paranoia agent

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Posts by paranoia agent

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  28

  The distinction between cult and religion.....

  by NoRegrets in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  another great article from the ted talks.

  opening quote really tells it all: "the distinction between cult and religion lies squarely in how those leaving or those wanting to leave are treated.

  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eliyahu-federman/when-organized-religion-become_b_3996139.html?ir=ted+weekends&ref=topbar.

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  paranoia agent

  Cold steel: if I leave the church am I shunned?
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  293

  AGM 5 OCTOBER 2013 (UNOFFICIAL RUMORS)

  by WatchTower87 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  - 23 day to go .. annual meeting unofficial rumors.

  - new bible.

  - new nwt (revision).

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  paranoia agent

  It's going to something like the end is very near so instead of going door knocking lets hand out big volumes of literature on one spot
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  65

  Literature carts are the cruisiest way to preach ever - photo attached

  by jwfacts in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  it was a perfect spring day, and a jazz band were playing in the mall near my work.

  in front of the band, two watchtower literature carts stood in solidarity.

  i could not work out who were the jws attending them.

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  paranoia agent

  CubanGringo Thanks, had to ask as it looks similar to an area around the CBD, I might keep an eye open next time for some reverse indoctrination. I am think of a of something to put next to it "for every free magazing or booklet you are contributing to shunning among family members and the support of many past and future unecessary deaths, visit jwfacts.com for more info"
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  304

  Musings about different types of atheist!

  by Seraphim23 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a thought that occurs to me is that if one has the belief that all that is real is only explicable in terms of particles and forces, and that nothing exists that is not one of these, then good and bad doesnt exist either, the same would be true for any concept for that matter.

  or perhaps it is only true when reduced to the level of matter and forces, but without the moral force, meaning and purpose that such a materialist only description would entail.

  after all, if death is forever, which is materialist view, then what does it matter if a seventy or seven year old enters the grave?

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  paranoia agent

  Seraphim23 wrote : paranoia agent I base the assumption on the view that Genesis as a book has obviously large sections that are not literally true. Man evolved and didn’t come from Eden according to the evidence from DNA and other sources. The archaeological history of the Jews is at odds with biblical record in some instances and so on. On top of this the picture of God himself is not consistent on many levels when these things are taken as literal. Plus there are other sources of spiritual insight about God that happen today that contradict the traditional picture of God of old times. Even Paul says we see through a glass darkly. Where light does shine, as with strong scientific evidence, I tend to go with it, because if truth does exist, then it doesn’t contradict itself!

  There is so much here explained abstractly so allow me to discuss one section at a time.

  I base the assumption on the view that Genesis as a book has obviously large sections that are not literally true.

  I either understand it or I don't or I have reasons to believe in it or I don't. This is not to mean that I don't make mistakes and that I don't assume, we all do to a certain degree like I assume that the doctor knows what he is doing and I assume that the police is actually a police officer, however I do not believe in apriori assumptions, explained below.

  http://youtu.be/14JavH4Rk7k

  The problem I see in believing in biogenesis and evolution is:

  a) This refutes the doctrine of original sin thus Jesus did not die for us

  b) Many past Christians believed in false doctrine, even preached from the NT by Paul and others.

  c) Biblical doctrine could be subjected to even more changes in the future possibly making your views redundant

  The archaeological history of the Jews is at odds with biblical record in some instances and so on. On top of this the picture of God himself is not consistent on many levels when these things are taken as literal.

  I take it that you are not ignorant of the biblical clashes going on. A Muslim apologist said to that the Koran is true, its just that current scientific (we were discussing science) discoveries has not caught up to it. You could had taken this presuppositional stance but you decided not to. You could had taken the side of Marcionites or the Ebionites. You seem to use current findings to interpret your current view of what the bible is so let me ask you.

  Could you be wrong about god of the OT and NT and why not?

  Plus there are other sources of spiritual insight about God that happen today that contradict the traditional picture of God of old times.

  How do you know that there is only one deity? And these insights that you know, was it God?

  Even Paul says we see through a glass darkly.

  Then what is the point in believing in such an incoherent book. Now don't give me its not just the bible, without it there wouldn't be Christianity.

  Where light does shine, as with strong scientific evidence, I tend to go with it, because if truth does exist, then it doesn’t contradict itself!

  But you are not interested in truth as you have already made an apriori assumption about god. Science has disproven god along time ago by Galileo but you seem to want to keep re writing history, philosophy has disproven Yahweh even longer. What about Enoch2 from the Dead Sea scrolls that speaks of a flat earth? What about all the contradictions in the NT, and all the gore, rape, cannibalism, genocide in the OT?

