alecholmesthedetective

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Posts by alecholmesthedetective

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  21

  Ricky Gervais on atheism & some ideas we can relate to

  by alecholmesthedetective in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i found this article really interesting because of the similar thoughts ricky expresses i could relate to and think are good food for thought irrespect of what you believe at the present time.

  http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/12/19/a-holiday-message-from-ricky-gervais-why-im-an-atheist/.

  for example.... people who believe in god dont need proof of his existence, and they certainly dont want evidence to the contrary.

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  alecholmesthedetective

  I long for the day I'll DA myself so I can make videos without worrying about getting DF'd or whatever since I'm already out anyway.
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  21

  Ricky Gervais on atheism & some ideas we can relate to

  by alecholmesthedetective in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i found this article really interesting because of the similar thoughts ricky expresses i could relate to and think are good food for thought irrespect of what you believe at the present time.

  http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/12/19/a-holiday-message-from-ricky-gervais-why-im-an-atheist/.

  for example.... people who believe in god dont need proof of his existence, and they certainly dont want evidence to the contrary.

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  alecholmesthedetective

  Hey Tater, I have just seen your video about the memorial invite! How amazing! I'm just waiting to see if I'll get one...I'll have one or two questions for them...

  I loved this stand-up, that part was f —ing awesome!
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  21

  Ricky Gervais on atheism & some ideas we can relate to

  by alecholmesthedetective in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i found this article really interesting because of the similar thoughts ricky expresses i could relate to and think are good food for thought irrespect of what you believe at the present time.

  http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/12/19/a-holiday-message-from-ricky-gervais-why-im-an-atheist/.

  for example.... people who believe in god dont need proof of his existence, and they certainly dont want evidence to the contrary.

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  alecholmesthedetective

  Don't be 'centric or intolerant about either since being so has caused some of
  the biggest abominations in history. Making either law of the land is institu-
  tionalized 'centric intolerance.

  I agree, Glenster!

  If the suggestions I gave are agreed to. the analogy with the
  freedom of subjective reactions to music beyond the math of the music is a good
  one, notably with regard to not wanting harm over differing subjective reactions
  or misinformation about the known things. Otherwise, the quoted statement veers
  toward requiring mathematical proof for subjective reaction to music/mistaken
  claims of proof God is or isn't, which are misinformation.

  I see, but couldn't we say that it's easier to prove that music does exist? I also liked this thought from Ricky:

  If I came up to you and said, “Why don’t you believe I can fly?” You’d say, “Why would I?” I’d reply, “Because it’s a matter of faith.” If I then said, “Prove I can’t fly. Prove I can’t fly see, see, you can’t prove it can you?” You’d probably either walk away, call security or throw me out of the window and shout, ‘’F—ing fly then you lunatic.”

  Even though I've been researching theses things intensely in my process of finding out the TTAT, it's been only 6 months of draining research. And I'm actually having to slow down to, of course, take care of life in general as we all do. I realize this will be a journey that'll take many years, but I'm so happy I've started it. My point is I'm no expert. But I now see many holes in the monotheistic beliefs of post-exilic jews that luckily got upheld and adopted by first-century christians and survived to our day, some which may even derive from similarities found in Mesopotamian mythology.

  The harm is done when people take their belief to extremes and allow it to take over their lives.

  I agree, Gladiator, ironically I firmly believe now that "religion is a snare and a racket."

  It is pitiful to see the way that his fantasy believes have improverised him and robbed him of living a fuller life.

  Should I have stood by and watched them waste their lives without expressing my concern? The answer for me is no. If you love someone you reach out and try to help, whatever the cost.

  Birds of a feather flock together and fragile truces between people with opposing views seldom last unless one side is prepared to remain silent.

  To speak out and challenge or to remain silent? That is the question.

  I'm so sorry Gladiator, the way the WT divides and destroys families is criminal. Wow, it's so cool to know you're written books, I'm going to look for them!

  I pity many of my friends and family in much the same way. And I can't just stand by doing nothing. I'm 'lucky' that I don't live with my family so I could do this all on my own without external pressure from them. But now the time has come when I have to face them and I simply can't pretend. Hell, I haven't seen the elders in months nor have I talked to anyone from my congregation about this except one friend of mine who agrees there are problems in the organization but still believes it's the truth. Ugh, his cognitive dissonance blocks him from listening to me and from accepting the hard facts on paedophilia and all the other problems in the borg. He has no idea I don't believe in god anymore. Last we talked I had told him I was definitely fading because the borg certainly was not the true religion, and that I was going to stick to Jehovah, Jesus, and the bible. It was when I started inpsecting the bible from a closer range and a more open mind that I got where I am today.

