cofty

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Posts by cofty

• 
  405

  Origin of Life

  by cofty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in recent years significant progress has been made in solving the question of how life originated on our planet.. how do you think theists will respond when it finally happens?

  as a former christian i know my reaction would have been something like "well that just goes to show that it takes intelligent life to make life", but for two reasons that defense doesn't work.. firstly it would prove that life is not an ethereal force that originates with god.

  there is no 'ghost in the machine', no elan vital.

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  cofty

  This isn't a "different level of interpretation," (a different focus, or scale), like saying the river is cold and the river is blue. It's like saying the river is blue and the river is red - A Ha

  To all intelligent rational people this is a knock-down argument.

  To purveyors of postmodernism it isn't.

  SBF has argued that in regards to the shape of planet earth that the perspective of a worm - that the earth is flat (not seems flat, is flat) is just as valid as that of an astronaut.

  I foolishly made the assertion that the planet earth is not flat only to be told "it depends what you mean by "the", it depends what you mean by "earth", it depends what you mean by "is", it depends what you mean by "not", it depends what you mean by "flat".

  Remember too that god does not exist therefore he exists is also a valid argument in SBF's world.

  You are dealing with a level of obscurantism and dishonesty that it hard to comprehend. If there were two people destroying threads in the way SBF does I would leave the forum tomorrow.
• 
  405

  Origin of Life

  by cofty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in recent years significant progress has been made in solving the question of how life originated on our planet.. how do you think theists will respond when it finally happens?

  as a former christian i know my reaction would have been something like "well that just goes to show that it takes intelligent life to make life", but for two reasons that defense doesn't work.. firstly it would prove that life is not an ethereal force that originates with god.

  there is no 'ghost in the machine', no elan vital.

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  2. 
  3. 
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  cofty

  I get the feeling that you got beat black and blue as a Christian in your online discussions after you left - Ruby

  I never participated in any online discussions as a Christian.

  I worked out for myself that theism was in error and left just as I did as a JW.

  You could not be more wrong.

  I think its a real shame that you didn't meet nice people lke slimbyfat

  I have utter unmitigated contempt for SBF's postmodern pseudo-intellectual bullshit and dishonesty. How would meeting him have helped me exactly? I didn't need his help and still don't.

  You make a lot of assumptions.

  I think there is a nice guy who collects ancient coins in his spare time trying to come out

  That is arrogant and condescending.

  Apart from my contempt for SBF my interactions with believers in this thread has been nothing but respectful.
  
  
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  34

  Do you have / admire Charisma?

  by The Rebel in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "charisma is a certain quality of an individual personality by virtue of which the person is set apart from ordinary people and treated as exceptional".

  as a kid i was afraid of such charisma, as it was usually the quality i noticed elders, head masters, and parents had to exercise with unloving authority over me.. but now i think about it "charisma" doesn't need be only for people with authority.

  " charisma" is something even we can have?

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  cofty

  You haven't read the thread. - FHN

  Yes I have. I nearly choked on my tea when I read the following..

  I have been told that I have charisma. I don't tend to see it until I see video of myself. - FHN

  Rebel is inventing his own unique self-serving definition of charisma.

  "what makes this person exceptional? Well this person never takes the bait, never gets into the religious and political arguments..."

  
  
  
• 
  405

  Origin of Life

  by cofty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in recent years significant progress has been made in solving the question of how life originated on our planet.. how do you think theists will respond when it finally happens?

  as a former christian i know my reaction would have been something like "well that just goes to show that it takes intelligent life to make life", but for two reasons that defense doesn't work.. firstly it would prove that life is not an ethereal force that originates with god.

  there is no 'ghost in the machine', no elan vital.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  cofty

  SBF - My position throughout this thread has been entirely consistent.

  Some scientific discoveries have theological implications. Darwin's hypothesis about the origin of species was of great significance to theists 150 years ago. In time the majority were able to reconcile evolution with faith. A minority continue to resist despite the overwhelming evidence that has accumulated over the past century and a half.

  Recent progress in origin-of-life science also has serious theological implications. I have opened a perfectly reasonable and respectful conversation about that.

  If/when science can demonstrate that life begins without any intervention through entirely naturalistic means it will not prove anything about whether or not god exists. I have never said otherwise. However it will require a significant adjustment to christian doctrine.

