jgnat

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Posts by jgnat

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  12

  Is science a tool, or a source of philosophy?

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  is science simply a powerful tool, or must it also dictate adherence to strict secularism?.

  science must not impose any philosophy, any more than the telephone must tell us what to say.

  - gilbert keith chesterton.

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  jgnat

  I am disturbed when theologians tread in to the realm of science, and pretend there is equal footing.

  Theological question: Eligibility for heaven, hell, or purgatory.

  Scientific question: Was there a world-wide flood?
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  14

  My Letter Exchange as a Former Mormon With Ray Franz

  by zacktac in

  1. jw
  2. friends
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  jgnat

  So nice to memorialize him in this way.
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  23

  Pinker on Terrorism .... Self-Defeating

  by jgnat in

  1. social
  2. current

  http://chronicle.com/article/era-in-ideas-terrorism/128490/.

  his conclusion, .

  "even when they are not rooted out by states, terrorist groups carry the seeds of their own destruction.

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  jgnat

  Oh, I'd like to see lots of retaliation. Like I said, systematically cut off their means of supply.

  Empower it's neighbours to defend themselves.

  Shame the muslim nations into collaborating in their elimination.
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  23

  Pinker on Terrorism .... Self-Defeating

  by jgnat in

  1. social
  2. current

  http://chronicle.com/article/era-in-ideas-terrorism/128490/.

  his conclusion, .

  "even when they are not rooted out by states, terrorist groups carry the seeds of their own destruction.

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  jgnat

  The analysis I linked above noted that not a single religously-motivated terrorist group managed to gain their objective before they expired. Partly because their objective is too broad or too vague (i.e. world domination).

  I wonder if boots on the ground would help. Organized military action typically fails against terrorism, as it is too blunt an instrument. Too slow, too much collateral damage.

  I say cut off the supplies. The Edmonton and Calgary Muslim communities want help deterring recruiters from taking their children in to an ultimately doomed enterprise. These are families who have come to this country for peace, security, and a hope of a future. They don't want to lose their children to these fanatics!
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  22

  I FIND THIS TROUBLING . . . DISTURBING . . . PUZZLING . . .

  by Terry in

  1. social
  2. current

  i stumbled on to this on youtube.. i began watching it.

  at first i thought it was funny.. then, something changed.

  i began to realize two things.. first of all, there are 2 sides to this, and both sides have a point.. if law enforcement does not have a legal right to stop and question you .

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  jgnat

  Delightful tale, StarTrekAngel. Thank you for putting this story in to context. Empty assembly halls makes my heart glad.
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  169

  Challenge to Athiests - is Religion a Pox on Mankind?

  by jgnat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've spent the last few years examining my core beliefs to test what still stands.

  i've let go of an inviolate bible, demoted jesus to a failed prophet, and god as unable to act against injustice.

  our universe made itself.

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  jgnat

  BTTT
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  20

  What is our place in the universe?

  by jgnat in

  1. social
  2. current

  what is our place in the universe?

  scientists map our galactic supercluster and give it a name, laniakea.. .

  http://www.techtimes.com/articles/14798/20140904/what-is-our-place-in-the-universe-scientists-map-our-galactic-supercluster.htm.

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  jgnat

  Big bang is old school, prologos. It was a two-bang creation. One bang should have resulted in evenly distributed matter. We don't have that. What we have is swirls like the surface of a soap bubble just before it pops.

  
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  64

  What christians don't want to admit

  by opusdei1972 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  when i left the wt organization, i continued to believe in the bible, so i wanted to confirm and refine, as much as possible, my faith that the true god is in the bible.

  so i began to discuss with skilled christians, who were also ex-witnesses.

  but i was surprised when some of them tried to relax my fundamentalist position on the literalness of the genesis account.

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  jgnat

  Your preference is obviously not a conclusion then? Correct

  Love exists because of weakness? The reverse is not equally true. I am not saying that love exists because of weakness.

  Do you consider that love can come about/exist only on humanistic basis?

  Galaxie, if I may rephrase, are you offering that love can exist without the existence of God? Yes that may be so.

  I have been putting my thoughts out on this board for years now. I've gone through several deep re-evaluations of my faith and beliefs. I would say my reasoning side is now fully reawakened. I am aware of the shaky foundation of my faith; it is not logical, and it does not stand up to reason. Yet, I enjoy worship, the closest I can compare to a songbird in the spring. The bird puts its whole being in to it's song, and I experience a similar loss of self when in the throes of worship.

  This part of me I do not understand and I cannot explain, I am not willing to give up. Besides, it's cheaper than alcohol.
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  64

  What christians don't want to admit

  by opusdei1972 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  when i left the wt organization, i continued to believe in the bible, so i wanted to confirm and refine, as much as possible, my faith that the true god is in the bible.

  so i began to discuss with skilled christians, who were also ex-witnesses.

  but i was surprised when some of them tried to relax my fundamentalist position on the literalness of the genesis account.

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  jgnat

  We either have an all-powerful God that refuses to act, or a a weak God that cannot intervene. I prefer the latter so that love remains.
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  20

  What is our place in the universe?

  by jgnat in

  1. social
  2. current

  what is our place in the universe?

  scientists map our galactic supercluster and give it a name, laniakea.. .

  http://www.techtimes.com/articles/14798/20140904/what-is-our-place-in-the-universe-scientists-map-our-galactic-supercluster.htm.

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• 

  jgnat

  What is our place in the universe? Scientists map our galactic supercluster and give it a name, Laniakea.

  http://www.techtimes.com/articles/14798/20140904/what-is-our-place-in-the-universe-scientists-map-our-galactic-supercluster.htm

  How much bigger and more beautiful are our heavens than the ancients could have imagined.