Posts by braincleaned

62

Epistemology. I Wonder 2...

by braincleaned in

what is the value of our knowledge?.

i respect all beliefs for what they are.

but many of us are being treated condescendingly by those who have more certainty than we atheists do.

braincleaned

Thank you with all my heart for asking me how I know what I know, tec. I was wondering why you didn't ask before, as it was fair game!

I must first admit that what I claim to know is horribly limited.
The process goes like this: I ask a question, I do the research, and if I'm lucky, I get a satisfying answer for time being (as I realize that new information can unthrone that answer for a better understanding).
Problem is, answers give way to a wave of new questions… so the more I know, the more revealing is my ignorance.

So my answer may disappoint, as I strongly believe that we can only know from what evidence and logic we manage to collect on any given subject, while ignoring what we unintentionally missed in the process.
And you are absolutely correct in saying that we all hang on to what others have themselves learned and now teach. Those we choose to trust, often because they go in the direction of our natural leanings. This is human.

This is why I am very suspicious of my own bias. I aim for objectivity, well aware of my subjective sensitivity.

Question; are you aware of your subjective sensitivity?

So you won't find me offering you an equally assertive argument against Christ, or "knowing" better about him.
What I am arguing against is the subjective conviction that he exists or that his message is the final Word.
You knowing from Christ does not address the validity of this source.

Does that help clear up my stance?
Please feel free to ask for more clarity. I am not the most articulate out there. :)
_________

Having said all this, and to give you something — I will say that I believe in evolution based on hard archeological evidence; the logical explanations of natural selection, and the observation that nature is cruel and cannot be the work of a god of love. I am open to being wrong on this… but so far, many different fields of science are confirming more and more Darwin's hunches and theoretical predictions… even recently corroborated with DNA. I believe it is true because it is justified by known reality. Evolution would be easy to falsify. However, it has not been to this day.
I also believe it is true because I have passionately argued against it with all I had as a theist… and failed.

This does not mean that I KNOW evolution. But this is how I know about it.
I hope my candid argument is understood for what it is.

Peace!

73

Time to take my mask off.

by braincleaned in

after more than two years here on jwn, i will unmask myself and finally close the closet door behind me, fully coming out.. let me be pithy.. my name is vincent deporter.

i'm a writer/artist published a little all over the place.

i started my career in france, about 35 years ago.

braincleaned

Thanks Flipper... feeling good and free. Also feeling to share the experience! :D

16

Meet Django . .

by nicolaou in

jw
friends

.

the newest member of the family, tactile and snuggly but a bit naughty too .

.

braincleaned

Love cats... this kitten is cUte!!!!

63

"Apostates" Who Return To Their Own Vomit

by minimus in

jw
friends

once you realize ttatt, how can anyone with half a brain, go back??.

.

braincleaned

I find it confusing, to say the least. Like someone successfully out of rehab going back to the addiction. Like drugs, it's often associating with the same gang that will get you back to your vice.

I assumed (maybe wrongfully) that SBF was still hanging with the wrong crowd... hence, caved in.

187

The reason behind why the ex-JW community can never match Jehovah's Witnesses' success.

by Stand for Pure Worship in

jw
friends

an average of five kingdom halls being constructed daily, almost 8 million brothers and sisters, dissemination of bible literature in 595 languages, 111,795 congregations worldwide, distribution of 179 million bibles available in 116 languages, 239 countries where jehovah's witnesses have a presence, etc.. need i go on?.

on the other hand........... crisis of conscience, freeminds, the awaa, jw.net, ummmmmm........hmmm........idk six screens or something?

not exactly working out for you guys.

braincleaned

Love it redvip2000! :D

// Nobody can get DFd for studying or researching with outside sources. // The mountain of disingenuous bullshit that can be swallowed by some is facinating to me.
Of course, they can't hold it and HAVE to puke it all on us!

Okay, I have better things to do that debate a robodude governed by the BORG.

41

Awake! January 2014 - Which 'basic' kind are humans?

by bats in the belfry in

god did not make life in a simple form and allow it to evolve into more complex forms.

instead, he created basic kinds of complex plants and animals, which then reproduced according to their kinds.

( genesis 1:11, 21, 24 ) this process, which continues today, has resulted in the earth being filled with the same kinds of life that god originally created.. the bible does not specify how much variation can occur within a kind, as might result when animals within a kind interbreed and adapt to their environment.

braincleaned

They use the word 'kind' because they can't use species or genome. Science would have a field day if they did. They need to "dumb down" for the R&F.

62

Epistemology. I Wonder 2...

by braincleaned in

what is the value of our knowledge?.

i respect all beliefs for what they are.

but many of us are being treated condescendingly by those who have more certainty than we atheists do.

braincleaned

I understand why you think I have overlooked what you said.
But I was careful to compartmentalize the issues. But the fact is that all my questions got the same answer, "Jesus told me so".

But listen my friend, I will stop here the prodding for answers. I think I get it. I cannot relate to your faith, so I am ill fit to argue for or against it.

You have pretty much answered my curiosity. I will leave it at that, with much respect.
Just know that I feel pretty much the opposite about God and Christ. These are our different journeys.
As long as we are happy and have a positive input in society, all is good!

Peace.

62

Epistemology. I Wonder 2...

by braincleaned in

what is the value of our knowledge?.

i respect all beliefs for what they are.

but many of us are being treated condescendingly by those who have more certainty than we atheists do.

braincleaned

Amazing video jgnat! Thanks for sharing... very informative.

62

Epistemology. I Wonder 2...

by braincleaned in

what is the value of our knowledge?.

i respect all beliefs for what they are.

but many of us are being treated condescendingly by those who have more certainty than we atheists do.

braincleaned

Yes. This is why like many in this case (and this is just a general observation), the admonitions to come to Jesus feel very condescending; self-righteous even. Again, I'm not accusing Tec to be like that, but that IS how it comes off.

Faith in this case IS the evidence. I cannot argue that.
All I can say is that this is a subjective opinion (based on feeling) as opposed to an objective opinion (based on empirical evidence).Hence, I rest my case and move on...

62

Epistemology. I Wonder 2...

by braincleaned in

what is the value of our knowledge?.

i respect all beliefs for what they are.

but many of us are being treated condescendingly by those who have more certainty than we atheists do.

braincleaned

I think I speak for many of us tec in saying that while I can see your sincerity — at the same time, I am concerned about you.
You do know that hearing voices is not normal, right?

As for the question of process, I think that you have answered honestly: there was none — as you always believed in God.
My dad was like that too. It was in his genes to believe in God, and precisely the Biblical God & Jesus.

I fear that your answer is not satisfying to most of us (even theists), because to the question "How do you know what you know?" your answer is "I just know", which of course, is not an answer.
This is why process is important. When for like my dad and your belief is a default — the least that must be expected of you is to question and test your default bias. Otherwise you risk seeing everything else as false by default, hence becoming condescending to others, which is a perverted form of disrespect.

Do you see what I mean?