  By you picking and choosing what to believe in you are also contradicting the bible, speaking where it is silent, part of the sin that all religions make.
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  65

  Literature carts are the cruisiest way to preach ever - photo attached

  by jwfacts in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  it was a perfect spring day, and a jazz band were playing in the mall near my work.

  in front of the band, two watchtower literature carts stood in solidarity.

  i could not work out who were the jws attending them.

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  paranoia agent

  Where in nsw was this
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  304

  Musings about different types of atheist!

  by Seraphim23 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a thought that occurs to me is that if one has the belief that all that is real is only explicable in terms of particles and forces, and that nothing exists that is not one of these, then good and bad doesnt exist either, the same would be true for any concept for that matter.

  or perhaps it is only true when reduced to the level of matter and forces, but without the moral force, meaning and purpose that such a materialist only description would entail.

  after all, if death is forever, which is materialist view, then what does it matter if a seventy or seven year old enters the grave?

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  paranoia agent

  Seraphim23 : Sure I understand that, many eastern orthodox share your view, but being that you wrote 'I don’t base the validity of scripture on scripture' then what are you basing on that the Abraham passage was not literal?

  I have to ask these questions because all christians have different beliefs, being that there are 42,000 different christian dominations it's no surprise.
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  20

  How to influence those under psychological coercion

  by paranoia agent in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hi, i am completing a degree in psychology, while doing so a subject on social psychology has some interesting subjects on persuasion and change techniques.

  so while not all circumstances are different doing so in this manner is the most efficient way:.

  1. do not allow the argument to become heated, studies have showed that people tend to use less of the left side of the brain (left side is where all rational and logical cognitions take place, right hemisphere of the brain is all emotion).. 2. don't be a hypocrite, if they get angry and upset they subconsciently expect you to do the same to prove themselves that what they are doing is correct, speak calmly with a monotone voice and try to calm the other person down.. 3. build rapport, rapport can only come from genuine empathy so do not pretend or they will see right through you.

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  paranoia agent

  Londo111 wrote But how do I know if you were in a cult? You say you are, but should I believe a 'used car salesman'? Your main message so far is, “I’m getting a psychology degree. Steven Hassan bad.” I’m sure many cults would be eager to spread the last part of that message.

  First part I don't understand a word that you wrote. I never had a main message and if that's all I wrote then you didn't read it all.

  skeeter1: Not a big fan of Phill, and what he does is NOT PSYCHOLOGY.

  1 Dr. Phil is a Doctor. He has a Ph.D. in Psychology.
  2 Dr. Phil is not a psychologist. He is not licensed as a psychologist.
  3 Dr. Phil used to be a psychologist. He used to be licensed.
  4 He cannot practice psychology, and what he does is not actually the practice of psychology.
  5 Yes, he can call him self Dr. Phil.

  what jgnat said, and also being that he is Christian he has faced criticism of at times taken the side of men without properly analysing the situation.
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  50

  Lying to children

  by jwfacts in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  zac's first tooth just fell out, and so people are telling him that the tooth fairy will come with money.

  zac asked me if the tooth fairy is real.

  i am at a loss as to what to say.

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  paranoia agent

  laverite : Paranoia agent - what psychological studies are you referring to? Cult classic made an excellent point. What empirical evidence have you read that leads you to think that what cult classic wrote is not correct?

  Buy a book on child psychology that is taught in tertiary education, or try google scholar for peer review articles on parent child relationships.
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  50

  Lying to children

  by jwfacts in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  zac's first tooth just fell out, and so people are telling him that the tooth fairy will come with money.

  zac asked me if the tooth fairy is real.

  i am at a loss as to what to say.

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  paranoia agent

  cult classic: psychological studies have said the exact opposite, what are you basing that on?
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  304

  Musings about different types of atheist!

  by Seraphim23 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a thought that occurs to me is that if one has the belief that all that is real is only explicable in terms of particles and forces, and that nothing exists that is not one of these, then good and bad doesnt exist either, the same would be true for any concept for that matter.

  or perhaps it is only true when reduced to the level of matter and forces, but without the moral force, meaning and purpose that such a materialist only description would entail.

  after all, if death is forever, which is materialist view, then what does it matter if a seventy or seven year old enters the grave?

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  paranoia agent

  OK, so what biblical scripture are you basing on your interpretation that the Abraham passage was not literal?

  Also do you consider that the killings conducted by the army of Moses and others was also not literal?