Posts by hamilcarr

100

Moral Values of an Atheist

by hamilcarr in

jw
friends

some thoughts spinning through my head .... what does it mean to be an atheist?

it means you cannot imagine your homosexual neighbor being slaughtered by a loving god at judgment's day, it means you don't consider the primitive tribe described in numbers 31 that slew midianite men and raped innocent virgins to be god's first covenant people, it means you don't believe mankind is so perverted that it is in need of salvation through a man who came 'not with peace, but with a sword', it means you have high moral values that apply not only to the members of your denomination but to all men.. h. .

hamilcarr

What does it mean to be an atheist?
It means any righteousness ("Moral Values") comes from self. Which would make one self -righteous

I believe this is a common misunderstanding of atheism. Atheism means any righteousness doesn't come from a creator or any group representing this creator (for example by claiming their writings are inspired by God).

This however doesn't necessarily imply that righteousness comes from self.

Righteousness always originates from a community, never from an individual!

Problems arise when you believe your community is directed by higher forces and therefore possesses a higher truth.

10

Are We Living in Critical Times?

by hamilcarr in

in this video steven pinker presents a brief history of violence showing evidence that violence has been in decline for long stretches of time and that today we're probably living in the most peaceful time in our species' existence: critical times refuted and modernity defended!.

.

hamilcarr

dont be misled the devil wants you to think against what the Bible teaches. he needs company

I don't see your point, real one. Do you mean the devil is making our world a better place to deceive us? That would be another nasty move of JHWH. Do you mean Satan could be right in challenging JHWH's sovereignty? That's not what the Watchtower learns. Explanation needed!

100

Moral Values of an Atheist

by hamilcarr in

jw
friends

some thoughts spinning through my head .... what does it mean to be an atheist?

it means you cannot imagine your homosexual neighbor being slaughtered by a loving god at judgment's day, it means you don't consider the primitive tribe described in numbers 31 that slew midianite men and raped innocent virgins to be god's first covenant people, it means you don't believe mankind is so perverted that it is in need of salvation through a man who came 'not with peace, but with a sword', it means you have high moral values that apply not only to the members of your denomination but to all men.. h. .

hamilcarr

it means you dont respect your creator

Thanks for your comment, real one,

This may be the very reason why atheists have higher values than th/deists: they put 'love thy neighbor' above 'love god'.

Besides, for most believers respecting their creator means respecting the earthly representatives of this creator.

100

Moral Values of an Atheist

by hamilcarr in

jw
friends

some thoughts spinning through my head .... what does it mean to be an atheist?

it means you cannot imagine your homosexual neighbor being slaughtered by a loving god at judgment's day, it means you don't consider the primitive tribe described in numbers 31 that slew midianite men and raped innocent virgins to be god's first covenant people, it means you don't believe mankind is so perverted that it is in need of salvation through a man who came 'not with peace, but with a sword', it means you have high moral values that apply not only to the members of your denomination but to all men.. h. .

hamilcarr

So where do your moral values come from hamilcarr?

It's not about me - that would be too arrogant I assume, it's about atheists I know in general compared to my Christian friends. I just wanted to report my subjective observations.

100

Moral Values of an Atheist

by hamilcarr in

jw
friends

some thoughts spinning through my head .... what does it mean to be an atheist?

it means you cannot imagine your homosexual neighbor being slaughtered by a loving god at judgment's day, it means you don't consider the primitive tribe described in numbers 31 that slew midianite men and raped innocent virgins to be god's first covenant people, it means you don't believe mankind is so perverted that it is in need of salvation through a man who came 'not with peace, but with a sword', it means you have high moral values that apply not only to the members of your denomination but to all men.. h. .

hamilcarr

Some thoughts spinning through my head ...

