Posts by InterestedOne

Every single culture that we know of, even those that develop in isolation, has had a belief in god/goddess/creator/spirit (s). From as far back as we can trace the beginning, this has been shown to be true. Explanations have been offered that mankind assigned to a 'god' what mankind could not explain. But I cannot see this as being possible. How can a purely natural species conceive of the spiritual/the supernatural?

- Humans have a fantastic imagination. This is true. But I have never known a single person who can conceive of something that has not been built upon previous knowledge, or observation of the physical world. For instance, conceiving of aliens is easy. There are many planets with various conditions; we know that life exists on planets because we exist upon this one; so there could also be various forms of life suited to the environments of other planets. That is a simple leap built upon established knowledge; it is not a new conception.

People do think of new concepts. For example, I, and I'm sure others, sometimes wish I could be in two places at once. The concept of being in two places at once is not built upon previous knowledge - no one has ever been in two places at once, and yet I thought of it. How can the fact that people have thought of something, in your case god, be considered evidence that the thing actually exists? People engage in wishful thinking all the time. Although reality inspires wishful thinking, people add their own made-up ideas to it. Superheros have some connection to reality, and the creators add all sorts of far-fetched attributes to them. The fact that people have conceived of these made-up attributes is not evidence that those attributes, or the characters, are real. Similarly, the fact that people have thought of a god is not evidence for its existence. Why do you disagree?

3

Help with changes in literature......

by snare&racket in

jw
friends

i hope you are all well and smiling.

i am looking for any recent, as in last 20 years, alterations to the literature.

particularly ominous, deceitful, naughty alterations.

InterestedOne

Here's the one where the original magazine said "in our 20th century" but they changed the bound volume to "in our day."

http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/quotes/20th-century-2000.php

73

GB: "We don't know if Jehovah wants us to build new headquarters, but we're doing it anyway..."

by cedars in

the latest august 15th watchtower study edition features an interesting review of the society's annual meeting.. one comment struck me as evidence that the governing body isn't quite as "discreet" as it claims.. here is what the article said:.

"there are plans to develop a 248-acre (100 ha) property at warwick.

'although we are not yet certain of jehovahs will regarding warwick,' said brother pierce, 'we are proceeding to develop the site with the intention of relocating the world headquarters of jehovahs witnesses there.

InterestedOne

he answered. 'If the great tribulation interrupts our plans, that will be wonderful, absolutely wonderful!'”

From my perspective as an outsider, stating that the coming of any sort of -tribulation- would be -wonderful-, indicates a mental problem.

837

Atheism

by avatar in

jw
friends

.

InterestedOne

cofty - Thank you. When someone throws the word "proof" into the mix, it is distracting. It means 100% certainty like when a set of mathematical operations work out perfectly. I think it is more realistic to speak in terms of level of belief - ranging from thinking something is highly unlikely to very likely. When a believer in a god says he/she cannot prove its existence, I reply that I am not asking for 100% proof, so please get rid of that distraction. I am asking for evidence that indicates the claim is likely to be true.

13

Pardon my ignorance....but what's the scoop with kingdom hall ownership?

by outsmartthesystem in

who actually owns the buildings and land?

is it the local congregation or the watchtower society?

.

InterestedOne

Just for reference, here is another thread about it:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/203018/1/Who-Owns-Kingdom-Halls-Land

19

It must be God's organization because ...

by biometrics in

how many times have you heard a jw say something along the lines of "this must be god's organization because of [insert reason here]".

most of those reasons could equally apply to almost any organization on earth, including secular businesses.. the most recent one i heard was from an elder trying to convince someone why the watchtower is god's organization.

his reason was because "it [the watchtower] wouldn't have lasted this long without god's backing".

InterestedOne

In the [INSERT REASON HERE] space, my JW study conductor would put [CHANGED DOCTRINES]. Yes, that's right, when I brought up the changed doctrines with him, he said it is a sign that the JW's are being led by God. This is because it shows they are open-minded enough to alter their stance on a matter if they realize their understanding was incorrect or needed modifying. He contrasted this behavior with that of the other Christian denominations who will never alter their stance on doctrines, like the trinity for example.

834

Christian Apologists - Please Watch This and Tell Us Why it is wrong?

by cantleave in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1bzp1wr234&feature=relmfu.

InterestedOne

Sab wrote:

the "God" that is portrayed in the OP's video is just an atheist creation

I think it is a *theist* creation. The God in the OP's video is a summary of the things theists say when people observe their surroundings and ask questions about God like the angel does in the video. An innocent woman gets beat up (something that does happen in reality). God does not stop the abuse from occurring (something that also does happen in reality). An observer, like the angel, asks why God does not rescue her. The God in the video repeats common answers from believers such as "God does not violate free will" or that "he works in mysterious ways." The message I get from the video is that God's behavior does not make sense. Even the not-making-sense aspect of God's behavior is answered by believers by defining God to be all-wise. His wisdom is higher than our wisdom, so his behavior does not have to make sense to humans. An all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, all-wise God that we observe not physically stopping abuse from happening, as we see from our surroundings, is not an atheist creation.

32

"I respect a person's beliefs"

by Phizzy in

i often hear this phrase "i respect a person's beliefs" on here and elsewhere, but i feel strongly that you should not.. i know that sometimes people mean by that phrase that they respect the right of a person to hold silly beliefs if they want to, but if that is so, say so.. if a person's beliefs are unsupportable, perhaps looney, perhaps downright dangerous,murderous, like the jw blood doctrine, such beliefs deserve no respect at all.. the person holding them we can show respect to by telling them in a gentle, and polite way that their beliefs are a pile of steaming poo, but we should not show respect for the beliefs, even by the simple act of remaining silent.. "to tell the truth as you see it is a wonderful thing" john lydon ("johnny rotten" late of the sex pistols, and now p. i. ltd).

InterestedOne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPAC_cGVnUg

834

Christian Apologists - Please Watch This and Tell Us Why it is wrong?

by cantleave in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1bzp1wr234&feature=relmfu.

InterestedOne

tec wrote:

So if God does ex ist, one who has both power and wisdom, then He IS doing what should be done. He is the only one who knows. Just because you or I might not understand or see it, does not mean that what is needed to be done... is not being done. In fact, if such a God e xists, then what is needed to be done... IS... being done. Whether we see or acknowledge that or not.

I'm sorry I forgot about that part of the definition of God. In addition to all-powerful and all-benevolent, you have just reminded me of the trump card above, all-wise. Wiser than humans are, so if we humans use our intellect to reason that the all-powerful and all-benevolent parts do not make sense when we look at the world around us, just remember the all-wise part. His ways are higher than our ways. God works in mysterious ways. Yes, there is the trapdoor to exit in a puff of smoke. You have dealt yourself a perfect hand. The question in the title of this thread has just been responded to with a Christian apologist answer. Why is the video wrong? It is wrong because God is defined to be always doing the right thing even if you don't understand or see it, because His wisdom is higher than your wisdom. Pardon me while I go puke.