gone era, shunning will be vibrant and thriving in downtown Rochester this July.
My wife and I have the pleasure of being shunned by dozens of friends and relatives. We left the religion with no grudges, and without having committed any of their “sins” (these include the usual, such as extra-marital relations and interfaith activities, but also mundane activities such as voting and smoking). Still, Witnesses are trained to believe that any dissent is worthy of complete shunning.
Thankfully, this is a watered down interpretation of the stance the religion’s members wish they could take. Witnesses, in particular, have a palpable nostalgia for the days when conscientious objectors, instead of being shunned, were simply killed: “We are not living today among theocratic nations where such members of our fleshly family relationship could be exterminated for apostasy … Being limited by the laws of the worldly nations in which we live and also by the laws of God through Jesus Christ, we can take action against apostates only to a certain extent, that is, consistent with both sets of laws. The law of the land and God’s law through Christ forbid us to kill apostates.” (The Watchtower, 15 Nov 1952)
This relational aggression is immediate and total. Once a member states they no longer believe, they are shunned by all. Friendship and relationship doesn’t matter; my wife is shunned by her own sister, and many of my relatives no longer talk to me. They’ll all be in Rochester this summer, though, so if you come across a clean-shaven, smiling face walking to and from the Civic Center, ask them whom they are shunning: their childhood friend? Their mom? Their grandson? Then ask them if they believe theirs is a religion of love. Then ask them to reconcile this dichotomy. They may squirm, they may run. Either way, they’ll think. It’s never too late to start.
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Day 2 of the Convention is over ... what's missing?
by wannabefree inday number 2 is done.. there was an audio drama, sure, it adds some excitement, hey, its different.. final talk "stay close to jehovah, as jeremiah did" ended with the release of the book ... god's word for us through jeremiah ... not a verse by verse consideration of prophecy, rather, what we can learn from jeremiah's life as a prophet, considers information from jeremiah and lamentations.
(of course informed readers of this site knew of this release already.).
noticibly missing ... jesus christ ... to me it was painfully obvious.. one talk i think was numbing our mind to accept the generation bomb tomorrow.. i couldn't help but realize that throughout the convention so far, the vast majority of scriptural references are from old testament (yes, it was hard not to say hebrew scriptures, so i just did).. i didn't realize it so much in the past, but it seems like jehovah's witnesses are trying to accomplish what the nation of israel couldn't, follow laws.
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Shepherd Book
Wannabefree- You have a PM.
Also, let me throw my gratitude in with everyone else, thanks for enduring this so we don't have to.