Posts by cofty

83

Seeking support ... Where can a Christian go

by Sevan in

jw
friends

hey all, .

so i recently posted for the first time and introduced myself.. i have been spending time reading various posts.

some informative, some not so much.. since i've been reading on here, i've read a lot from atheists.

cofty

DJS - Not cool

Kate - If you can't tell the difference between a personal attack and criticism of ideas then how can I explain it to you? I have never attacked you or any other believer. Why would I? I have evidence on my side.

Sevan - Of course it is entirely reasonable for somebody to say that at this time they are not ready to risk losing their faith. I totally understand that. It took me 9 years after leaving the cult to face up to the fact that I was giving my basic belief in god special protection. My advice to anybody leaving the Watchtower is to forget about the big questions and get on with the more important and practical matters of life. There is plenty of time for all of that much later.

I think the reason I responded to your OP was that you want to "have your cake and eat it". A lot of believers do that. They assert that their belief is based on evidence but they refuse to discuss that evidence. It is more honest to say that your belief is based on a personal emotional need and that it is important to you at this time regardless of the evidence.

We were all captives of a cult because we were restricted from access to a lot of important information. Many of us are determined to never make that mistake again. I will always hold any idea up to rigorous scrutiny. I will never insult people for believing things but I won't give their ideas a free pass either. I was a born-again christian for 9 years after I left the JWs so I really understand both positions.

Christians frequently become hostile and insulting in response to rational challenges. I understand why they do that. Attacking the foundation of somebody's faith feels like an existential threat.

Keep reading, listening and challenging yourself to the extent you feel ready. Ignore hostility on both sides. Best wishes to you and your family.

83

Seeking support ... Where can a Christian go

by Sevan in

jw
friends

hey all, .

so i recently posted for the first time and introduced myself.. i have been spending time reading various posts.

some informative, some not so much.. since i've been reading on here, i've read a lot from atheists.

cofty

Cofty already has personally attacked you Sevan. He has a legacy of ruthlessly attacking Christians on this forum - Fuckitall

That is a lie.

I never make personal attacks on believers. I attack bad ideas and often those who hold those beliefs interpret that as an attack on them personally.

On the other hand you are guilty of disgraceful personal attacks and insults. Why are fans of "gentle Jesus meek and mild" often so bad mannered?

83

Seeking support ... Where can a Christian go

by Sevan in

jw
friends

hey all, .

so i recently posted for the first time and introduced myself.. i have been spending time reading various posts.

some informative, some not so much.. since i've been reading on here, i've read a lot from atheists.

cofty

I was a believer long before encountering the Jehovah's Witnesses and I will be a believer for the rest of my life. - Sevan

I will spend my life following the evidence wherever it leads.

I have already thought long and deeply on all my reasons for faith over decades of time.

Why do you think faith is a sound basis for deciding what is true?

My belief in God is also informed by my knowledge of biology, chemistry and astronomy.

None of these fields of knowledge support the concept of a creator god. Biology in particular is hostile to belief in a creator. Every living thing evolved from a common ancestor over millions of years. This unguided process was predicated on suffering and death.

I also have had some very real supernatural experiences, some that also had witnesses, that absolutely cannot be explained scientifically

I understand that these experiences seemed real to you. You might want to investigate the work of Susan Blackmore. She spent a large part of her career trying to verify these sort of experiences from a scientific point of view. Despite her best efforts she concluded that all of them were explicable on a naturalistic basis.

Atheists and agnostics have essentially taken over this site and are hostile toward believers

Personally I never make personal attacks on believers. I do hold superstitions up to scrutiny. In return I am constantly insulted and abused by Jesus' fans.

I don't believe in god because there is no evidence for her existence. If I had to sum up my reasons succinctly they would be theodicy and hiddenness.

If you are defending the god of the bible then I would add his appalling ethics.