  You continue to misrepresent the conversation and derail it with your usual pseudo intellectual postmodern bullshit. Your first intervention on page 1 was outrageously stupid. You are now trying to pretend that you said something different and dishonestly twist my words.

  If in future I appear to be ignoring you that will be because I am.

  Vidqun - I am surprised by your answer. Regarding the possibility of scientists showing how life began naturally you said "nothing is impossible ... I am not sure man is going to be allowed to go all the way ... So yes, it's not impossible".

  As a former christian that seems to contradict christian belief. Genesis describes the creation of Adam from the dust of the earth and then god breathed life into him. Life is generally viewed as an animating force that originates uniquely with god.

  This view would make it impossible for life to arise in a lab. The challenge is not just technical but metaphysical. But you seem to see it only as a technical challenge.

  I'm puzzled by that. Do you care to explain further?
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  24

  To all former Elders – what are your thoughts

  by Tallon in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  if you were part of a judicial committee, and knowing what you know now, what was it like for you to sit on jc’s?

  how did you feel if someone was reproved or df’d?

  were you ever on a jc and you disagreed with someone being reproved or df’d and were overruled – how did you feel?

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  cofty

  Only one. He was a piece of shit sexual predator. No regrets.

  On another occasion a middle-age sister was caught shoplifting. She had so many emotional and family issues. The elders wanted to form a JC. After a contentious elder's meeting I finally persuaded them to allow myself and another elder to meet with her to offer support instead. I was very proud of that moment.
• 
  405

  Origin of Life

  by cofty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in recent years significant progress has been made in solving the question of how life originated on our planet.. how do you think theists will respond when it finally happens?

  as a former christian i know my reaction would have been something like "well that just goes to show that it takes intelligent life to make life", but for two reasons that defense doesn't work.. firstly it would prove that life is not an ethereal force that originates with god.

  there is no 'ghost in the machine', no elan vital.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  cofty

  The original posts discusses the idea that future scientific discoveries about the origin of life may eliminate the need for God

  No it doesn't.

  It poses the question of how theism would deal with a purely naturalistic answer to the origin of life. Most theists have already learned to accommodate the fact of evolution. Would they adjust to abiogenesis so readily?

  Now please shut up with your po-mo bullshit.
• 
  34

  Do you have / admire Charisma?

  by The Rebel in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "charisma is a certain quality of an individual personality by virtue of which the person is set apart from ordinary people and treated as exceptional".

  as a kid i was afraid of such charisma, as it was usually the quality i noticed elders, head masters, and parents had to exercise with unloving authority over me.. but now i think about it "charisma" doesn't need be only for people with authority.

  " charisma" is something even we can have?

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  2. 
  3. 
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  cofty

  This whole thread sounds very self-indulgent.
• 
  9

  September Is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

  by azor in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  please donate.

  whether it's your time, money, or influence.

  the donation box at mcdonalds does go to an amazing charity.

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  cofty

  My family has been awarded a disney cruise that we will be going on early next year.

  Brilliant! You deserve it after what you have all been through.
  
  
• 
  405

  Origin of Life

  by cofty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in recent years significant progress has been made in solving the question of how life originated on our planet.. how do you think theists will respond when it finally happens?

  as a former christian i know my reaction would have been something like "well that just goes to show that it takes intelligent life to make life", but for two reasons that defense doesn't work.. firstly it would prove that life is not an ethereal force that originates with god.

  there is no 'ghost in the machine', no elan vital.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  cofty

  SBF - Not one single word in your post has anything at all to do with the topic.

  Just more pseudo-intellectual, vacuous postmodernism trolling.

  Please feel free to fuck right off.
• 
  405

  Origin of Life

  by cofty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in recent years significant progress has been made in solving the question of how life originated on our planet.. how do you think theists will respond when it finally happens?

  as a former christian i know my reaction would have been something like "well that just goes to show that it takes intelligent life to make life", but for two reasons that defense doesn't work.. firstly it would prove that life is not an ethereal force that originates with god.

  there is no 'ghost in the machine', no elan vital.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  cofty

  I go for the rule: Life begets life. - vidqun

  Who made up that rule? Again you are missing the main point.

  Scientists are not trying to "make" life. They are trying to set up prebiotic conditions and observe how life emerges by purely naturalistic means.

  If God could create life, so could man.

  That surprises me coming from somebody who quotes the bible as an authority.