how about that for a discombobulated thread topic?.
i think we are in the midst of a new civil rights revolution - this time the oppressed who are overcoming prejudice are homosexuals.
now new york has legalized gay marriage.
Probably not the issue that will bring about the overdue demise of the W.T, but it will certainly put pressure on them, they have always taken the view that the Bible and "God's Law" (meaning rules and morals as decided by the G.B) are superior to man made laws and ordinances.
I do think that where they publish their vile opinions in countries that have laws against fomenting hatred ,as we do here in the U.K, they could, and should ,be prevented from distributing them.
Happy anniversary Cantleave !! Its great isn't it ? we have so many milestones to celebrate ! our first posting, our last ever attendance at the K.H, as well as celebrating our own birthdays !
I shall raise a glass or three to you and Nugget later, and we shall all have another celebration on here when you reach your next milestone, 10,000 posts, won't be long !
lol.
i was reading the pagan christ by tom harpur (allen & unwin 2004) and a found a reference to this website: http://www.jesuspuzzle.humanists.net/jhcjp.htm.
an interesting article about the historical jesus and whether he even existed at all, and if paul knew of him, or was referring to a mythical-type of christ.. personally, i'm starting to think jesus never existed....
We could argue about the the evidence, which hardly amounts in truth to any more than there is say for "Robin Hood" or any other mythical figure from the distant past, but it is my humble opinion that such a person as Jesus did exist.
What he actually said and did we have no way of knowing, I find it doubtful that Paul was writing about someone different than the figure who the later mythos, like the Gospels for example, was founded on.
I really must research it more to be sure I am correct, an interesting thread though, thanks.
it's tiresome and it doesn't add up but it's one of the most popular arguments for god's existence, "the argument by design.
" jehovah's witnesses and other believers point out a wonder of nature like the eye and compare it to a 'lesser' mechanical wonder of human design like a camera.
the supposed conclusion is that this natural wonder is evidence of creation by a powerful designer; god.. .
What a tremendous thread, a classic for the " best of section " I would say.
This is a bit off topic, but I am surprised Tammy says she hasn't heard the argument about apparent design proving a Creator, didn't Paul start it all with "Every house has a builder...."?
I agree with Talesin too, that when discussing this with JW's or others who do not understand how Science uses the word "Theory", very different from our everyday usage, we need to express ourselves well.
Perhaps referring to "the proven evolutionary process" or something similar but less ponderous, then the onus is on them to prove that evolution does not, and did not happen.
I am confident that one day it will be proved to us how life got started here on Earth, we already have the hypothesis in place.
The argument about a designer will still probably rage on though, many humans are frightened by the concept of individual responsibility it seems to me, so they like to have a God to blame for the problems of society, and to leave it to "god" to sort those problems out.
the contents of your mind consist of:.
1.the things you know.
2.the things you know you don't know.
"while still being open to new information" is very important,without that attitude you cannot grow,and you will not get rid of any of your unkowns of whatever ilk.
I agree with your ,as ever excellent post,Terry, except I would actually highlight more than you did the illusory nature of J.W's "moving forward", we used to hear this kind of drivil when we were in "You must keep up with J's Org."
It does not move anywhere, and as you rightly say, what they think they are progressing to, is a pipe-dream.
The only keeping up a JW should do is to be aware of the latest flip-flop on doctrine, but that is only going from one steaming pile to an even more steaming pile, hardly progress.
my personal spiritual journey- from watchtower - christianity - agnosticism.
i guess life is a journey and this journey becomes more exited when someone is willing to take that journey.
one of our greek poets wrote: "it is not the destination, but the journey that matters".... my story is very similar like many thousands of ex-jw's around the globe.
Like it :"I'm me and I'm free!" A good slogan for all that have left the prison that is the WT/JW religion.
holy crapola!
i joined this board 9 years ago today......i can't believe it's been that long.
i miss alot of the ones that were on here when i first joined: unclebruce, dr. jekyll, gumby, kw13, littletoe, xena, simplesally, dansk, bendrr, englishman, ozziepost, luna, brummie, juni, buttlight.......we had a lot of fun on the board but it's nice that there's alot of newbies on here too.......plus, i ain't the only old timer on here!
Happy Anniversary Mary !
I can't believe you were only ten years old when you joined this site !
it's tiresome and it doesn't add up but it's one of the most popular arguments for god's existence, "the argument by design.
" jehovah's witnesses and other believers point out a wonder of nature like the eye and compare it to a 'lesser' mechanical wonder of human design like a camera.
the supposed conclusion is that this natural wonder is evidence of creation by a powerful designer; god.. .
I presume these arguments are covered by Richard Dawkins in his early work "The Blind Watchmaker" which I have not read yet ?
Certainly I have read a number of cogent arguments on the Internet that show that the argument, that proof for a designer is there in the complexity of things we find in nature, is not an argument backed by fact or logic..
I have read too, the counter arguments from creationists of various hues, and they do not stand up.
Thanks for your O.P Nicolau, I hope I can get my wife to read it, she uses this as a reason to believe in some form of creator/god. It is amazing too how quick JW's are to fall back on this position once you have demolished the god of the bible as a credible entitity.
"Well, how do you account for all the wonders of nature, they can't have just happened"
I'll just hand them a print out of your post and hope they read it (yea right, but it saves my breath !)
the clock is ticking and ln less than 3 years the hundred year lie hits the fan.. http://www.goddiscussion.com/68117/the-jehovahs-witnesses-in-crisis-anxiety-and-disillusionment-sets-in-as-2014-approaches/.
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I said to a long time Elder in 2000 or 01 that "the closer we get to 2014 they will have to drop the 1914 thing"
I hadn't thought it through of course, you don't as an active Dub, but they could not drop the 1914 thing, it is their raison d'etre, without it there was no 1919 choosing by J.C, hence no FDS. hence no authority for the G.B
I examined the 1914 doctrine thoroughly in early 2007, I left a few months later.
Uber-dubs and the ignorant lazy non-thinking R&F are all that are left, 2014 will be just another year to them, nearer to "the end" they will think, without thinking that there is no proof for the "start" let alone the end.
Apocalyptic End-time cults do not die because of failed prophecy, they die if their membership become educated.
anyone from the uk remember the assemblies at twickenham?
cytrstal place?
gillingham?.
The Big Cheeses at Bethel like to go visit places in the Spring and the Fall, to give talks, have a paid for vacation, and get some greenbacks they can trouser.
They don't give a flying f**k about the children, elderly or anybody.