3

Nationalism versus Globalism by Jonathan Haidt

by cofty in

very insightful article by a great thinker.

it's well worth taking the time to read his analysis of the tensions in the west between those whose instincts are to embrace mass immigration and those see it as a threat to national culture.. automatically dismissing opposition to globalisation as "racism pure and simple" is largely responsible for reactions like the brexit vote, and may yet put trump in the whitehouse.

his idea, based on work by karen stenner is that "authoritarians" combine forces with "status quo conservatives" to put a stop to the erosion of social norms.. his article is published here....

cofty

Very insightful article by a great thinker. It's well worth taking the time to read his analysis of the tensions in the west between those whose instincts are to embrace mass immigration and those see it as a threat to national culture.

Automatically dismissing opposition to globalisation as "racism pure and simple" is largely responsible for reactions like the Brexit vote, and may yet put Trump in the Whitehouse. His idea, based on work by Karen Stenner is that "authoritarians" combine forces with "status quo conservatives" to put a stop to the erosion of social norms.

His article is published here...

18

If you live in England . . .

by compound complex in

jw
friends

would a jehovah's witness ask you, the householder, "does christ dwell in this home?".

i have recently viewed the lady in the van, which was filmed principally in north london.

i am currently reviewing a transcript of alan bennett's play of the same title, looking for the exact quotation (the above may not be verbatim).. also, in the movie's subtitles, the word "curb" is spelled "kerb" in the original transcript.

cofty

We also use the logical phrase "I couldn't care less".

Americans say "I could care less" which makes no sense at all. If you could care less about something then you obviously care.

406

Goodbye JWD/JWN (my last post)

by slimboyfat in

jw
friends

after some considerable thought i have decided that i will no longer post on this forum because i want to return to jehovah.

thank you for all the kindness and many interesting discussions over the years.

i wish you all well in the future and the decisions you make.

cofty

So.. er.. I don't get it... - Saename

Don't worry nobody does.

9

European Champions of Football (Soccer) !!!

by EdenOne in

this one went to the underdog!!.

go portugal!!!!!.

wohoooooo!!!!!!!.

cofty

Football is the greatest game in the world.

The standard of "soccer" played by even the best teams in the USA is abysmal.

865

WoMD ... so where are they?

by Simon in

now, the war is over, the weapons were not used and of course have not been found.. how threatening could they be if they did not even use them when being invaded by a massive force (of the countries they hate)?!

perhaps, as many suspect, they didn't use them because they didn't have them?.

now we're being told that we'll have to be patient and give them time to find them.

cofty

According to Robert Fisk in "The Great War For Civilisation" America was providing satellite images of Iranian troop movements to Saddam for years during the Iran-Iraq war. Saddam was using this information to deliver chemical attacks.

865

WoMD ... so where are they?

by Simon in

now, the war is over, the weapons were not used and of course have not been found.. how threatening could they be if they did not even use them when being invaded by a massive force (of the countries they hate)?!

perhaps, as many suspect, they didn't use them because they didn't have them?.

now we're being told that we'll have to be patient and give them time to find them.

cofty

That's a coincidence Cofty game me some great advice by PM too. He said to me: "fuck off" - SBF

Sadly you didn't take my advice.

Blair was committed to uncritical support of Bush.

It is unfair to criticise MI6. Chilcot made clear that Blair carefully selected the intelligence he wanted and rejected the rest.

It is clear that Saddam did have WMD previously, he had used Sarin gas against the Kurds. That was a hideous war crime. But in my opinion Blair lacked the pragmatism that is necessary for a national leader. Saddam was contained. UN weapons inspectors were being allowed to do their job and they were finding nothing. Of course devoid of all other factors it was morally right to eliminate Saddam but in the real world he should have been kept on a short leash. The cost of war was always going to be too high and there was no sensible plan for the aftermath.

How do you bring peace to a region ruled by a culture that has no interest in fairness and democracy?

47

Is the Bible God's word? Help please.....

by Freeandclear in

jw
friends

so real quick, i know this comes up now and then and i've looked over some of the posts from the past but here's the thing.. when i was a jw i drank all the cool aid, i was 100% and so i have all my own arguments (from the jw's) for why the bible is inspired.

i no longer believe this but i'd really like to read something that is pretty much 100% academic on this subject.

i want to read what scholars have to say about the authenticity of the bible and it's claim at being the inspired word of god.