Posts by scotoma

27

"Philosophy is disfunctional" - Hallq

by bohm in

jw
friends

philosophy is disfunctional.

http://www.uncrediblehallq.net/2011/07/05/philosophy-is-dysfunctiona/.

im now convinced that, as an academic discipline, philosophy is dysfunctional.

scotoma

?My problem with this “philosophy” stuff is that it is so isolated from the biological function from
which it emerges. Animals have needs/desires. Animals make choices. Animals move. And
animals orient themselves.

Aristotle, in his treatise on the soul refers to four capacities.

For the present let it suffice to say that soul
is the principle of the capacities we have named
the nutritive, the sensitive, the ratiocinative, and
movement.

Philosophy emerges from our orientational (sensory) system. It should give us orientation. If philosophy
doesn’t give us an adequate orientation then we are living blind.

It is un-wise to separate our functions. They are seamlessly connected.. Philosophy has to be a
“philosophy of” - philosophy of science, philosophy of government etc. How do you discuss
philosophy without having a “philosophy of philosophy”.

Philosophy isn’t dysfunctional. It IS the function of an organism having to do with our sensory
system and need for orientation.. Humans are dysfunctional.

27

"Philosophy is disfunctional" - Hallq

by bohm in

jw
friends

philosophy is disfunctional.

http://www.uncrediblehallq.net/2011/07/05/philosophy-is-dysfunctiona/.

im now convinced that, as an academic discipline, philosophy is dysfunctional.

scotoma

Bohm: Your spelling is "dysfunctional"

27

"Philosophy is disfunctional" - Hallq

by bohm in

jw
friends

philosophy is disfunctional.

http://www.uncrediblehallq.net/2011/07/05/philosophy-is-dysfunctiona/.

im now convinced that, as an academic discipline, philosophy is dysfunctional.

scotoma

Terry:

Your Korzybski is showing.

33

Where is Farkle?

by God_Delusion in

jw
friends

i miss the old fella....

scotoma

I've read most of Farkel's stuff. So, he was a curmudgeon. That's the way he is. He is fiercely independent. Unfortunately we all start out life dependent and end it even more dependent. He gave some significant time in his life to the possibility that JW's had the "truth". And then he rigorously pursued an understanding of the fallacies and tricks people use to deceive themselves. At some point that is a very frustrating path.

He is a skilled muscian and I hope he can still play. Music is also very logical and probably the ideal outlet for someone of his temperament.

Good luck Farkel. You need luck NOT prayers. And nothing could make you happier than to see people at their mean spirited best.

26

TWENTY FOURTEEN (2014) proves something if you pay attention...

by Terry in

jw
friends

from the 2nd century until now christianity has postponed something purported to be the most important of all important happenings.. the coming of the messiah?.

the jews are waiting on that event.. the coming of christ?.

christians believe jesus came already.. the 2nd coming of christ?.

scotoma

Terry:

As a third generation JW stretching back to Russels time I know how "my generation" feels about this. Total frustration. It's the classic western movie scene where the trestle has been blown up and everyone on board knows the train most likely can't stop in time.

The only thing that could save JW's for a while is something they would identify as "the disgusting thing standing in a holy place".

That's a nice date independent event that is subject to just about anything you want to paste to it. It has two unknowns which makes it perfect for manipulation.

44

When and how did the GB start cracking down on the dubs social life?

by highdose in

jw
friends

i can remember when i was first assimilated, the jw's did alot together, they went to the park together, they had picnics, days out together.. .

somehow by the 90's this had stopped.

did i miss somthing?

scotoma

Most of the answers here are from people who were witnesses in the 80's and 90's. I was a witness since 1950. They started clamping down big time in the early 1970's when they thought they were like the Jews ready to enter the promised land (1975) They felt they had to clean everything up. Smoking became a disfellowshipping offence. Necking and petting became a committee matter. Types of movies were censored. Certain sexual acts between married couples were explicitly forbidden. Teen drinking also became a serious offence.

None of this has really stopped. It just drives the youth away.

52

Would You Refer To Jehovah's Witnesses As A "Christian" Religion?

by minimus in

jw
friends

they regard themselves as "true christians".. do you view them as christians?.

scotoma

They are probably the closest thing to early Christians that you are going to find.

The only reason for the knee jerk judgements so far is that the presumption is that Christianity is some kind of ideal. It isn't.

You all forget that Christianity was a Jewish cult. They taught that the end was soon.

You shouldn't get caught up in a career or getting wealth.

It was anti-philosphical, anti-scientific, anti-woman.

They fought over how much they should adhere to the Mosaic Law.

They condoned slavery. They had an ad-hoc mess of theological teachings that changed depending who was leading them.

Sometimes they believed Jesus was God sometimes they believed he wasn't.

They even killed believers who played false to the spirit (or made up false stories like God killing Annanais and Saphira).

So I would say yes - they certainly are as crazy, ignorant, broke-ass, superstitious as the early Christians.

17

Watchtower on Demon Materialization

by Marvin Shilmer in

jw
friends

watchtower on demon materialization .

i added a new article to my blog about watchtower teaching on demon materialization.

my article is titled watchtower on demon materialization and is available at: http://marvinshilmer.blogspot.com/2011/06/watchtower-on-demon-materialization.html.

scotoma

I still get a kick out of the Halloween issues.

"Break Free From Superstition".

There are no ghosts to be afraid of?

Whew! They're just hideous superhuman deeemins.

11

JHouser's full story: Disfellowshipping: How It Can Effect Your Life

by Dogpatch in

this is used by permission, and was up last week or so in parts.

this is the whole story.. disfellowshipping: how it can effect your life.

http://www.freeminds.org/life-stories/rank-file/disfellowshipping-how-it-can-effect-your-life.html.

scotoma

Even though people make the mistake of using the word "effect" where they should use "affect" it could be appropriate in this case. His life finally became "effective" after being disfellowshipped.

9

Watchtower Ectoplasm!!!

by Marvin Shilmer in

jw
friends

watchtower ectoplasm!!!

today i uploaded a new article showing watchtowers scientific evidence that ectoplasm is manifest demonic activity.

watchtower says its so.

scotoma

Yeah! As a witness kid in the 50's the ectoplasm thing sure was convincing. It was "material" evidence after all. Humans love this supernatural crap.

What gets me is how persistent this stuff is. If you asked an old witness what ectoplasm is they would repeat exactly what the Watchtower said. So, how come the watchtower has never explained that this trickery on the part of spiritualists has now been scientifically debunked. Apparrently, the "truth" is what JW's believe and doesn't have to be connected with reality at all.

Even worse. Recently on this very discussion board it was pointed out that Jung was in the same class of spiritualists as Sylvia Browne. Jung channeled "entities" and yes he was one of the "scientists" who fell for the scam where spirit mediums produced ectoplasm and suddenly weighed less.

The trouble with some empiricists is that they think they can't be fooled.

Yet some XJW's fall for this. It makes you think that people who want magic are going to find magic.

I never wanted magic. I can't stand fiction. And I feel my brain was crippled by the Watchtower version of the infectious meme we like to call religion.