But how to avoid confirmation bias? I notice it in religionists as well as non-religionists. Are we naturally inclined towards evidence that favor our beliefs, tendencies or hypotheses or has it been acquired over time? Something to do with pride, perhaps? Or has it to do with the way we think, and/or collect information?
Posts by Vidqun
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82Quality Thinking - Warning: Long Post Ahead
by Viviane inrecently, several threads have had some debate about logic, evidence, critical thinking and skepticism.
i wanted to write a post discussing those things, hopefully to clarify what those things are, why they are important and how to use those tools.
first, logic, at its core, is simply a method for how to reason validly, how to draw conclusions based on a premise.
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Bible Students Convention ......New Understanding of 607!!
by umbertoecho injuly 23, 2015 at 3:35 pm.
i have just read this from berean pickets in the comment section.
it's quite a leap.
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Vidqun
Actually there were three sieges and five deportations. First siege was 605 and the last deportation in 582 BCE. Jerusalem was destroyed during the final siege in 587/586 BCE. Here the Bible is in sync with the Babylonian Chronicles. -
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Bible Students Convention ......New Understanding of 607!!
by umbertoecho injuly 23, 2015 at 3:35 pm.
i have just read this from berean pickets in the comment section.
it's quite a leap.
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Vidqun
Thanks, Lee. After a quick consideration of the chapter "The Seventy Years for Babylon," I am pleased to announce that I have reached a similar conclusion as he did. Poor Rolf Furuli, trying to prove the impossible. He should have stuck to critical, unbiased scholarship, and not the Society's hidden agenda. -
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Bible Students Convention ......New Understanding of 607!!
by umbertoecho injuly 23, 2015 at 3:35 pm.
i have just read this from berean pickets in the comment section.
it's quite a leap.
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Vidqun
Noted, and new it's $150 per book, somewhat inflated I'd say. -
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Bible Students Convention ......New Understanding of 607!!
by umbertoecho injuly 23, 2015 at 3:35 pm.
i have just read this from berean pickets in the comment section.
it's quite a leap.
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Vidqun
In order to free myself from WT Chronology I did some independent research. An article that helped me a lot was “The Chronology of the Last Days of Judah: Two Apparent Discrepancies.” Journal of Biblical Literature, 101 (1982), pp. 57–73, by A. R Green. Two important sources for the last days of Judah are the Bible and the Babylonian Chronicles. I looked for common ground between the two and would work towards a mediating solution. The results were surprising. Here's a summary of what I found:
The majority of scholars prefer secular chronology to Bible chronology. But is there really such a huge divide between the two? Are the differences not perhaps based on a misunderstanding, having to do with the “desolating of the land” and “serving the king of Babylon for seventy years” (Jer. 25:8, 9, 11)? Even the editor/redactor of the book of Daniel and Josephus would confuse Jeremiah’s words, assuming that the desolation of Jerusalem and surroundings would be 70 years in length. Theoretically, one should be able to add 70 years to Cyrus’ edict of 538 BCE, allowing one to arrive at 607 BCE (= 537 + 70). Daniel and his companions were deported during the third/fourth year of Jehoiakim, i.e., 605 BCE (Dan. 1:1; cf. 2 Kings 24:1, 2; Jer. 25:11; 46:2; 2 Chron. 36:23). This deportation would be followed by four major deportations (2 Kings 24:10-16; Jer. 52:28-30). Most scholars prefer 587/586 BCE as the date for the destruction of Jerusalem, in Nebuchadrezzar’s 18th year. Only after the last deportation, in Nebuchadrezzar’s 23rd year, would the land be truly desolate. However, should one connect the desolation of the land with seventy years of Babylonian rule? When one counts down 70 years from 605 BCE, one arrives at 535 BCE. According to Ezra (3:1) the Jews were already back in their homeland by 537 BCE, leaving us with a two year deficit. This can be made up by adding two years from Jehoiakim’s three year servitude, completing the full 70 year cycle (cf. 2 Kings 24:1, 2).
The Society has followed a 1st Century Jewish interpretation of the events, harping on the destruction of Jerusalem and the desolation of the land. But if one reads Jeremiah concerning the 70 years, one quickly realizes that he prophesied about their 70 year servitude to the Babylonians, not about 70 years of desolation. Only after the final deportation, in Nebuchadrezzar's 23rd year, would the land be truly desolate. Certainly this was not even close to 70 years.
I must admit, I haven't read "The Gentile Times Revisited," it's very expensive (over a hundred dollars on Amazon) but I'm sure he arrived at a similar conclusion. I don't want to bore you with the details, but if anyone is interested in some of the finer points, feel free to ask.
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Are the writers in the writing department purposely misquoting people?
by paulmolark inafter reading that great post about the june 1 article on science i got to thinking.
although it is great to believe there is this huge group of guys in the jw writing department that are constantly looking to mislead us by twisting the words of scientist etc... i really think it is more likely they are google researchers that do not have the ability to grasp the thoughts that are being expressed in the scientific article they quote mine from.. i honestly believe the reason that this happens is because of the individuals they use to write these magazines.
these are not college educated men.
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Vidqun
I agree with Marvin. They are pursuing their own agenda, no matter what. -
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JW.org on child abuse - claims and reality
by Vidqun inhttp://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=jw.org+stephen+lett&form=vire7#view=detail&mid=68a60c1a53ed73ed165b68a60c1a53ed73ed165b.
see the difference between the spiel to the jw faithful (s. lett) and the evidence given to secular authorities (watchtower supervisor).
the truth: jws only look after the spirituality of the child.
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Vidqun
Rather try this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYxG2F3Wd8c -
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JW.org on child abuse - claims and reality
by Vidqun inhttp://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=jw.org+stephen+lett&form=vire7#view=detail&mid=68a60c1a53ed73ed165b68a60c1a53ed73ed165b.
see the difference between the spiel to the jw faithful (s. lett) and the evidence given to secular authorities (watchtower supervisor).
the truth: jws only look after the spirituality of the child.
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Vidqun
Who saw this one? See the difference between the spiel to the JW faithful (S. Lett) and the evidence given to secular authorities (Watchtower supervisor). The truth: JWs only look after the spirituality of the child. The physical side belongs to the secular authorities (although pedophiles are not reported to the secular authorities). Yes, they do speak out of two mouths with forked tongue.
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Red Bull punted in baptismal talk
by Vidqun inan acquaintance reported that the brother giving the baptismal talk at a regional assembly recently punted red bull a few times.
he never mentioned red bull by name, but he referred to the drink that "gives you wings" more than once.
this sounds like subliminal advertising.
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Vidqun
I know for a fact that the CO officiated at the occasion. He approves everything that is said from the platform. Would he have gone along with such an illustration? What happened to Jehovah and Jesus? Or is it a case of replacing Holy Spirit with another spirit? No matter how one reasons on the matter, it is hilarious? And the dear brothers and sisters just lap it up because they love it... -
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Red Bull punted in baptismal talk
by Vidqun inan acquaintance reported that the brother giving the baptismal talk at a regional assembly recently punted red bull a few times.
he never mentioned red bull by name, but he referred to the drink that "gives you wings" more than once.
this sounds like subliminal advertising.
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Vidqun
An acquaintance reported that the brother giving the baptismal talk at a regional assembly recently punted Red Bull a few times. He never mentioned Red Bull by name, but he referred to the drink that "gives you wings" more than once. This sounds like subliminal advertising. Would they get paid for it? The gist of the talk was that baptism takes you on a long an arduous journey. After many tribulations and trials you reach you reach your destination, God's new heavens and new earth according to Is. 65:17. Can anyone verify the above according to his or her own experience at an assembly?