Posts by schnell

30

Is Satan really the bad guy in story of creation?

by evilApostate in

i wanted to take an objective look at satan in the story of creation.

this is not meant to offend those of you who are still christians.

i'm agnostic btw.

Entertainment: What's everybody reading or into right now?

by schnell in

i picked up bernard cornwell's the pagan lord at the library.

historical fiction set in england after the death of alfred the great.

i'm loving it, especially the between-the-lines wit and sense of timing in cornwell's writing, and the complete badassery of the protagonist.

schnell

Ooh, Paulo Coelho. As soon as they make that Alchemist movie, I will be there, because that was a great book. Great audio book narration by Jeremy Irons, as well. Ehhh, so how was Adultery, JRK? :P

@Darkknight757, I should try Diablo 3. I remember when it came out, it even got a notice in the convention... sort of. "Recently a new game came out that's been in development for years, with people lined up to play it, and the game is called. . . THE DEVIL." Swing and a miss, bruh. Swing and a miss.

43

Why Is YHWH Used Regularly In OT and NEVER in NT?

by minimus in

jw
friends

and if the name jehovah is that important why is it that jesus christ never use that name in a record of scriptures?.

schnell

@David-Jay, you are the hero of this thread.

3

Addiction and Belief: A comment left for me on YouTube

by schnell in

i'd just like to share a comment that someone left on my youtube account (which i hesitate to call a channel because i don't upload anything).

theism is an addiction; try talking someone out of a gambling (thought), or drug (chemical) addiction (both involve dopamine).

you will find the same pattern of cognitive biases, and circular logic that of a theist.

schnell

That is an excellent point and they absolutely are, StarTrekAngel. I'll keep a look out for Brainstorm, because neuroscience is one of those subjects that definitely led me away from the cult.

3

Addiction and Belief: A comment left for me on YouTube

by schnell in

i'd just like to share a comment that someone left on my youtube account (which i hesitate to call a channel because i don't upload anything).

theism is an addiction; try talking someone out of a gambling (thought), or drug (chemical) addiction (both involve dopamine).

you will find the same pattern of cognitive biases, and circular logic that of a theist.

schnell

I'd just like to share a comment that someone left on my YouTube account (which I hesitate to call a channel because I don't upload anything).

Theism is an addiction; Try talking someone out of a gambling (thought), or drug (chemical) addiction (both involve Dopamine). You will find the same pattern of cognitive biases, and circular logic that of a Theist. Addiction has it's roots in the ancient part of the Brain (Mesolimbic System) overriding the modern thinking/rationalizing part (Frontal Cortex). Neurological mechanisms (motivators) evolved (to get your attention) for the gathering of resources for reproduction are mistaken by Theists as paranormal events. Thoughts, and behaviours that "FEELS GOOD" reinforces "Dopamine Reward System" pathways in order to repeat said thoughts, and behaviors (confirmation biases). People "FEEL GOOD" thinking they have an outerspace/extra dimensional daddy (plan for them) just as someone thinking hitting the Lotto one day. We are wired for pleasure. See "Sapolsky Dopamine Jackpot" on Youtube, or this link for deeper info; "The Holy Dopamine Ghost: It Feels Good" http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=294330 Keep in mind also that stress can release Dopamine (picture someone fervently praying for a sign). Dopamine aids creativity so things that do not make rational sense makes sense under it's influence. Dopamine in excess causes neurological traffic jams where subconscious thoughts can manifest as hallucinations (an experience where thoughts you are not conscious of appear as auditory, visual, olfactory, and even tactile hallucinations that seem symbolic).

