Posts by GromitSK

95

An interesting article on scientific explanations of near-death / out-of-body experiences

by cedars in

jw
friends

i've been doing quite a bit of research into books recently, and i've noticed that the book "proof of heaven" is selling very strongly at the moment.

it's currently no.1 in the new york times bestseller list for nonfiction paperbacks.. the book is by a qualified neurosurgeon who converted to religious faith after going into a coma and having what he later described as an experience of heaven, which he elaborates on in great detail in the book.

he argues that the experience must have been supernatural, because his cerebral cortex was "offline" for the duration of his vision.. .

GromitSK

Hi Dave - no offence but I am not going to précis the contents. You can borrow it from a library if you're interested. If you're not interested Enough to read a book I don't think there is any point in wasting time discussing it. I have no interest in pursuading anyone one way or the other about it but I would be interested in discussing the contents with anyone who has read it. You mentioned there is no evidence, I have pointed you at one source which collects a summary of some of it. Whether you choose to look into it or not is up to you. In the book I mentioned, Fontana pulls together evidence some of which has been collected by some of the finest scientific (and non scientific) minds of their time over the last 150 years or so. It isn't ghost hunting or 'TV psychics'-style but very matter of fact.

95

An interesting article on scientific explanations of near-death / out-of-body experiences

by cedars in

jw
friends

i've been doing quite a bit of research into books recently, and i've noticed that the book "proof of heaven" is selling very strongly at the moment.

it's currently no.1 in the new york times bestseller list for nonfiction paperbacks.. the book is by a qualified neurosurgeon who converted to religious faith after going into a coma and having what he later described as an experience of heaven, which he elaborates on in great detail in the book.

he argues that the experience must have been supernatural, because his cerebral cortex was "offline" for the duration of his vision.. .

GromitSK

Hi Dave

I should perhaps have been more specific "is there an afterlife" is the compendium I refer to. He doesn't really express much of his own opinion in the book, in fact at the end I found he sat on the fence a bit really. It is pretty much a summary of some of the types evidence and the breadth of it and has extensive references you can follow up. I wouldn't regard Fontana as whacky to be honest. The books on meditation etc would be acceptable to most practioners of meditation I would think (I haven't read them as I have no interest in it), meditation is important to millions of people across the world. As for symbology - the man was a psychology professor - it might be part of his professional expertise. I would think he was qualified to comment on processes relating to the human mind given his credentials.

Whether you decide to read the recommendation or not is up to you of course, but I don't think your characterisation of him is reasonable (having read some of his work myself).

interestingly your original post said scientists had never been offered a shred of evidence. This isn't true. I suggested Fontana because the book I now mention contains, as I said, a good summary of the spread of evidence. It isnt Fontana's evidence. I didn't say you'd like. If you don't want to read it that's your choice of course.

116

God gave them up to disgraceful sexual appetites - What does the bible REALLY teach?

by irondork in

that is why god gave them up to disgraceful sexual appetites, for both their females changed the natural use of themselves into one contrary to nature;and likewise even the males left the natural use of the female and became violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males, working what is obscene and receiving in themselves the full recompense, which was due for their error.

romans 1:26,27.

(excerpts from: homosexianity by r. d. weekly for the sake of familiarity, scripture quotations appearing in the book were replaced with the new world translation) http://www.amazon.com/homosexianity-letting-devastating-scripture-orientation/dp/1442163062/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=utf8&qid=1356175321&sr=1-1&keywords=homosexianity.

GromitSK

Oh good grief.

116

God gave them up to disgraceful sexual appetites - What does the bible REALLY teach?

by irondork in

that is why god gave them up to disgraceful sexual appetites, for both their females changed the natural use of themselves into one contrary to nature;and likewise even the males left the natural use of the female and became violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males, working what is obscene and receiving in themselves the full recompense, which was due for their error.

romans 1:26,27.

(excerpts from: homosexianity by r. d. weekly for the sake of familiarity, scripture quotations appearing in the book were replaced with the new world translation) http://www.amazon.com/homosexianity-letting-devastating-scripture-orientation/dp/1442163062/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=utf8&qid=1356175321&sr=1-1&keywords=homosexianity.

