the unknown writer of the gospel of john put the following words in jesus' mouth, "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.".
persuading countless generations that it is a virtue to believe incredible things on insufficient evidence, is one of religion's cleverest tricks.. the more incredible the claim; the more flimsy the evidence; the stronger the belief; the greater the virtue.. this is the exact opposite of how we operate in every other aspect of our lives.. rational people must demand objective evidence for everything they are asked to believe.
"extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence".. leaving the dogmatic claims of the watchtower is only a first step.
Maybe it's a good thing that an irredeemable cynic was wrong about how people interact on the macro scale. We're a much more complex and interrelated society than a simple division between aristocrat and proletariat.
I also believe that religion and faith offers more than simple answers to hard questions. Especially when it is at its best.
the unknown writer of the gospel of john put the following words in jesus' mouth, "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.".
persuading countless generations that it is a virtue to believe incredible things on insufficient evidence, is one of religion's cleverest tricks.. the more incredible the claim; the more flimsy the evidence; the stronger the belief; the greater the virtue.. this is the exact opposite of how we operate in every other aspect of our lives.. rational people must demand objective evidence for everything they are asked to believe.
"extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence".. leaving the dogmatic claims of the watchtower is only a first step.
So in an idyllic society without any problems, people would not need to resort to religion?
I so disagree with Karl Marx on the purpose of religion. He was wrong about a few other things, too.
TTATElder, I suggest that our need for stories - repeated - is more than temporary entertainment. It does speak to something deep in our psyche, the tribe huddling around the campfire if you will, hearing the same stories of adventure and triumph again and again.
the unknown writer of the gospel of john put the following words in jesus' mouth, "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.".
persuading countless generations that it is a virtue to believe incredible things on insufficient evidence, is one of religion's cleverest tricks.. the more incredible the claim; the more flimsy the evidence; the stronger the belief; the greater the virtue.. this is the exact opposite of how we operate in every other aspect of our lives.. rational people must demand objective evidence for everything they are asked to believe.
"extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence".. leaving the dogmatic claims of the watchtower is only a first step.
TTAT Elder, thank you for broadening my education today. Ayn Rand on C. S. Lewis.
the unknown writer of the gospel of john put the following words in jesus' mouth, "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.".
persuading countless generations that it is a virtue to believe incredible things on insufficient evidence, is one of religion's cleverest tricks.. the more incredible the claim; the more flimsy the evidence; the stronger the belief; the greater the virtue.. this is the exact opposite of how we operate in every other aspect of our lives.. rational people must demand objective evidence for everything they are asked to believe.
"extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence".. leaving the dogmatic claims of the watchtower is only a first step.
I would reach across and shake hands with you cofty, if I were to say that faith is a poor stand-in for fact.
But faith, when applied in the appropriate setting, builds up people. In that setting, faith is a virtue.
the unknown writer of the gospel of john put the following words in jesus' mouth, "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.".
persuading countless generations that it is a virtue to believe incredible things on insufficient evidence, is one of religion's cleverest tricks.. the more incredible the claim; the more flimsy the evidence; the stronger the belief; the greater the virtue.. this is the exact opposite of how we operate in every other aspect of our lives.. rational people must demand objective evidence for everything they are asked to believe.
"extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence".. leaving the dogmatic claims of the watchtower is only a first step.
TTAT Elder, why do we go back to the movie theatre to see the same story played over and over again, even though it is all fictional?
could another family member get access to my web searches if we are on the same phone plan?
i ask because if anyone downloads an app, everyone else knows it.
i dont want my wife freaking out by seeing jwn.
could another family member get access to my web searches if we are on the same phone plan?
i ask because if anyone downloads an app, everyone else knows it.
i dont want my wife freaking out by seeing jwn.
Tell me you have a password on your i-Phone....
the unknown writer of the gospel of john put the following words in jesus' mouth, "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.".
persuading countless generations that it is a virtue to believe incredible things on insufficient evidence, is one of religion's cleverest tricks.. the more incredible the claim; the more flimsy the evidence; the stronger the belief; the greater the virtue.. this is the exact opposite of how we operate in every other aspect of our lives.. rational people must demand objective evidence for everything they are asked to believe.
"extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence".. leaving the dogmatic claims of the watchtower is only a first step.
We read fairy tales to our children. Why?
new study out of the university of bc:.
http://news.ubc.ca/2014/05/29/better-to-be-bullied-than-ignored-in-the-workplace-study/.
we tend to underestimate the damage that social ostracism does.
Hey, resilience has new respect!
I'd rather see people braced for the eventuality by building new friendships and new connections before the rug is pulled out from under them. It's all right and good to tell people to suck it up, but it's a mistake to think that people don't need each other.
the unknown writer of the gospel of john put the following words in jesus' mouth, "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.".
persuading countless generations that it is a virtue to believe incredible things on insufficient evidence, is one of religion's cleverest tricks.. the more incredible the claim; the more flimsy the evidence; the stronger the belief; the greater the virtue.. this is the exact opposite of how we operate in every other aspect of our lives.. rational people must demand objective evidence for everything they are asked to believe.
"extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence".. leaving the dogmatic claims of the watchtower is only a first step.
My point is that even virtues can be harmful if misused. That doesn't invalidate the virtue. It means it has it's place.
