Posts by Jonathan Drake

posted

233
What is BELIEF ?
by EdenOne in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
stemming from the 'absentheism' thread, an old question came to my mind.

what exactly is "belief"?.

is it the same to ask: "do you believe in god?
Jonathan Drake

From what I've read about it part of Sam Harris point in the book is the danger of faith in general. So it would cover your recent posts in theory.
ill receive it Tuesday probably. U should get it, we could compare our thoughts.
233
What is BELIEF ?
by EdenOne in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
stemming from the 'absentheism' thread, an old question came to my mind.

what exactly is "belief"?.

is it the same to ask: "do you believe in god?
Jonathan Drake

Eden I highly suggest reading this, I just ordered it myself:
http://www.amazon.com/The-End-Faith-Religion-Terror/dp/0393327655
44
Hebrews 10:25
by millie210 in
1. watchtower
2. bible
i was asked recently by a still in friend (it was meant sincerely not sarcastically).

"but what do you do with that scripture so far as not attending meetings?".

i typed hebrews 10:25 in to the search bar but didnt get much.. .
Jonathan Drake

Oubliette a post has it right.
In in the first century the Christians would meet each week and share a meal and talk with one another in association. It was known that there were some Christians (I believe in Corinth) who forsook this gathering in that they drank too much wine or are too much - generally mistreated it. That is why Paul said this.
secondly, this was written about a specific situation for a specific people. It wasn't meant to be used the way JWs use it.
Basically, there is no way to apply this verse the way JWs have been taught to. It doesn't apply at all. Especially when coupled with all the other scriptures disproving them, like my favorite Heb 7:23,24.
36
...Which Way is the Cat Going?!...
by OUTLAW in
1. social
2. humour
i found this on yahoo news... while it doesn`t raise an important question... it raises an interesting question... .

........................................... ..........................
Jonathan Drake

I just saw that and I don't get it. It seems to clearly be going down. Clues:
cats front left paw is supporting its weight as it descends.
The stair lips.
The walls have the distinct horizontal marks on them that all such stairs usually develop.
i don't get it. Clearly going downstairs.
44
Hounded to his Death
by Slidin Fast in
1. watchtower
2. scandals
http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/inquest-concludes-dad-died-margate-night-went/story-26272711-detail/story.html.

this story makes me ill with rage.

this man's crime?
Jonathan Drake

Before we are quick to make assumptions, I don't see anywhere saying in the article this man was a Jehovah's Witness.
Tragic all the same, don't get me wrong. But I don't see it saying anything about denomination.
EDIT: nvm read it again and saw.
284
I'm an ABSENTHEIST. Are you also?
by EdenOne in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
it just dawned on me.

the existence of god can't be proved, neither is there evidence of god's inexistence.

so, i'm neither theist neither atheist.
Jonathan Drake

Is that so? Let's see if it holds truth. The first ad hominem came from you.
You lied about Aten.
Then
You are impervious to reason,logic and sensible use of language.
Your dishonesty is becoming intolerable
Im only chiming in again so it's not one persons word against another.
None of these quotes you've chosen are insulting. They are observations and conclusions based on your words and posts.
284
I'm an ABSENTHEIST. Are you also?
by EdenOne in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
it just dawned on me.

the existence of god can't be proved, neither is there evidence of god's inexistence.

so, i'm neither theist neither atheist.
Jonathan Drake

As we left it last, so far we still don't have clue what absentheism is actually saying (or not) and I suspect we never will.
Albert Hitchcock style. :P
4
JWs lose Charity status
by Gayle in
1. watchtower
2. child-abuse
charity tribunal rejects jehovahs witnesses charities' latest appeal attempt.

governance | kirsty weakley | 9 apr 2015 a jehovahs witnesses charity has been refused permission to appeal a charity tribunal ruling that had denied it extra time to appeal against the opening of a statutory inquiry.

the watchtower bible and tract society and appealed the charity tribunals decision not to extend the period of time that they had to file an appeal into a statutory inquiry that had been opened by the charity commission.
Jonathan Drake

Just to be clear, did they ACTUALLY finally lose charity status or is this just still a denial for more time with possible loss of status pending?
284
I'm an ABSENTHEIST. Are you also?
by EdenOne in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
it just dawned on me.

the existence of god can't be proved, neither is there evidence of god's inexistence.

so, i'm neither theist neither atheist.
Jonathan Drake

I welcome your participation, but when the subject is theism / atheism, you manage to make your intervention extremely unpleasant, bordering the insult, and you hijack the thread to suit your proselitizing agenda.
I feel the need to point out this is kind of instigatory. These kind of comments are what initiated Coftys more.. assertive replies.
I feel compelled to defend cofty here just because I can't disagree with this statement more or I would. I've been on your side of things Eden and while I did get frustrated with some of Coftys points, like when discussing the Quran for instance, it was never how you describe here. It was an honest debate and discourse and Coftys posts are just to the point and factual. It may come across cold, and thus aggressive but it's just straightforward. Even when on your side I actually appreciated this about each post. You have to remember, or rather I suggest remembering, that how something comes across (especially when lacking tone of voice such as text) is completely up to you - not cofty.
I even look back and appreciate some of Vivs posts to a point (lol). And I agree with everything she's said here.
45
Why do we get TTATT and others don't?
by quest81 in
1. jw
2. friends
i have thought about how ttatt came full circle for me.

how the connecting the dots was simple and just made sense,.

how silos of information are literally at our fingertips today.. why is it that the ones we love cannot get ttatt?.
Jonathan Drake

As was pretty much said above, I firmly believe many don't WANT to see ttat. If they don't want it they won't get it.
You have to realize that these people have many reasons to want the lie. My mother has lost loved ones very dear to her, and she believes she'll see them again. In her mind if you take the so called "truth" away that hope goes with it. The question, "what if I'll never see them again?" for her would be extremely distressing, perhaps even damaging.