ricky gervais tweeted this 11/14/12 and i totally agree with it:.
"there are good atheists and bad atheists.
there are good believers and bad believers.. no god has ever changed that.".
"When I need help or want to feel pleasure at life and offer my own contribution to it I focus on all my internal and external links to the world in which I live and whatever encouragement I need comes to me and the contributions I want to make are given to it often perhaps for a future."
soft+gentle Your whole post was v ery well expressed.
WOW! AGuest I don't know what you got up to last night but it seems to have done you good.
in a discussion with some other dear ones, the question was asked as to what such ones put their faith in.
in response to one comment that"one can't function without faith," another disagreed, stating ones can, that "many do so every day... the ones who have trust" (in things like the sun rising in the east versus the west).
that trust extended to "faith" based "on nature and the natural order of things.
For what it’s worth, here is my take on this thread that started off as an interesting discussion about faith. Cofty asked some relevant and sensible questions. Lozhasleft objected to the comment by Cofty about ‘ Shelby being the humble slave and servant whose feet are washed by Seraphs.’ From then on the discussion in hand left home.
Qcmbr then expressed his concern about AGuest’s influence over other people on the board in his usual eloquent way. This is something that used to concern me. In fact couple of years ago I voiced my concerns with regard to Tec which led to debate with AGuest and Tec both on and off the board. The upside of this is that I got to know them better and my concern has gone.
I have even pointed out that AGuest’s extravagant posting style could be counterproductive. Whether atheist or believer we all influence other people but in the end, as adults we make their own mind up. People do pick up other peoples way of talking. It’s normal to copy people we admire. I have been influenced more by Cofty and Qcmbr in terms of my world view and beliefs. However my conversations with Christians and their kindness and acceptance of me despite my lack of faith and challenging them, sometimes harshly, has influenced me to want to be a better person.
Their input helps to keep the board balanced like two opposing weights. Without opposing views many of the most outstanding and informative debates would not get off the ground. My defence of Christian’s right to share their beliefs, however bizarre they may seem, has often lost me brownie points among the atheist contingency. Nevertheless I firmly maintain that there is room on the forum for a sharing of all views.
People pour out their pet beliefs and theories and over long periods of time and give people an opportunity to settle on a view that works for them. They are free to adjust their views at any time. Everyone’s contribution to the board is of value. I read far more than I post now as I have nothing profound to share that has not already been said. My personal belief is that a person is defined not by their beliefs but by their actions and compassion towards others.
ricky gervais tweeted this 11/14/12 and i totally agree with it:.
"there are good atheists and bad atheists.
there are good believers and bad believers.. no god has ever changed that.".
The way this thread has developed demonstrates that there are no concrete rules for debate, no truce, no predefined destination. That is how debate should be. Our motive for commenting is the defining quality of our involvement. JW.net has worked very well for many years and will, hopefully continue to be place for people to share and debate differing points of view.
The truth is that we enjoy being challenged, questioned and provoked. Having the opportunity to express our opinions, beliefs and emotion, in a way that some of us were denied for so long. This forum entertains, stimulates and thrives.
Admit it - you all love it here. We feed of each other and with a little more acceptance, applause and respect for each individuals contribution we can continue - here’s to the next ten years.
ricky gervais tweeted this 11/14/12 and i totally agree with it:.
"there are good atheists and bad atheists.
there are good believers and bad believers.. no god has ever changed that.".
palmtree67 “I think we need something more concrete to work on than just "Respect and love everybody."
Q has come up with 4 very practical and concrete ways to have discussions that would eliminate a lot of discord.”
Is there such a thing as concrete ideas when it comes to the nuances of discussion about belief?
The Watchtower Society has tried for over a century to set everything in concrete, yet it has it has an unenviable history of making constant changes.
A well informed mind and good manners may be all that is required.
ricky gervais tweeted this 11/14/12 and i totally agree with it:.
"there are good atheists and bad atheists.
there are good believers and bad believers.. no god has ever changed that.".
Qcmbr Your posts are among the most informative and worthwhile on the forum. I have commented a number of times on how highly I rate your contribution. Posters of your quality are not the problem but part of the solution.
FlyingHighNow Thank you. As always you light up my day.
ricky gervais tweeted this 11/14/12 and i totally agree with it:.
"there are good atheists and bad atheists.
there are good believers and bad believers.. no god has ever changed that.".
A Truce is usually a temporary cessation or suspension of hostilities by agreement of the opposing sides. Truces allow people breathing space to plot their next counter move. They seldom work because the reasons that people were fighting remain. Unsolved disagreement waits in the wings, ready to burst forth as soon as someone breaks the truce.
What is required is a genuine desire to discus differing points of view without allowing anger, jealousy, frustration or a desire for revenge to intrude. Compassion is needed towards those that we may believe are missing out because they have accepted fiction as fact or fact as fiction. Positive attributes such as kindness, empathy and love must be present or negative emotions will take the place of these qualities. The emotions that motivate us come from the values we hold.
Personally, I am attracted to people that are motivated by these heartfelt qualities, regardless of what their belief in the existence of God are. Their present beliefs or lack of beliefs are of no consequence to me. Their actions define them. Their genuine desire to act in a loving way and fair way is everything.
This is a varied and excellent forum and a decade or more of debates have helped many people to break free of their Jehovah's Witness indoctrination. If respect is shown on all sides many thousands more can be helped.
before i address the paradox (a statement that contradicts itself) i want to insert a fact from history.. .
the romans used a malleable (and highly poisonous) metal (lead) for water pipes and conduits.
as snows melted into pure water, it was channeled into sluices and pipes made of lead that ran through the cities as drinking water.. .
"Let me simplify it for you."
That would help the less enlightened among us to relate to your understanding of god and the language he uses to communicates to us through.
to the household of god, israel, that is on jw.com, and all those who 'got with' them:.
may you have peace!.
because israel has, at this 'season' fallen asleep with regard to many 'things' that our lord, the son of god, jah-eshua mischa-jah ("jah saves"; messiah - "chosen of jah"), 'commanded' us to teach others (matthew 28:20), i am compelled by the spirit of my father, the holy one of israel, jah of armies (psalm 68:4), that is in me, by means of my lord, to remind israel of one of such commandments.. on the night that he was put to death in the flesh, our lord gave a commandment, to which he stated "keep doing this in remembrance of me.
talesin Glad it meant something to you. We have all walke d a similar path. I hope the path you are now on leads to a peaceful place. One which you can be comfortable in and find a way to make sense of the past.
to the household of god, israel, that is on jw.com, and all those who 'got with' them:.
may you have peace!.
because israel has, at this 'season' fallen asleep with regard to many 'things' that our lord, the son of god, jah-eshua mischa-jah ("jah saves"; messiah - "chosen of jah"), 'commanded' us to teach others (matthew 28:20), i am compelled by the spirit of my father, the holy one of israel, jah of armies (psalm 68:4), that is in me, by means of my lord, to remind israel of one of such commandments.. on the night that he was put to death in the flesh, our lord gave a commandment, to which he stated "keep doing this in remembrance of me.
