Posts by Nickolas

25

Belief does not define character

by Nickolas in

jw
friends

have you ever wondered how there could be so many pedophiles and other miscreants who are jehovah's witnesses, who claim to be the chosen people of god and who profess and honour christian morals?

you could ask the same question of the roman catholic clergy and the staff of protestant run orphanages.

the vast majority of jehovah's witnesses, catholic priests and protestant orphanage staff are not miscreants, but they share something in common with their despicable bretheren and that is they believe the same thing.

Nickolas

Your post brings to mind a quote, JohathanH.

'Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion.' (Nobel Prize-winning American physicist) Steven Weinberg

Whether you agree with Weinberg or not, what he is saying is that religious belief can sway people to behave differently than they would otherwise. Shunning is a stellar example.

Best of luck, garyneal. I haven't figured out yet how to reach my wife, either.

Still thinking about what you said, Tammy.

25

Belief does not define character

by Nickolas in

jw
friends

have you ever wondered how there could be so many pedophiles and other miscreants who are jehovah's witnesses, who claim to be the chosen people of god and who profess and honour christian morals?

you could ask the same question of the roman catholic clergy and the staff of protestant run orphanages.

the vast majority of jehovah's witnesses, catholic priests and protestant orphanage staff are not miscreants, but they share something in common with their despicable bretheren and that is they believe the same thing.

Nickolas

That's just too funny, mle. You are a master of satire, old boy.

25

Belief does not define character

by Nickolas in

jw
friends

have you ever wondered how there could be so many pedophiles and other miscreants who are jehovah's witnesses, who claim to be the chosen people of god and who profess and honour christian morals?

you could ask the same question of the roman catholic clergy and the staff of protestant run orphanages.

the vast majority of jehovah's witnesses, catholic priests and protestant orphanage staff are not miscreants, but they share something in common with their despicable bretheren and that is they believe the same thing.

Nickolas

Have you ever wondered how there could be so many pedophiles and other miscreants who are Jehovah's Witnesses, who claim to be the chosen People of God and who profess and honour Christian morals? You could ask the same question of the Roman Catholic clergy and the staff of Protestant run orphanages. The vast majority of Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholic priests and Protestant orphanage staff are not miscreants, but they share something in common with their despicable bretheren and that is they believe the same thing. The miscreant Jehovah's Witness is just as dedicated to his beliefs as the non-miscreant Jehovah's Witness. And I'm sure there are atheist miscreants out there, too.

What a person believes influences behaviour but what a person believes does not define his or her character. The nature of prejudice is such that all people who are identified with a different group are held in contempt, even those who are otherwise good and honourable people.

Agree or disagree. My hide is thick.

114

Anyone here have any experience with the "super-natural"?

by Knowsnothing in

and if so, would that prove an existence of evil-spirits (demons)?.

i have heard of a couple of stories of possession, or of jw's talking to spiritists and the spiritists having seen 2 men following the jw, either dressed all in black, or all in white, and very strong looking.

yet, i have never experienced any of it.. another experience that i heard is about a brother whose mom had super-natural strength, and tossed something really heavy.

Nickolas

"Religion as it is practiced in Bali is a composite belief system that embraces not only theology, philosophy, and mythology, but ancestor worship, animism and magic. It pervades nearly every aspect of traditional life. Caste is observed, though less strictly than in India."

Interesting religion, doofdaddy. are you an adherent?

114

Anyone here have any experience with the "super-natural"?

by Knowsnothing in

and if so, would that prove an existence of evil-spirits (demons)?.

i have heard of a couple of stories of possession, or of jw's talking to spiritists and the spiritists having seen 2 men following the jw, either dressed all in black, or all in white, and very strong looking.

yet, i have never experienced any of it.. another experience that i heard is about a brother whose mom had super-natural strength, and tossed something really heavy.

Nickolas

Where would you like me to begin? First thing that ever happened to me was when my futon begin to shake while I sat upon it. I even got off of it and held my hand on top of it while it shook. I knew it was a spirit, for how could you believe in GOD and not believe in demons or otherwise. I took it as a wake-up call from GOD or just a demon trying to bring me fear. It did shake me up a bit so that I chose to close the door to the room it occured in. I have numorous accounts, that was just the beginning.......

I think you experienced this thing, estephan, but you must agree that it was an entirely personal experience, or was there someone on the futon with you?

My life is FULL of joy and bliss Nicko. Currently lying on a beach in Bali waiting on a call from a Hindu priest who will perform a sacred ceremony on behalf of me for my deceased mother. He also laughs a lot! Are you an expert on Balinese animism ? Or just more flippant comments...

It sounds wonderful, doofdaddy. No, I can't say I have even heard of Balinese animism, but I will read up on it, thanks.

189

Does God speak to you? HOW?

by Quentin in

an answer to this question is subjective to the individual an a posteriori experiene.

however, can there be an a priori experence, one that is objective, outside the bounds of personel experiene, or does it remain subjective?

god speaks to me, through many venus, except audible.

Nickolas

I appreciate it when Shelby's posts something directed at me because it is always generous and sincere, as much as I do not understand or see things as she does. I also don't see her making ad hominem attacks against me or other atheists, in spite of receiving them on a regular basis. There are few, if any, more interesting people on this board.

I'm an atheist but I am still interested in what theists have to say, if only to understand why they perceive things the way they do. While there are good, solid and logical arguments to be made against the existence of God the argument from personal experience is the most difficult to defeat, because personal experience is by far the most convincing to those who have had one. Anyone knowledgeable about psychology can explain the phenomenon of hearing voices, but will generally be unable to convince the individual hearing them that they are not real. That is because perception (whether yours or mine) is reality and, in effect, the voices are real.

Why is there so much disrespect on this board?

114

Anyone here have any experience with the "super-natural"?

by Knowsnothing in

and if so, would that prove an existence of evil-spirits (demons)?.

i have heard of a couple of stories of possession, or of jw's talking to spiritists and the spiritists having seen 2 men following the jw, either dressed all in black, or all in white, and very strong looking.

yet, i have never experienced any of it.. another experience that i heard is about a brother whose mom had super-natural strength, and tossed something really heavy.

Nickolas

Well, wasblind, that's one supernatural experience I will not even try to debunk.

189

Does God speak to you? HOW?

by Quentin in

an answer to this question is subjective to the individual an a posteriori experiene.

however, can there be an a priori experence, one that is objective, outside the bounds of personel experiene, or does it remain subjective?

god speaks to me, through many venus, except audible.

Nickolas

Easily amused, then?

114

Anyone here have any experience with the "super-natural"?

by Knowsnothing in

and if so, would that prove an existence of evil-spirits (demons)?.

i have heard of a couple of stories of possession, or of jw's talking to spiritists and the spiritists having seen 2 men following the jw, either dressed all in black, or all in white, and very strong looking.

yet, i have never experienced any of it.. another experience that i heard is about a brother whose mom had super-natural strength, and tossed something really heavy.

Nickolas

I'm a skeptic and you folks are telling stories that I am unable to take seriously. That's just the way it is. I'm happy you're amused, though. There can't be a whole lot of laughs in the world in which you live.

189

Does God speak to you? HOW?

by Quentin in

an answer to this question is subjective to the individual an a posteriori experiene.

however, can there be an a priori experence, one that is objective, outside the bounds of personel experiene, or does it remain subjective?

god speaks to me, through many venus, except audible.

Nickolas

Something funny, Curtains?