Posts by never a jw

85

Rich people don't create jobs

by slimboyfat in

just when i was thinking i don't like ted talks, this is an excellent take on job creation and wealth distribution.

.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckcvf8e7v1g.

Tax increases will shift the jobs from the private sector to the public sector. As far as I know, the private sector is far more efficient than the public sector. So, yes we can live in a society with more equality, but the country as a whole may lose competitiveness in the world market and the long term unintended consequences will affect rich and poor. I realized that there is an optimal taxation rate at any given time, but we will never know if we stayed long enough in that desirable target. We will endlessly pull from both directions and passed that ideal tax rate back and forth until the end of time.

I, just like everyone else, look at the issue very expediently. Hell, why not, tax the rich more! I am not there yet. Just stay away from my tax brackett!!!!

47

Did Stephen believe he would have to wait 2000 years for a resurrection?

by Socrateswannabe in

in acts 7:59, the jews were casting stones at stephen and his last words were, "lord jesus, receive my spirit.".

the wts has contended that all of the ancients who died after jesus were in a sleep-like condition, awaiting a resurrection that eventually happened in 1918-1919 (depending upon which wt reference you are looking at).

and in fact, v. 60 says stephen "fell asleep in death".

never a jw

Socrateswannabe,

If you live in a big city you may check with your library. There are several videos and audios from The Teaching Company. The lectures are given by Bart D Ehrman and others. For me that has been a great resource to understand the scholarly view of the New Testament. Also, a while ago I got "the Skeptics Bible". It is certainly bias in the sense that there is nothing good to say regarding the Bible, but the author offers clear evidence of contradictions all over the place and makes notes about justice, ethical and moral problems in the Bible from the point of view of someone living in modern times. It also makes notes regarding the God of destruction and hate of the Old Testament. The same autor of this annotated Bible has a book, I forgot the title, but it documents all the killings commited by God versus those commited by Satan (millions by God versus only Job's family by Satan, countenanced by God of course)

544

FINALLY! Can you prove God exists? If you can I won't ask again!

by punkofnice in

i have seen debates and shizzle about god or not god etc etc.. i was even confronted by an aggressive and trheatening muslim in the street, who was angry that i wanted proof that god existed.

he ranted on a load of old b0110cks about 'hell' and stuff.

finally he yelled at me: 'do you want god to write your name in the sky?

never a jw

It's not possible to prove or disprove God. It's a waste of time. However, disproving the inerrancy of the Bible, well, that's child's play.

261

Evolution is Crap, there I said it!

by Crazyguy in

jw
friends

ok i started another thread and every one jumped on me because i was trying to take the theory of evolution out of the mix and most here seem to believe in it so i will just say it.

the theory of major evolution is crap!

the theory is falling apart.

never a jw

I see. So the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis solves the problem. The fossil record was an invention by an evil angel that existed before Adam and Eve. Yeah, it makes a lot of sense now. The earth has been here for a litttle more than 6,000 years and the cosmic radiation that dates the universe at 10-14 billion years is an illusion created by an evil angel too.

Crazyguy, why don't you try defending the Bible account in light of all the discoveries in geology, genetics, evolutionary biology, astronomy, paleontology, anthropology, instead of borrowing ideas from young earth "scientists". Better yet, go to a secular school and learn a little from the hard work of the bright minds doing research in the fields that I just mentioned.

52

OK so if the Bible is crap??

by Crazyguy in

jw
friends

ok so if the bible is nothing more then a pagan religious book, then how do all of you that think this, think we got here?

and please don't tell me you believe in evolution, because even the experts are finding major flaws in that theory.

so what is your opinion??

never a jw

I don't think the Bible is crap. It's a great book in the context of the time it was written. The crap starts flowing when people want to make literal interpretations of stories that have been disproven beyond any doubt such as those in Genesis. It was Bennedict Spinoza in the 1,600's one of the first to warn against the literal interpretation of many of the Bible stories. The crappy part is to have people 400 years later still making literal interpretations of Genesis. The crappy part is to hear people who hardly finished High School pretend to know better than scientists with advanced degrees and many years of research. The crappy part is to hear that the biggest, in fact the only "evidence", against evolution is a story written about 2,700 years ago, at a time when superstition was the order of the day. I surmise your grades in Biology were not that great. I suggest you grab some biology books and start learning about the real world.