  But I hate pretending. I am not going to any JC, and based on experiences from all you here it's all but hopeless to expect any of them to actually listen to any of us. So if I can only make any of them to just think, that'll be great. I feel my family guesses something is not right but since they have issues that they have to resolve with me, they do not take the initiative, and we are already very distant, I hope I can get them to think as well but I don't fear them.

  The only thing I'm doing now is making more friends now that I'm out since I was a born in and had few friends outside. But I'm not alone, and my atheist girlfriend has been my bedrock through and through. I really just want to resolve my personal things with my family, reassure them of my love, and bide my time to DA myself. And I'm considering how to do it in the best possible way (the way that would create more ripples and reverberations since I was a 'zealous' pioneer/MS for many years held up as a model and known across circuits).
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  21

  Ricky Gervais on atheism & some ideas we can relate to

  by alecholmesthedetective in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i found this article really interesting because of the similar thoughts ricky expresses i could relate to and think are good food for thought irrespect of what you believe at the present time.

  http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/12/19/a-holiday-message-from-ricky-gervais-why-im-an-atheist/.

  for example.... people who believe in god dont need proof of his existence, and they certainly dont want evidence to the contrary.

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  alecholmesthedetective

  Plus, I, of course, being the Christ, got to have a personal interview with God, so I can confirm for those who can figure out from the bible that I'm the Christ that the God of the Bible is truly real. I'm an eyewitness!

  Well, OK Lars, you are entitled to claim whatever you do, as am I to not take it so seriously but I'll believe it when I see the evidence. I just ask you to forgive me. Oh and I don't mean any disrespect, but the personal interview with God thing is so funny to me! I had mental pictures of Christ back in heaven and God calling him into his office for his performance review, 'Right, Jesus, let's get cracking....' Sorry I got carried away.

  Very good read, love Ricky Gervais. Thanks for postin g

  You're welcome Sparlock!

  They seem to enjoy that classic game..hide and seek...little rascals!

  LOL omg Still Thinking

  This line is brillliant because until God says it to me himself it is only the words of men.

  Amen to that Amelia!

  Love Ricky Gervais - Loved the part he spoke about Noah and getting the animals into the ark - if you look at it from a logical point of view - you see the fairytale quality straight away - put into one of his comedies and it's halarious.

  I loved it too Loubelle! It was so funny...I tried showing the creation one to an elder in my hall who was my friend when I was still in and he didn't think it that funny. Pfff

  RG is a very funny guy with a great perspective to believe and faith. Thanks for posting.

  You're welcome Cantleave!
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  21

  Ricky Gervais on atheism & some ideas we can relate to

  by alecholmesthedetective in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i found this article really interesting because of the similar thoughts ricky expresses i could relate to and think are good food for thought irrespect of what you believe at the present time.

  http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/12/19/a-holiday-message-from-ricky-gervais-why-im-an-atheist/.

  for example.... people who believe in god dont need proof of his existence, and they certainly dont want evidence to the contrary.

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  alecholmesthedetective

  I found this article really interesting because of the similar thoughts Ricky expresses I could relate to and think are good food for thought irrespect of what you believe at the present time. Here it is:

  http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/12/19/a-holiday-message-from-ricky-gervais-why-im-an-atheist/

  For example...

  People who believe in God don’t need proof of his existence, and they certainly don’t want evidence to the contrary. They are happy with their belief. They even say things like “it’s true to me” and “it’s faith.”

  The existence of God is not subjective. He either exists or he doesn’t. It’s not a matter of opinion. You can have your own opinions. But you can’t have your own facts.

  As an atheist, I see nothing “wrong” in believing in a god. I don’t think there is a god, but belief in him does no harm. If it helps you in any way, then that’s fine with me. It’s when belief starts infringing on other people’s rights when it worries me. I would never deny your right to believe in a god. I would just rather you didn’t kill people who believe in a different god, say. Or stone someone to death because your rulebook says their sexuality is immoral. It’s strange that anyone who believes that an all-powerful all-knowing, omniscient power responsible for everything that happens, would also want to judge and punish people for what they are. From what I can gather, pretty much the worst type of person you can be is an atheist. The first four commandments hammer this point home. There is a god, I’m him, no one else is, you’re not as good and don’t forget it. (Don’t murder anyone, doesn’t get a mention till number 6.)