I am writing this at work and need to get back to it, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

20

Taking the Step

by beardfreedom in

jw
friends

first time posting after years of reading, the things i have learned here have gradually helped to open my eyes to the reality of this religion.

though i have been mentally out for some time, lately i have stopped going to meetings and service.

the elders are calling and i have been ignoring them, i am trying to get up the courage to finally break free and never go back.

schnell

I'm newly out as well. It's definitely an adjustment. And there seem to be phases to it. After I read 30 Years a Watchtower Slave, I cried to my wife that I never wanted to be an apostate and that I wanted this to be the truth. And now, I am quite proud to be an "apostate" and I have peace of mind that comes with honesty, knowing that I pursued the truth where it led me, not where I wanted it to go. Better off, in other words.

My wife, also, was at first incredibly upset at what she saw her husband doing. Today, she has relief in her eyes and tells me Thank you when I'm honest with her about these things. Sure, sometimes she says she wants to punch me, but she says it with a laugh. The John Cedars and JW Critical Thinker videos on YouTube have definitely gotten her thinking.

So I guess, as with any evolution, there is some time and transition to all of this. How has your family responded to you?

25

Entertainment: What's everybody reading or into right now?

by schnell in

i picked up bernard cornwell's the pagan lord at the library.

historical fiction set in england after the death of alfred the great.

i'm loving it, especially the between-the-lines wit and sense of timing in cornwell's writing, and the complete badassery of the protagonist.

schnell

I picked up Bernard Cornwell's The Pagan Lord at the library. Historical fiction set in England after the death of Alfred the Great. I'm loving it, especially the between-the-lines wit and sense of timing in Cornwell's writing, and the complete badassery of the protagonist.

And sort of along those lines, I picked up Final Fantasy Tactics for Playstation again. I remember dropping this game when I was a teenager listening to talks about video game magic. It's a fun game, and I love the turn based strategy style. And I found it for $7! Sweet!

What about you? What are you reading/listening to/playing? What are you into that you're so happy to have without a cult telling you what you can and can't enjoy?

29

How about prayers being used as a talk?

by NikL in

jw
friends

another thread on here made me think of it.. its a personal peeve of mine.. you bow your head in prayer and the brother says thinks like thank you for the lessons we learned today like bla bla bla and for that wonderful point about yadda yadda yadda.

jehovah we know that etc etc etc therefore we must...well you get the gist.and on and on it goes.

absolutely drives me mad..

schnell

In San Diego, when the conventions were bilingual, the joke was that as the English brother and the Spanish brother both prayed at the same time, ya know, you don't want to have the shorter prayer...

I always thought about the people up in the nosebleeds standing almost at an incline with descending seats and concrete steps in front of them.

193

Great Tribulation and Trump

by TakeOffTheCrown in

please, let's discuss this subject without attacking one another.. it appears that trump has won a victory that no one expected.

is it possible that trump may play a part in the great tribulation?.

there are some who believe trump is one of the most unqualified of men to ever be elected president of the united states.

schnell

Have fun in the cult, fisherman. I look forward to the Judgment Day tract when you get it.

193

Great Tribulation and Trump

by TakeOffTheCrown in

please, let's discuss this subject without attacking one another.. it appears that trump has won a victory that no one expected.

is it possible that trump may play a part in the great tribulation?.

there are some who believe trump is one of the most unqualified of men to ever be elected president of the united states.

schnell

you can share verifiable evidence - not arguments, not conclusions, not speculatively based - that contradicts the Bible, I would love to see it.

Are you sure it wouldn't be drivel?

Fortunately, the Bible makes claims about the world we live in which we can check. You have relics and sites from around the world that contradict the chronology of the Bible. Or how else does you explain going from 8 people in 2370 BCE to the Great Pyramid of Giza? How do you reconcile the relics from around Europe, Mexico, Argentina, China, and Australia that are tens of thousands of years old, some of which are even from the time around, before, and after the flood in places where the Bible's narrative would claim people should not yet be?

How do you reconcile our genome and its 98% commonality with chimpanzees? How do you explain the voluminous fossils of Neanderthals, Flores Dwarves and other hominids? How about the Neanderthal genome?

And frankly, how are you not aware of the evidence contradicting the Bible's narrative? How do YOU explain the science of the Bible's narrative?