Posts by GrreatTeacher

19

The Evolution of Morality - Jonathan Haidt

by cofty in

the question of how humans came to have a moral sense is one of the more interesting challenges offered by believers against unguided evolution.

even informed christians who accept the reality of evolution feel a need to add an additional step where god imbued man with a conscience.. non-supernatural explanations of the origin of morality usually focus on simple examples of reciprocal altruism and the ability to empathise with fellow creatures.

secular moral systems most often rest on the single foundation of the effects actions have on the well-being of conscious creatures.

GrreatTeacher

Wow. Just wow. The downvote on a post in which I am legitimately trying to find an answer to the problematic political climate in the US through scientific research is very disturbing.

I hope it's not a knee-jerk reaction on the part of a member of the political right, but it seems suspiciously so, and only serves to reinforce my confusion about /disdain for conservatives.

If just trying to understand is problematic for those on the right, I hold very little hope out for finding common ground. :(

Sorry, Cofty, for the derail. I love this kind of science. I'm teaching elementary parts of this subject to my 3rd graders right now. I will order Haidt's book.

19

The Evolution of Morality - Jonathan Haidt

by cofty in

the question of how humans came to have a moral sense is one of the more interesting challenges offered by believers against unguided evolution.

even informed christians who accept the reality of evolution feel a need to add an additional step where god imbued man with a conscience.. non-supernatural explanations of the origin of morality usually focus on simple examples of reciprocal altruism and the ability to empathise with fellow creatures.

secular moral systems most often rest on the single foundation of the effects actions have on the well-being of conscious creatures.

GrreatTeacher

Cofty- "experiments suggest that those on the right are far better at accurately understanding the perspective of those on the left than vice-versa."

Links?

I find this subject exceedingly interesting. Having a scientific explanation in terms of adaptive responses to selective pressures in the arena of morality might be a big help in understanding the political stand-off that the US faces right now.

I find US politics very distressing. The last 10 years has been absolutely ugly, it's only escalated, and there seems to be no resolution in sight.

19

The Evolution of Morality - Jonathan Haidt

by cofty in

the question of how humans came to have a moral sense is one of the more interesting challenges offered by believers against unguided evolution.

even informed christians who accept the reality of evolution feel a need to add an additional step where god imbued man with a conscience.. non-supernatural explanations of the origin of morality usually focus on simple examples of reciprocal altruism and the ability to empathise with fellow creatures.

secular moral systems most often rest on the single foundation of the effects actions have on the well-being of conscious creatures.

GrreatTeacher

Hmm. Interesting. I find the right confusing on the two moral intuitions involving hierarchy: 4)Authority/Subversion and 6)Liberty/Oppression.

In the case of the first, they seem to find Authority an important value, which seems pro-hierarchy to me.

In the case of the latter, they seem to find Liberty an important value, which seems anti-hierarchy to me.

This seems very confusing and hypocritical to me, a liberal, who thinks that the problem is hierarchy itself, and who values a more level, equal/democratic way or organizing society.

So, yeah, Haidt sounds very prescient and might deserve an order on Amazon from me.

33

The reality of "shunning" and character assasination highlighted at the Australian Royal Commission

by stuckinarut2 in

once again, the arc has brilliantly highlighted the reality that any witness who either fades or disassociates is subjected to active official shunning by the organization.. the "brothers" tried to state that it was the choice of the indiviual who steps away from the organization to shun them!

they actually tried to make it out to be the fault of the one who leaves!

then they tried to say that those who fade are not shunned!.

GrreatTeacher

Oppostate, I love your avatar! Isn't that David from the book David Goes to School ?

17

Wish me all the best

by LevelThePlayingField in

jw
friends

so i called in to my local walgreens pharmacy to get my blood pressure medicine refilled.

i go to the pharmacy to pick it up and they tell me that the doctor has denied filling it saying to them, "prescription refill not appropriate".

i asked them what that means and they say you'll have to contact your doctor on that, sorry.

GrreatTeacher

I agree that you need to tell the doctor the truth. Even if you don't last that entire three weeks without drinking, he needs to know. Since alcohol IS a drug it could have effects when mixed with other medication.

Also, he/she might be able to provide resources to help reduce/quit drinking. I wonder if a referral to a therapist might even be helpful? You've had your life turned upside down, so you could probably use the support of a professionally-trained listening ear.

Look, you're doing great. If you're able to cut back then you're moving in the right direction. What you really need are coping skills and alcohol is not teaching them, even if it, admittedly, helps you to forget about your troubles temporarily.

Just don't get down on yourself if you don't make the entire three weeks dry. Quitting is often a two-steps-forward, one-step-back deal, and putting other coping skills in place is key for that continued improvement. So, use your doctor as a resource and make sure you get that blood pressure medicine refilled!

Best of luck!

182

The Danger of Settlements

by Tech49 in

jw
friends

i was pondering the recent influx of lawsuits against wt, specifically in regards to the child abuse cases (ie.

conti, fessler, lopez, etc).. in each of these, wt has settled for an "undisclosed" amount, assumed to be in the millions of dollars each.

i know there are many many more cases, subject for a different thread i'm sure.. i was reading something completely unrelated a while back that mentioned the dangers of settlement agreements for a large corporation or business (not just wt).

GrreatTeacher

Maybe because they know they'll lose?

44

Was looking at my childhood book "From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained" I found something interesting.

by Still Totally ADD in

jw
friends

i was showing a friend of mine what kind of books my parents allowed me to read when i was very young.

no children books that was age related but the so called orange paradise book was my only children book i had.

she was taken back on how violent it was and showing little kids being killed by god was just unspeakable.

GrreatTeacher

I think My Book of Bible Stories came out when I was in first grade. So, yeah, that was the "family study" book when I was 5 years old.

I remember those pictures.

10

Witnesses desperate for news to feel good about themselves

by joker in

jw
friends

i have a relative who is a "dyed in the wool true blue jw" and yesterday he sent me this link with the jw method of evaluating the news " more to come !.

sounds like they're grasping at straws now to put meat on their failed prophecy bones.. http://www.freep.com/story/money/business/michigan/2017/02/23/family-christian-stores-close/98310234/.

GrreatTeacher

Can't make a living selling Bibles anymore?

Well, ain't that just the pot calling the kettle black!

182

The Danger of Settlements

by Tech49 in

jw
friends

i was pondering the recent influx of lawsuits against wt, specifically in regards to the child abuse cases (ie.

conti, fessler, lopez, etc).. in each of these, wt has settled for an "undisclosed" amount, assumed to be in the millions of dollars each.

i know there are many many more cases, subject for a different thread i'm sure.. i was reading something completely unrelated a while back that mentioned the dangers of settlement agreements for a large corporation or business (not just wt).

GrreatTeacher

Rule of thumb, I think, is one-third for the lawyers, two-thirds to keep.

21

Becoming the average JW (and what I found out about the average 'Joe Witness')

by Skepsis in

jw
friends

until a couple of months ago i was an uber-spiritual pioneer, only having association with other pioneers, elders and others who would fill in the category i classified as "spiritually acceptable" friends.. but since stopping pioneering and having more time to think about my doubts and what i really believe (or better said, what i no longer believe), i have started getting to know other less spiritual brothers and sisters of the area.

in fact, my old friends are starting to forget me quite quickly, i must say.

so, i guess my next move in fading is becoming what i call the average witness.. and what did i discover?

GrreatTeacher

James Jack, your comment about sisters wearing bikinis at a pool party made me chuckle. That seems so very appropriate!

Maybe I've been out too long and have forgotten, but do JWs really have issues with wearing bikinis to the pool?