eric356

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Posts by eric356

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  43

  Do you believe that Armstrong was really on the moon?

  by Newborn in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we had a discussion at lunch today.

  some are sure he wasn't and some sure that he was.. i want to believe that he was there.. just interesting to hear what you think?.

  /newborn.

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  eric356

  Moon hoaxers are idiots. It's quite simple.

  Nobody owns the moon. There's international law that says you can't make claims on celestial bodies. This is actually a problem for private companies that are thinking about mining or building structures on the moon.

  There is water on the moon. Lot's of it. It's in the regolith. See LCROSS mission, which also took pictures of the Apollo landing sites where the LM stages and footprints are visible.

  Lots of science was done on the moon. The data is still used to help understand the origin of the moon, and how planets and moons formed in the solar system.
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  49

  A world without God? What would it be like...

  by Snoozy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  another thread got me to thinking..something i do once in a while .

  what if no one believed in a god .

  what do you think the world would be like?.

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  eric356

  Just like this one.
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  14

  Christopher Hitchens / Tony Blair debate - November 27, 2010

  by Nickolas in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is the first of nine youtube videos covering last night's debate on religion in toronto.

  well worth the time.. http://www.youtube.com/user/hitchensblairdebate#p/u/8/ipmpfu3mmpa.

  also available in avi format for torrent download here: http://onebigtorrent.org/download.php?id=10240&export=1&d=1.

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  eric356

  NeonMadman - I don't think Hitchens was worried about James White. He has cancelled a few appearances depending on how he feels after chemotherapy sessions.
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  27

  Science and Logic and Faith - WT Study July 11, 2004

  by jgnat in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  ?creation declares the glory of god!?

  wt june 1, 2004 (wt quotes in red.).

  this article quotes a few scientists; agnostic and christian, then paul, to argue that creation speaks of god?s existence.

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  eric356

  The problem is that it's true that science is limited to things that can actually be observed. The WT makes this into a dirty word, ignoring the fact that a vast number of things that people actually care about are things that can be observed. If you claim your religion has unparalleled unity, love, etc. a sociologist can go out and survey people to see if that's true. Same with prayer helping cure illness.

  Basically, science is "limited" to the things that actually effect reality. Because nobody can explain how god could effect reality, or even that he exists, god is unscientific.
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  101

  Todays WT study illustration of Jesus doing away Capitol Hill and Obama - a statement of the WTS?

  by Gorbatchov in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i attended the todays wt study and got notice of the illustration of jesus doing away capitol hill and barack obama.. i think the illustration passed the juridical advisors of the wts, having a blackout!

  of are they trying to reach the anti government people like the tea party idiots with this kind of propaganda illustrations?.

  is this a signal that the wts is anti democrats, anti obama?.

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  eric356

  I'm actually sort of surprised that they really obviously put Obama in the magazine. Seems a little close to saying "Don't support this candidate. See, Jesus is sweeping them away!" which is sort of close to violating federal law. I'm not surprised, the WT is run by old, white, religious fundamentalists - which is Obama's worst constituency.

  Also, Jesus looks like a huge douchebag in that picture.
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  24

  Nobody wants to live in paradise

  by eric356 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've got some probably-not-so-original musings about why nobody would actually want to "live forever on a paradise earth.

  " these are the sorts of things that probably make every jw kid (or adult) have some doubts, because the problems are so obvious.

  the standard jw answer of "it doesn't say in the bible what will happen, we'll see when we get there" or "wait for the new scrolls to be opened" are totally inadequate because the problems involve the very concept of eternal life in paradise.

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  eric356

  Um, yeah...

  Any paradise that lasts for eternity eventually becomes a hell.

  Also, people want lots of things, that doesn't mean they will ever get them. Get over it.

  And we don't need God's help to get to space. That's why we invented rocket engines.
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  24

  Nobody wants to live in paradise

  by eric356 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've got some probably-not-so-original musings about why nobody would actually want to "live forever on a paradise earth.

  " these are the sorts of things that probably make every jw kid (or adult) have some doubts, because the problems are so obvious.

  the standard jw answer of "it doesn't say in the bible what will happen, we'll see when we get there" or "wait for the new scrolls to be opened" are totally inadequate because the problems involve the very concept of eternal life in paradise.

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  eric356

  wasblind - There are no cheeseburgers in paradise. Everyone (and thing) is vegetarian!
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  20

  Favorite Demon Stories

  by Cold Steel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  one of the most fascinating aspects of the jw religion is the profound fear of demons (evil spirits) it engenders in its members.

  i just wondered whether it's something that is used by the leadership as a means of control, or whether it's simply a concept that grew legs and took off on its own?

  first, i believe in evil spirits.

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  eric356

  Hypnogogia is probably the source of many demon stories or ghost experiences. Of course, crazy people, coincidence, and superstition are also leading causes.
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  5

  Things I’ve Un-Learned Since Leaving the Watchtower, Part One

  by MarcusScriptus in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  while it is not possible for me to claim that the following are axioms in the objective sense, they are a glimpse into demonstrating how far from reality the governing body keeps its adherents.

  once a member of jehovahs witnesses, we suddenly develop a sense of authority since we have the truth.

  we become experts in the bible, on religion, upon anything we study about.

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  eric356

  All good. Also:

  1. Evolution isn't junk science. There's actually a reason why scientists devote their careers to studying evolutionary biology!

  2. Gay people aren't bad.

  3. Politics does actually have consequences, good and bad.

  4. People who get higher education and ambitious careers are almost never doing it for the money. They are doing what they love.
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  49

  Name Something Good About Being A Jehovah's Witness

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've got one!.

  you don't have to wait in long xmas lines at the store to buy xmas presents.

  as a matter of fact, you don't have to buy a damn thing!.

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  eric356

  Cheese danishes, and our assembly hall used to have a soft serve ice cream machine, which was the best thing ever.

  The whole event of going to a DC or assembly was generally positive. Sitting and listening was boring, but what kid does that? I spent all my time drawing pictures, looking at weird people with binoculars, finding elaborate ways to eat during the program, reading all the weird parts of the Bible, or getting 8 months of Book Study underlining out of the way. Also, it was a time to see family, eat out at a restaurant, and sometimes stay at a hotel. All fun for a kid.

  I'm not that nervous when speaking in public. Also, if I ever work for a political campaign I could knock on doors and cold approach people with the best of them.

  I have a pretty good attention span from having to sit still and pay attention at really boring meetings.

  May have avoided trouble in school. This one's not really provable because it's a counterfactual. I probably also missed out on some real good times.

  Being made to stand out at school made me comfortable with being outspoken and not very conformist. I was almost never bullied or picked on, partly due to being accustomed to sticking out from the group.

  I have a good moral code, but this could just be because my parents are great.

  I can be thankful for how much better my life was after leaving. It's probably not the best way to affirm the value of life to oneself, it's sort of like almost overdosing or getting in a near fatal car accident, but the contrast does help you appreciate being alive more. Getting out also makes me more alert for other scams, and trained my critical thinking ability.