  75 percent of Americans are God-­-fearing Christians; 75 percent of prisoners are God-­-fearing Christians. 10 percent of Americans are atheists; 0.2 percent of prisoners are atheists.

  I used to believe in God. The Christian one that is.

  I loved Jesus. He was my hero. More than pop stars. More than footballers. More than God. God was by definition omnipotent and perfect. Jesus was a man. He had to work at it. He had temptation but defeated sin. He had integrity and courage. But He was my hero because He was kind. And He was kind to everyone. He didn’t bow to peer pressure or tyranny or cruelty. He didn’t care who you were. He loved you. What a guy. I wanted to be just like Him.

  But anyway, there I was happily drawing my hero when my big brother Bob asked, “Why do you believe in God?” Just a simple question. But my mum panicked. “Bob,” she said in a tone that I knew meant, “Shut up.” Why was that a bad thing to ask? If there was a God and my faith was strong it didn’t matter what people said.

  But living an honest life -– for that you need the truth. That’s the other thing I learned that day, that the truth, however shocking or uncomfortable, in the end leads to liberation and dignity.

  In a way they are asking “what makes you so special? “How come you weren’t brainwashed with the rest of us?” “How dare you say I’m a fool and I’m not going to heaven, f— you!” Let’s be honest, if one person believed in God he would be considered pretty strange. But because it’s a very popular view it’s accepted. And why is it such a popular view? That’s obvious. It’s an attractive proposition. Believe in me and live forever. Again if it was just a case of spirituality this would be fine.

  “Do unto others…” is a good rule of thumb. I live by that. Forgiveness is probably the greatest virtue there is. But that’s exactly what it is -­- a virtue. Not just a Christian virtue. No one owns being good. I’m good. I just don’t believe I’ll be rewarded for it in heaven. My reward is here and now. It’s knowing that I try to do the right thing. That I lived a good life. And that’s where spirituality really lost its way. When it became a stick to beat people with. “Do this or you’ll burn in hell.”
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  36

  It gets better. Part II of "Apostates are blown out of the water"

  by never a jw in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just a recap.. i posted a thread yesterday about an exchange of e-mails with a well known and respected elder and c.o.

  sibstitute in a spanish circuit somewhere in the u.s. the man is about 50, raised in the truth, belongs to a family where all men are at least elders.

  he is proud to have forsaken his dream of becoming a doctor to serve jehovah.

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  alecholmesthedetective

  Once we are thoroughly convinced we have arrived at the truth, further searching would not only be fruitless, but and we may even be led, due to the enthusiasm of discovery, to dislodging the truth we have correctly acquired.

  Wow, how can there be two truths? Also, can you imagine if scientists applied that kind of thinking, "no guys, I don't think we should continue doing more experiments in case we dislogdge the findings we have acquired" or "we shouldn't attempt to find a cure for AIDS as we have thoroughly convinced ourselves that a cure cannot be found".
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  28

  A Woman Jumps Into HE Pool While Jehovah's Witnesses were baptizing new converts

  by Scott77 in

  1. social
  2. humour

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4bq0akfvxo what do you think?

  could this have been a mental health issue?

  may be she was excited?

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  alecholmesthedetective

  LOL omg let us do that in the "God's word is truth!" ™ conventions this year...apostate trolling...oh and wearing those T-shirts with the apostate websites hahaha
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  10

  Shunning is good for you!

  by 00DAD in

  1. social
  2. humour

  yes shunning is good for you!

  i did not understand this before, but i know it now.

  sometimes when i'm feeling a little down-in-the-dumps, a little depressed, i go outside for a little fresh air and some shun-shine.

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  alecholmesthedetective

  Did you know that when Sean Connery tells his dog to sit he says....
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  69

  Do You Believe In ANYTHING That The Witnesses Taught At This Point In Your Life?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for example, they pride themselves in what they don't believe such as immortal souls, the trinity, hellfire, etc.. some exjws still believe it is the "truth" and support the basics.. .

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  alecholmesthedetective

  LOL I think I believe Jerusalem fell in 539 BC, as historians agree hahaa.

  Alec
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  26

  I Just Had A JW Come To My Work And Offer Me A Memorial Invitation And A Magazine!!!

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i responded in this`way: i already got an invitation so i'm all set.. she said, "would you like a magazine and i said, "no thank you"'..... and she just left.. it took no more than 15 seconds!.

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  alecholmesthedetective

  Or something like, "Are you sure Jesus is your mediator?" LOL

  Alec