Posts by B_Deserter

52

Good books against evolution?

by bohm in

jw
friends

after reading 'the greatest show on earth' by dawkins, i have been intrigued by how biblical literalists explain the many findings that seem to support evolution and contradict various parts of the bible.

in doing to i have browsed around on aig but i have generally felt let down by the quality of evidence and interpretations they present.

so i would like to ask all non-evolutionists: if i wanted to learn more about the physical case against evolution, what books should i read?

B_Deserter

"Experts are on both sides of these arguments."

But the vast majority of experts are on the side of evolution. In 1986, only about 700 biologists out of 480,000 in the U.S. identified themselves as supporters of "creation science" (what Intelligent Design was called before Creationism was banned from public schools), that's less than 0.15%* of relevant scientists (e.g. Scientists working in the field of biology) who reject evolution. There are simply not enough creationist biologists out there to honestly claim that there is any notable dissent in the scientific community.

Regardless of this fact, it is the evidence that matters. Even if every single biologist in the world was a literal six-day creationist, it wouldn't change the facts.

*Source: Edwards v. Aguillard. 1986. U.S. Supreme Court amicus curiae brief of 72 Nobel laureates (and others). (Case 482 U.S. 578, 1987)

27

Immunizations?

by crazy2try in

jw
friends

i have a question.

today at work a woman was saying that she was upset because the foster mother of her children had taken the children to the dr and they received their immunization shots.

she told a co-worker that she was mad because they did not respect her beliefs.

B_Deserter

It is a personal decision now, and some witnesses decide against it. Some vaccines are made with plasma, which is derived from blood. I knew a few witnesses and they didn't get any vaccinations on that basis.

39

Hourly Pay Rates

by palmtree67 in

jw
friends

B_Deserter

Maintenance technician (PLC programming, machine troubleshooting, project planning) in Michigan. I make US$20.50 an hour.

9

JW Science Quote (January 2010)

by TD in

jw
friends

there is a certain faith within the jw community that almost any problem can be answered by the "bulging brains" in brooklyn.

reading the awake!

regularly over a period of years has been compared to receiving a college education and one board participant here actually refers to jw researchers and writers as "celebrated scholars.".

B_Deserter

Post deleted

9

A new video - JWs and Children

by B_Deserter in

jw
friends

i made this video to discuss the graphic and violent imagery the watchtower insists on showing young children.

i hope you all enjoy it.. .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m-kqj3idiw.

B_Deserter

The song is "Lullaby" by Assemblage 23. Thanks for your compliments everyone.

9

A new video - JWs and Children

by B_Deserter in

jw
friends

i made this video to discuss the graphic and violent imagery the watchtower insists on showing young children.

i hope you all enjoy it.. .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m-kqj3idiw.

B_Deserter

I made this video to discuss the graphic and violent imagery the Watchtower insists on showing young children. I hope you all enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M-kqJ3idIw

60

A Sphere is Not a Circle

by AK - Jeff in

this thread was inspired by the poster here with that moniker.

that name, for the first time in my life, caused me to think deeply about the scriptural real meaning of the phrase used in isaiah, often used by biblical defenders to show it's inspiration by god.. i googled the phrase, and among other hits, found this little blogspace with comments that echoed my thought on the matter.. http://www.youngausskeptics.com/2008/12/what-you-really-think-a-sphere-is-a-circle-you-really-think-that/.

found it interesting.. jeff.

B_Deserter

I wrote an article about this on my blog. There are several verses throughout the old and new testaments that support the view that the earth is a flat disc, covered by a solid dome (the "firmament") that the sun, moon, and stars are attached to. There are no verses that explicitly suggest a spherical earth. One should also consider the fact that the idea of the spherical earth did not come from the Bible, and no one who came to said conclusion got the idea from the Bible. If the Bible really said it, then it would have been taught by the Church all along.

2

How will the US health care affect the WTS?

by sinis in

i'm thinking that they may get strapped with the mandatory insurance of "employees"?

i wonder if that is why they are cutting back on stuff as well.

thoughts?.

B_Deserter

I'm guessing the new laws don't apply to non-profit organizations with "volunteers." It would probably take an investigation and a court case to determine if the "volunteers" at Bethel aren't really just slave laborers. But since it's a religion I'm better the government will leave them alone.

75

"The way of the truth is the best way of living. No better way can there be found."

by nicolaou in

"the way of the truth is the best way of living.. no better way can there be found.".

remember that?

it's the opening line to 'make the truth your own'.

B_Deserter

I actually agree with those lyrics, but not in the way the Watchtower intends. I believe that living a life based in objective reality, which is the only real "truth" that can be verified, is the best way of living. The more decisions one makes based upon objective reality, the better the results those decisions will yield. The Witnesses don't know the meaning of the word. They define it as "whatever the organization says is true." It really makes you wonder how far the WTS could go in denying reality before the Rank-and-file would have to acknowledge them to be wrong. Could the Watchtower go so far as to say the sky is actually a particular shade of purple and still have the Witnesses agree?

Allowing beliefs that are not based upon evidence to determine your actions is sure to have negative consequences when they conflict with reality.

25

If You're Married Or Have A GF, BF,Do You Still Have Friends Of The Opposite Sex?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i'm curious if you are "allowed'' to have "friends" of the opposite sex?

or is that a no-no?.

B_Deserter

Most of the female friends I talk to are old crushes so my wife is understandably suspicious. She doesn't really have that many male friends. I can only think of one right now that isn't a relative and he's gay so I'm not really worried about it.