cofty

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Posts by cofty

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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

  the scripture that said, do not judge or else you will be judged...I think something like that....or the one where the same measure you judge someone you will be judged with the same measure...How did you all handle those scriptures, in good conscience...did you ever feel that those scriptures about judging, would ever apply to you ? How did you rationalize that in your hearts and minds?

  Hi Tor. I think it is a matter of context. Once the early church was established a hierarchy of deacons and elders were appointed. Among the elders' duties was the task of judging "wrongdoers".

  It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. - 1Cor.5:12 (NLT)
  

  A lot of elders I knew viewed themselves as police of congregation. I always thought of myself as being like a brother who had responsibility to look out for the others. Elders who think that way often end up butting heads with the legalistic sort.
  
  
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  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

  I refuse to waste any more time and energy on this thread. It is like trying to have an adult conversation with friends while a child runs around screaming "look at me everybody".

  I think it is a question I really want to pursue further so I will attempt to come at the same question again in a new thread - which of course SBF will shit on again and again forever and ever amen.
  

  SBF when I say you are dishonest and disingenuous I use those words very deliberately. If you ever do visit Lindisfarne I am only 5 minutes away. I will be out.

  Viv - Thank you for taking the time to try to sort out SBFs wilful twisting of facts. I appreciate it.
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  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

  I do remember they said God created Adam and then breathed into his nostrils the breath of life which refers to some kind of animating force that only comes from God

  Yes that is what I said.

  Spirit pneuma is impersonal life-force. Soul nephesh is the living being.

  Life-force/spirit comes only from god therefore scientists cannot make life. Satan cannot make life.

  Euthanasia is always wrong. Very basic JW theology.
  
• 
  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

  I don't think slim is a troll

  I do

  I felt he raised some valid questions

  He made deliberately obtuse statements and then ignored all answers,

  It's a shame the thread became ugly, and what should have been an interesting debate,

  That was his intention.

  and defend himself, with " reasonable" arguments

  He has not made a single reasonable argument in this thread that was not predicated on lying about the intention of the OP

  Slims, simply audacious comments if honest and sincere, do challenge and create what could be an interesting debate

  Not honest or sincere. His intention is to trash not challenge. You could copy-paste his first comment in this thread into any one of hundreds of different threads. It is generic bullshit with no connection to the actual topic.

  Believers love him for it. Most of them don't have a clue what he is on about but it saves them having to think.

  informative questions, rightly asked/ answered to create a great thread and challenge our thinking.

  It was an excellent question. SBF made sure no sensible conversation on the actual topic was possible. It is his MO. Another thread trashed. SBF feeling smug. Mission accomplished.
• 
  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

  The watchtower's doctrine of spirit and soul make it theologically impossible for scientists to invent life in the lab.

  the thread is based on a false premise.

  Believers in this forum have objected many times that the origin of life poses an impossible barrier to a purely naturalistic view of life. I attempted to start a conversation about that. It is not based on any false premise. Even if you are right about the WT view - you're not - it in no way invalidates the topic.

  You have made so many obtuse statements in this thread in a childish and arrogant attempt to shut down conversation. I stand by my original statement that you are a troll.
• 
  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

  So you worked backward from your understanding of JW teaching on "spirit"

  It's not my understanding. I conducted enough bible studies in that book to know what they taught about spirit.

  The spirit of life comes from god alone.

  SBF - The amount of energy and time you have put in to try to destroy this thread using every dishonest tactic is an utter disgrace.
  
  
• 
  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

  Why do you assume that life created by scientists would be without spirit?

  Spirit is the impersonal force that gives life to all living things. It emanates from god and returns to god. It was compared to electricity with god as its unique source.
  
• 
  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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  3. 
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  cofty

  HOW CAN ANYTHING BE ALIVE WITHOUT SPIRIT IN WT THEOLOGY?
  
• 
  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

  The brochure is a pseudo-scientific argument from complexity from beginning to end. It doesn't mention the deeper theological reason why scientists could not make life.

  What is the "spirit" the returns to god at death according to the Watchtower? It is the impersonal force that gives life to all living things. It emanates from god and returns to god. It was compared to electricity with god as its unique source.

  HOW CAN ANYTHING BE ALIVE WITHOUT SPIRIT IN WT THEOLOGY?

  Spirit comes from god alone therefore scientists can NEVER create a living thing from rocks. They might make a cell but it would be lifeless.

  "Spirit" is inaccessible to science.

  For the same reason Satan can never create life.
• 
  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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  3. 
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  cofty

  the feasibility of scientists creating living cells from non-living matter.

  It does not say "living cells".

  What is the "spirit" the returns to god at death according to the Watchtower? It is the impersonal force that gives life to all living things. It emanates from god and returns to god. It was compared to electricity with god as its unique source. How can anything be alive without spirit in WT theology? Spirit comes from god alone therefore scientists can NEVER create a living thing from rocks. They might make a cell but it would be lifeless.

  "Spirit" is inaccessible to science.

  For the same reason Satan can never create life.
  

  Anyone acquainted with anything they have ever written knows this.

  Not content with misrepresenting your own OP

  Liar