Posts by Palimpsest

6

"In science, empirical evidence always trumps theory"

by botchtowersociety in

this article is buy someone that has, in the past, been a big proponent of runaway agw.

that he has changed his mind is, i think, significant.

he says that co2's contribution to global warming is too small to really matter, and that the the climate models have been wrong.. climate models go cold.

Palimpsest

! Random Mose love!

Anyway, I'm of the opinion that if people want to have their own facts that fly in the face of reality, that's fine with me as long as they don't start trying to implement policy based on them. And this line:

This issue is tearing society apart, making fools out of our politicians.

--is crazy. It's a small but vocal minority that's still arguing this and it's in no way even in the top ten of things average people or politicians worry about. Pretty sure your local soccer moms are far more concerned about the economy, health care, jobs, war, national debt, etc. Even with all of the Morganza coverage in the U.S. right now, good luck hearing one newscaster tie it to climate change. People are not debating this as much as you'd like to think, and of all the things that could "tear apart" society, this won't be it.

68

Atheist believe in aliens but not God?

by StopTheTears in

jw
friends

if you are a professed atheist, i ask you the question: do you believe in aliens?

could not god be an alien?

how do you know that there is no alien life?

Palimpsest

It is contradictory for any Atheist to profess a belief in the existence of alien life while denying the existence of God. If you believe that aliens may exist, then you certainly must concede that one of those aliens may be God.

Annnnd that's where I checked out.

There's a difference between believing that other life forms happen to exist and believing that another life form that exists created the others.

17

How would you respond to this JW apologist??

by Black Man in

jw
friends

hey all - as some of you may know, i've been engaged in a pretty big debate with family members as well as internet acquaintances over whether the jw's are a cult.

thanks to everyone who have posted links to threads that have helped me in my dialogue with them - its actually working.

the latest is that one of the posters i've been dialoging and he says that agrees with me on many points but he brought up the following response and i ask (how would you respond to this) that i have posted below (by the way, the person he references as gq is me - its my username on that web site):.

Palimpsest

Why do you feel the need to counter his thinking?

That was my first thought. If he's happy, good for him. Seems like he's thought it over, realized he has other options, considered them, but decided to stick with what he has going. I know we're not supposed to admit this because it harms our cool-kid apostate cred, but not everyone has an awful experience with the JWs. No point in trying to save people who don't feel like they're drowning.

Do I agree with him? No. Is his decision to stay in going to limit his life negatively? Probably. Am I going to try to tell him that I know his circumstances better than he does and that he should choose my path in life instead? Not a chance.

14

Do they use Jehovah's name repeatedly because it's their name?

by WalkTall in

jw
friends

i was thinking when reading another thread where it was mentioned how god's name was never used in the nt, but how often it is uttered in khs that it is used so often, not because we need to use his name, but because it is the name associated with their organization.

it is their name really.

could that be why it's used so often?.

Palimpsest

In addition to what others said, they need something to make themselves distinctive from other NRMs. Key words, teachings, and practices are essential for doing that. If they don't have their own cant, they're just another bunch of fundies.

10

Why would local congregations keep your name on file in TMS if you haven't attended in yrs?

by stormy222 in

i am a new member to this forum, but i have visited for years.

i am curious to know why my name would remain as an active member, even though i haven't attended services for the past (i guess) 4 years or longer.

i am still in contact with a few members off and on, but i am really focusing on pursuing interest that i've put off for a long time (attending college).

Palimpsest

Records also seem to get "lost" or "misplaced" a lot, usually if the elder in charge of maintaining them runs into trouble of his own.

In any case, there's no way you'd be assigned a part if you're an inactive member. My guess is that they're doing it just to lure you back in. Ignore them.

21

Presbyterians Approve Ordination of Gay People

by Maze in

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/11/us/11presbyterian.html.

presbyterians approve ordination of gay people.

after 33 years of debate, the presbyterian church (u.s.a.) has voted to change its constitution and allow openly gay people in same-sex relationships to be ordained as ministers, elders and deacons.

Palimpsest

But homosexuality doesn't mix with Christianity.

