Posts by Jankyn

Here's an update. The scientist who regularly reviews science writing (or "media mangling," as he calls it) has a post on this article up at his blog, Pharyngula:

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/01/sharon_begley_how_could_you.php

His main point about the article:

It reflects a poor understanding of the science and of history, in that it confuses long-standing recognition of the importance of environmental factors in gene expression with a sudden reinstatement of Lamarckian inheritance, and it simply isn't — she's missed the point of the science and she has caricatured Lamarck.

8

"The Sins of the Fathers, Take2" from Newsweek

by I quit! in

jw
friends

i found this article from newsweek interesting.

the sins of the fathers, take 2. at tributes to darwin, lamarckisminheritance of acquired traitswill be the skunk at the party.

sharon begley.

Jankyn

Argh! This is an example of BAD science writing.

That's because they didn't note that DNA *alone* does not account for the presence/absence of any single trait. In the case given as an example of "Lamarckian" evolution, I'd venture that both sets of offspring carry the *potential* for spiny heads; it requires the addition of hormones/adrenaline during gestation to create the *expression* of the trait for spiny heads. The real question would be if the spiny-headed critters produced spiny or smooth-headed offspring when NOT exposed to the stresses of predation.

Genetics and evolution are related, but not identical. Think, for example, of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The genetic makeup of these people is normal; the expression of the genes is abnormal because of the toxins they were exposed to in utero.

Or look at the existence of genetic predispositions for something like alcoholism. If a person with the genetic predisposition never takes a drink, are they alcoholic? Or does it require a series of other things (brain chemicals released by stress, for example, combined with exposure to alcohol) to turn someone with a predisposition for alcoholism into an alcoholic?

These are examples of individual hereditability of traits. They occur on a micro- scale. Evolution occurs on a macro- scale, across an entire group. (Think: genetics=individuals; evolution=species).

Bottom line: we know very little about how this works. That explains why the theories are open to revision based on evidence. Lamarck's idea--that we inherit parental mutations--wasn't entirely wrong, but it wasn't entirely right, either (if it was, I'd have my dad's lovely tattoo).

And by the by, a good chunk of Darwin's evolutionary theory has been left by the wayside, too. It's just his basic premise, that organisms change over time, that's held up.

The difference between science and religion is that scientists change their minds when presented with new evidence.

2

Anybody watch the premiere of "Lie To Me" on FOX tonight?

by pseattle2 in

jw
friends

one of the stories revolved around a witness-raised teenager accused of killing a high school teacher.

interesting, pretty accurate portrayal of jehovah's witness parents, with a couple of flubs (they said "the lord" instead of what they'd really say, "jehovah god").. the parents were, however, described as being outcast or criticized by their own congregation for being somewhat extremist and isolationist in their views.

i couldn't buy that the congregation would criticize any such parents for being so devout about their views; i'd think they'd be pillars in the org.. the kid also said "i swear to god" which i was explicitly told i should never utter when i was a dub.. very good show, otherwise.

Jankyn

Yeah, they missed on a couple of things. At one point, the kid said he'd "prayed for [the teacher's] soul," which a JW wouldn't say. And although they referred to the "overseer" of the congregation, there's no way one would say the stuff about the family being "too extreme."

And they didn't say "Jehovah God" like JWs would. But the father did say that the boy's photography was "taking time away from doing God's work."

I'd guess that the writer was at least around JWs enough to get some of the basics, anyway.

52

COMMENTS YOU WILL NOT HEAR AT THE WT STUDY: Help Them Return Without Delay!

by Mary in

how do you read?

q 7. what can we encourage those who have strayed from the flock to do?.

106:13) it may be helpful to remind an inactive one that "the faithful and discreet slave" is dispensing excellent spiritual food.

Jankyn

Wow. Great analysis, Mary. And thanks for giving Blondie a break.

114

Oh My Gosh! I just discovered Cornbread Casserole!

by mrsjones5 in

jw
friends

we were invited to a friend's house for dinner and our hostess served pot roast with an out of sight salad and corn casserole.

i tried the cassarole and loved.

made a pan a couple of days ago and no one will eat but me but i don't care.

Jankyn

I add chopped green peppers, red peppers and onion to make a "holiday" corn casserole. They bake sweet-n-spicy and make it look really festive.

20

An interesting email I got from a DA'd friend I was catching up with

by JimmyPage in

jw
friends

recently i got back in touch with a da'd friend that i grew up with.

i'm going to focus on one part of her email because i think it's relevant to this board.

when i mentioned that i had been on an ex-jw website, she writes:.

Jankyn

Yep, I think No More Kool-Aid hit the nail on the head. I've met folks who weren't that messed up by the bORG, but it's because they weren't fully IN the bORG. My problem is that I listened and tried to make sense of it. If you just skate over the top, it's no big deal. What's more, I think a great many folks who consider themselves "religious" are that way. The people who get damaged the most psychologically and spiritually are those of us who want to dig deeper.

11

1975 Pep rallies or Pep Talks?

by Tired of the Hypocrisy in

jw
friends

there is a young elder from southern california that is working from the inside to help doubters to leave.

he goes by olin moyle jw elder on yahoo.

answers.

Jankyn

Funny, Mustang. My last meeting was the last one of 1975. Come 1976, no more meetings. Well, I went occasionally to take my grandmother, so that's not quite right. But that's when I dropped as an unbaptized publisher and left the TMS. Let's just say that the "pep talks" of the '70s, which I remember well, left a lot of scars. Yes, they did say the end would come in the fall of 1975. THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. And at the last assembly of 1975 (CA in North Bend, OR), the group being baptized (including a friend of mine) were told that they were the last to be baptized before the end. I heard it with my own ears. Sorry for the dupe!

11

1975 Pep rallies or Pep Talks?

by Tired of the Hypocrisy in

jw
friends

there is a young elder from southern california that is working from the inside to help doubters to leave.

he goes by olin moyle jw elder on yahoo.

answers.

Jankyn

Funny, Mustang. My last meeting was the last one of 1975. Come 1976, no more meetings. Well, I went occasionally to take my grandmother, so that's not quite right. But that's when I dropped as an unbaptized publisher and left the TMS. Let's just say that the "pep talks" of the '70s, which I remember well, left a lot of scars. Yes, they did say the end would come in the fall of 1975. THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. And at the last assembly of 1975 (CA in North Bend, OR), the group being baptized (including a friend of mine) were told that they were the last to be baptized before the end.

251

RIP Dansk (aka Ian), 18.12.1953- 20.12.2008

by faundy in

jw
friends

have posted this on the other thread but just making this one as well:

i need to let you know that dad passed away this morning at 8am.

he fought so hard but in the end they could not get his blood pressure to rise and he died of heart failure.

Jankyn

I am so sorry for your loss. Ian was a good man.