What does it mean to be an atheist? It means you cannot imagine your homosexual neighbor being slaughtered by a loving God at Judgment's Day, it means you don't consider the primitive tribe described in Numbers 31 that slew Midianite men and raped innocent virgins to be God's first covenant people, it means you don't believe mankind is so perverted that it is in need of salvation through a man who came 'not with peace, but with a sword', it means you have high moral values that apply not only to the members of your denomination but to all men.

H.

10

Are We Living in Critical Times?

by hamilcarr in

in this video steven pinker presents a brief history of violence showing evidence that violence has been in decline for long stretches of time and that today we're probably living in the most peaceful time in our species' existence: critical times refuted and modernity defended!.

.

hamilcarr

In this video Steven Pinker presents a brief history of violence showing evidence that violence has been in decline for long stretches of time and that today we're probably living in the most peaceful time in our species' existence: Critical Times Refuted and Modernity Defended!

17

JWs win early primaries - will they go on to win the nomination :)

by Qcmbr in

http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2008/02/jehovahs-witnesses-fastestgrow.php .

"jehovah's witnesses are the fastest-growing church body in the u.s. and canada, now with more than 1 million members, according to new figures that track church membership in the u.s. and canada.

although jehovah's witnesses ranked 24th on the list of 25 largest churches, they reported the largest growth rate -- 2.25 percent -- of all churches.

hamilcarr

JWs like other religious movements thrive on feelings of national insecurity and the myth of being surrounded by a dangerous world --- "critical times, aren't they?" The growth of JWs in the States may be a consequence of 8 years George W. Bush with his insistence on defence policy etc. As I tried to show in a previous thread JWs have a poor growth potential in Europe where these feelings are less prevalent (except for the increasing immigrant areas) --- Critical times, you're kidding, right?

Are things about to change with Hillary or Barack? JWs may have won the early primaries but the final nomination? --- I don't think so.

3

Statistics 2007 Poor Growth Potential Europe

by hamilcarr in

here is an interesting comparison between high-ranking countries by peak witnesses and bible studies (as an indication of growth potential):.

peak witnesses: bible studies.

1. u.s. of america 1,084,005 1. mexico 742,364.

hamilcarr

Here is an interesting comparison between high-ranking countries by peak witnesses and bible studies (as an indication of growth potential):

Peak witnesses: Bible studies

1. U.S. of America 1,084,005 1. Mexico 742,364

2. Brazil 679,211 2. Brazil 736,714

3. Mexico 639,320 3. U.S. of America 546,631

4. Nigeria 302,405 4. Nigeria 484,405

5. Italy 238,442 5. Congo, Dem. Rep. of 307,468

6. Japan 218,691 6. Zambia 205,748

7. Germany 165,348 7. Ghana 200,393

8. Philippines 155,286 8. Angola 191,971

9. Russia 150,056 9. Colombia 169,023

10 Zambia 145,801 10. Japan 164,674

No European countries in the top 10 in Bible studies! but instead five African and three Latin American countries. US and Japan are the only highly industrialized countries represented.

So, the future of the Watchtower is gonna be Latin and Black America with a tiny Japanese hue and probably a few white English-speaking anointed men taking the lead.

24

New Special Talk Outline: #170 Who Is Qualified to Rule Mankind.pdf

by Scully in

thanks to alphaomega for this most recent gift to jwd members!.

who is qualified to rule mankind?.

because the link is dependent on download activity, feel free to be fruitful and multiply download and propagate so this outline reaches as many people as possible..

hamilcarr

Very sad ... chances of witty introductions are reduced to zero (only 3 minutes!) ;-)

19

what do you think about greg stafford?

by hamilcarr in

it seems greg stafford has disassociated himself from the watchtower society?.

do you think his new attempt to reform the society - he claims that 'christian witnesses of jah' are jehovah's witnesses - stands a chance to spur on changes or is he just 'forging' another split group that will fade out quickly?.

hamilcarr

Scotland is Europe? ;-)

I also thought Europe stopped at Hadrian's wall :-)))