You know, I was going to bite, but I'll leave the overconfident intolerance for people who have the time to waste on it.

21

Presbyterians Approve Ordination of Gay People

by Maze in

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/11/us/11presbyterian.html.

presbyterians approve ordination of gay people.

after 33 years of debate, the presbyterian church (u.s.a.) has voted to change its constitution and allow openly gay people in same-sex relationships to be ordained as ministers, elders and deacons.

Palimpsest

Can someone tell me what the gay lifestyle is BTW?

laverite, I already posted this in another thread today, but this is always my favorite description of the gay agenda: http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2005/4/28l.html

21

Presbyterians Approve Ordination of Gay People

by Maze in

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/11/us/11presbyterian.html.

presbyterians approve ordination of gay people.

after 33 years of debate, the presbyterian church (u.s.a.) has voted to change its constitution and allow openly gay people in same-sex relationships to be ordained as ministers, elders and deacons.

Palimpsest

Only when they try and impose the gay lifestyle on everyone whether they like it or not do I see a problem--and that is actually not the majority of gay people. It is no one else's business except those who are directly involved.

Can I ask you to clarify what you mean? Do you mean you believe that gay people try to make other people gay, or that you believe they shouldn't talk about being gay? If it's the latter, do you sincerely think the same should apply to heterosexuals?

I'm not being judgmental or trying to pick a fight -- I'm just always fascinated by the concept of gay people "imposing their lifestyle" and can never quite figure out what that means to different people.

22

College

by d in

jw
friends

i am a college trying to maintain good grades.college is stressful especially this year.have any of you who are still in college, or went to college found it to be difficult in any way shape or form?.for me i am worried about finding a good career after i graduate.since the job market is still slow.. thanks.

d.

Palimpsest

Regarding struggles...what resources have you sought out on campus? Since you said you're studying General Studies, my guess is that you're at a community college. If so, they typically have exceptional resource centers for tutoring, study skills development, test preparation, writing and math improvement, and so on. Part of my duties at work (I'm in higher ed) involve tutoring in a learning resource center, and I can tell you that students who actually take advantage of those opportunities and are willing to genuinely do the work and follow the advice they get wind up doing dramatically better as time goes on. You may not improve overnight, but if you keep plugging away at it, you'll get better.

It also helps to meet with an academic adviser before selecting your courses. Do you have an advising or counseling center on campus? They can help you put together a schedule that plays to your strengths and also often suggest professors who might be good matches for you based on your learning style.

Sometimes it is important to ask yourself why you're in college right now. If you're in college just to get a job, you're probably not going to be as focused on learning -- you're more focused on what happens after learning. Changing your mindset and committing to learning as much as possible and trying to work as hard as you can just for the intellectual rewards can often help to pull your grades up. The brutal reality is that the job market is awful right now and even people with advanced degrees aren't finding employment. (I work at a public institution and I worry every week if I'm getting a pink slip.) So try to focus on the one thing that you can control, which is your academic success, and let the job search take a backburner for the moment. And if you are going to keep searching because you have to, use your college's career center so they can help make it easier for you.

Just be aware that going to school and working at the same time isn't going to help your grades, so if you wind up failing due to work, it's going to make your plan even harder to execute. I sincerely think students should try to be just students for as long as possible, even if that means living with Mom and Dad longer than they'd like to.

22

Just finished reading I'm Perfect, Your Doomed

by cawshun in

jw
friends

i was disappointed in this book, i kept reading it hoping it would get better.

i guess i got spoiled by this forum.

i have found better writings and stories here and a heck of a lot more humor.

Palimpsest

I picked it up at a used book sale recently. I read through about 75 pages within the first 90 minutes or so of having it, and then my interest faded quickly. It's too "insider" in its terminology -- even as an insider (or former insider, I guess), it was a turn-off. Her apparent goal of packing a joke into every sentence falls flat. I guess I just got annoyed with it after a while.

I thought the quotation from Janeane Garofalo on the slipcover was telling -- "Best book by an ex-Jehovah's Witness from Pawtucket I have ever read." Not exactly a ringing endorsement, and yet that's the best they got to sell it? Yikes.