I could, for the sake of argument, admit God's existance, but the inerrancy of the Bible, Hell NO!!!

152

7 graphs that prove America is overrated

by Simon in

before the usual suspects start reaching for the pich-forks and forming a mob, i invite you to actually read and consider this, not just leap to conclusions.. http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/130607/7-graphs-america-overrated-nsa-prism-privacy.

why do i care?

it seems the people being screwed the most are also the most visciferous defenders of the status quo which sees them being severely disadvantaged.. maternity leave?

never a jw

First AAWA, then Republicans, now USA bashing. Take one of the 52 week vacation allotment Canadians get. You need it. You sound better when you don't speak (write).

153

The antidote to the myth that JWs are declining

by slimboyfat in

one of the most persistent myths on this website is that jws are already in decline, the rot has set in, and the descent of the watchtower is inevitable from here on in.

unfortunately the facts do not bear this out.

jws are still increasing even in most developing countries, and they are still growing worldwide at a faster rate than the general population.

never a jw

SBF, You wrote: "...sustained activity all the more surprising." I think you meant to say more SUSPICIOUS.

73

The Bad Science Scandal - Research Fact Fabrication - UK News article.

by *lost* in

the independent neswpaper uk - tues 18th june 2013 .

the bad science scandal - how fact fabrication is damaging uk's global research name.

after a string of high profile cases, a new agreement between scientists and the people who fund them aims to usher in a new era of .

never a jw

From JW to Pyrrhonism. Quite a jump!

153

The antidote to the myth that JWs are declining

by slimboyfat in

one of the most persistent myths on this website is that jws are already in decline, the rot has set in, and the descent of the watchtower is inevitable from here on in.

unfortunately the facts do not bear this out.

jws are still increasing even in most developing countries, and they are still growing worldwide at a faster rate than the general population.

never a jw

Sigh Slimboyfat.

You missed the point altogether. Lonely and immigrant count just as much as anyone else. The point was that the religion of JW is appealing to less and less people. My observations are only anecdotal, buit certainly true. The Spanish congregations in California are stagnating. Qute a different story from just 15 years ago. I don't claim to know objectively the reason behind the change, but the change is palpable. There is growth Ok, but not what it used to be. So, if the trend continues, they will hit zero growth eventually and then go into negative numbers.

Use me as a reason why their numbers will decline. Two years ago I was willing to praise JW's over Catholics. Today I am spreading the word about the WT leaders' arrogance, dishonesty and manipulative tactics. I may be a lonely crusader against the WT in my social circle, but I was not a crusader against the WT before. You can bet your butt that in the next 30 or so years of life left for me I will be able to disuade few people out of the WT grasp. People like me and many others here were not actively undermining the WT before. Things are changing, slowly may be, but they are definitely moving against WT best wishes

153

The antidote to the myth that JWs are declining

by slimboyfat in

one of the most persistent myths on this website is that jws are already in decline, the rot has set in, and the descent of the watchtower is inevitable from here on in.

unfortunately the facts do not bear this out.

jws are still increasing even in most developing countries, and they are still growing worldwide at a faster rate than the general population.

never a jw

Somewhere in your analysis there's a flaw. In other words, you are wrong slimboyfat

What I see in Hispanic congregations is that people who get baptized are mostly born-ins and few immigrants who feel lonely, have limited education (9th or lower) and/or have no access or interest in the internet.

It's a new world, it's not what it used to be even 15 years ago when congregations had to split every few years to accomodate newcomers. English congregation actually are merging because they are losing "parishoners" and therefore there are too many empty seats.