GromitSK

Good point.

174

Good Reasons To Hate Every Weak And Ex-Jehovah Witness.

by AuntConnie in

1. my husband's time is finite, it's wasted on spouses arguing over money, sex or family mattters with stupid home visits.. .

i hate people's constant open hand for money, it's the weak individuals asking others to pull their weight.

my family worked extra hours instead of begging the strong members for district assembly money, cat food for seven cats or tiny little rag-a-muffins weiner dogs.. .

GromitSK

I know, I know, you give and give until you can't give a shit lol

95

An interesting article on scientific explanations of near-death / out-of-body experiences

by cedars in

jw
friends

i've been doing quite a bit of research into books recently, and i've noticed that the book "proof of heaven" is selling very strongly at the moment.

it's currently no.1 in the new york times bestseller list for nonfiction paperbacks.. the book is by a qualified neurosurgeon who converted to religious faith after going into a coma and having what he later described as an experience of heaven, which he elaborates on in great detail in the book.

he argues that the experience must have been supernatural, because his cerebral cortex was "offline" for the duration of his vision.. .

GromitSK

@sab the illustrations you are using are not, I think, applicable. You are using elements which it is commonly agreed are known to exist for other people; sheep, cards etc. the debate you raise is simply about how they are used, not whether such things exist.

The debate here, to use your analogy, is about whether the cards or sheep even exist in the way you describe. They are the phenomena. How you use them (the cards, not the sheep) is a matter of conjecture and subject to discussion but we would all be in agreement about what playing cards and sheep are, and whether or not they exist.

The problem with the empirical evidence that you refer to is that the phenomena you insist exist have not been demonstrated to those who do not accept them as being real. in essence, you haven't shown the sheep or cards. It's a bit like saying here is a woollen jumper, it came from a sheep, to a person who has never seen a sheep or any other kind of furry animal. They may allow the concept of sheep once you explain it and draw it for them, but they are under no obligation to accept it unless you produce one. They have no frame of reference for it.

I am not saying that one cannot take the position you appear to with regard to phenomena, simply that it is unreasonable to expect others to follow or accept that which you cannot show to exist.

i don't think I can usefully add much to this now really, if in fact I added anything so I will leave you to it.

116

God gave them up to disgraceful sexual appetites - What does the bible REALLY teach?

by irondork in

that is why god gave them up to disgraceful sexual appetites, for both their females changed the natural use of themselves into one contrary to nature;and likewise even the males left the natural use of the female and became violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males, working what is obscene and receiving in themselves the full recompense, which was due for their error.

romans 1:26,27.

(excerpts from: homosexianity by r. d. weekly for the sake of familiarity, scripture quotations appearing in the book were replaced with the new world translation) http://www.amazon.com/homosexianity-letting-devastating-scripture-orientation/dp/1442163062/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=utf8&qid=1356175321&sr=1-1&keywords=homosexianity.

GromitSK

Of course it's not true, at least no more true than Islam, or Judaism or Hinduism or Buddhism.

Anyway leaving that aside for a moment - for gay people it goes against what they know to be their nature. I'm with you actually, it is anti-homosexual like most of the other dogmatic religions in the world. I would hope gay people would see the conflict between an ancient book and its rules and their innate nature, then trust their own feelings and not waste their time trying to reconcile themselves to it.

Your manner and attitude is another great advert for avoiding it.

116

God gave them up to disgraceful sexual appetites - What does the bible REALLY teach?

by irondork in

that is why god gave them up to disgraceful sexual appetites, for both their females changed the natural use of themselves into one contrary to nature;and likewise even the males left the natural use of the female and became violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males, working what is obscene and receiving in themselves the full recompense, which was due for their error.

romans 1:26,27.

(excerpts from: homosexianity by r. d. weekly for the sake of familiarity, scripture quotations appearing in the book were replaced with the new world translation) http://www.amazon.com/homosexianity-letting-devastating-scripture-orientation/dp/1442163062/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=utf8&qid=1356175321&sr=1-1&keywords=homosexianity.