Posts by rocketman

5

The Fine Art of Baloney Detection

by dontplaceliterature in

jw
friends

i'm currently reading the demon-haunted world, by carl sagan.

chapter 12, "the fine art of baloney detection", has a great list of logical fallacies which are part of what sagan calls the "baloney detection kit.

" although i've learned a great deal about what exactly logical fallacies were since i started leaving the organization, this is by far the most comprehensive list, and i thought it would be nice to share it with all of you.

rocketman

Very interesting and helpful - and these techniques are not limited to the Society.

For example:

Ad hominem - Latin for 'to the man', attacking the arguer and not the argument (e.g., the Reverend Dr Smith is a known Biblical fundamentalist, so her objections to evolution need not be taken seriously).

I once posted some information about protein consumption at a bodybuilding website. The info quoted a nutritionist. Another poster Googled the nutritionist and posted a photo of her. Because she wasn't lean and muscular, the information was deemed useless by that poster, with no competing evidence presented to refute the information.

93

Are There ANY Prophecies or Beliefs That The Witnesses Have Right In Your Opinion?

by minimus in

regarding prophecy, i see nothing that they've ever been correct on.

from my understanding, they've always had to change the "truth" about the "truth".. scripturally, i can't see the logic of a godhead or a loving father eternally roasting a person who is deemed "bad".. yout thoughts, please?.

rocketman

They probably have the trinity (or lack thereof) right. They probably have afterlife and hellfire (or lack thereof) right. They have Christmas right, even though Christmas has largely evolved into a family holiday, and people generally no longer care about or are aware about its pagan roots. Their total avoidance of it (not even acknowledging "Merry Christmas") is an extreme reponse.

They may have neutrality right in terms of religious involvement in politics. However, in terms of warfare, as long as evil exists, there is a need for a response to it.

68

8/15/12 WT--Naughty Elder's Wife Teaches Students "The Deep Things of God"

by sd-7 in

page 28, paragraph 13:.

"an improper romantic relationship could develop within the congregation.

daniel and his wife, sarah, were regular pioneers.

rocketman

The religion created the very conditions that led to this adultery. Expecting elders to run around all the time. Expecting people to conduct bible studies. Trying to meet these expectations is what set the "deadly trap". There's a profound irony in this situation that jws should pay attention to (but most will simply brush it aside like everything else).

78

6/15 WT - WT Society can Run it's Business - but JW's Can't Have their Own

by flipper in

jw
friends

in the typical do as we say , not as we do type mentality - the wt society puts forth in this current wt study article ( jw's only wt ) - that it's not " advisable " or " reasonable " for jehovah's witnesses to seek entering their own business ventures , or further themselves by getting a college education, or even have a career - due to the imminent coming of the alleged " end of the system " or alleged " paradise " .

the guilt and control used here is ridiculous.

in the article titled , " why put jehovah's service first ?

rocketman

Even if there was (somehow) a worldwide flood, how do they read these things into the Bible account? All we know from that story is that Noah built an ark and that his family entered it. That's it. And yet they presume to infer that Noah and his family had no interests at all outside of building that ark.

50

Being publicly religious is a lot like being a NUDIST

by Terry in

nudists let it all hang out.. "look at me!

" is their motto.. being the center of attention doesn't bother them as much as it encourages them to be all they can be...in full public view.. .

in fact, exhibitionism is at the core of this personality.

rocketman

I've often wondered about the place of religion in 'the public square' as I call it - open displays and discussions of religious nature. My feelings are mixed:

Praying in a restaurant is something I've seen and actually admired, when done discreetly.

I tend to frown on public dicussion of religious matters unless the entire group is religious or interested in it.

14

"REVELATION BOOK" Which Interpretations Are The Most Wacky?

by Bubblegum Apotheosis in

you studied the revelation book, two, three or four times?

what is the worst interpretation of a chapter and verse, of this book?.

the cleaning of the society in 1917-1919 by jesus christ?

rocketman

The Trumpet Blasts (thanks for the quick review Sapphy) were, to me, the most ridiculous interpretations in the book.

82

What Are Some Musical Groups And/Or Songs That Everybody Liked But You?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i never loved the beatles.

i especially didn't care all that much for john lennon.. bob dylan, i never got his appeal!.

any songs that just didn't do anything for you?.

rocketman

I'm not afraid to admit that I like The Monkees. Sure, they were put together as a U.S. response to The Beatles and didn't play on their early albums, and had that campy TV show. But they did have talent, and the recent passing of Davy Jones actually saddened me in a way that few celeb passings do.

As for more of what I don't like, I forgot to mention hip-hop and Country. Now there are some artists who cross over to and/or from Country that do quite well. Elvis Country was a favorite of mine, and my favorite Elton John album is Tumbleweed Connection, which, while not quite Country, does evoke similar imagery and sound. And there are songs from the likes of Eddie Rabbit and Glenn Campbell that cross nicely into Pop.

82

What Are Some Musical Groups And/Or Songs That Everybody Liked But You?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i never loved the beatles.

i especially didn't care all that much for john lennon.. bob dylan, i never got his appeal!.

any songs that just didn't do anything for you?.

rocketman

It's funny how our feelings change about music over time too. Undercover mentioned how he views some groups differently now. Through the lense of time, I seem to do the same. Back in the day, while my brother repeatedly spun albums by Led Zeppelin, The Who, Aerosmith, Boston, etc., I was kind of on-board but never shared his enthusiasm. Yet now I find that some of their stuff was really pretty good.

I was in my late teens during the Disco era and essentially hated the stuff, but now I look back and find a certain charm in at least some of it.

Another couple of bands I still don't "get" though: Kansas (except for Carry On My Wayward Son) and REO Speedwagon (I call them "Air Supply with an edge"). Foreigner and Styx never thrilled me either except for songs such as Double Vision and Renegade.

I've also come to realize over time how much the music of Motown has influenced my musical taste. I have a special affection for a lot of stuff that came out on the Motown label or was featured on Soul Train.

82

What Are Some Musical Groups And/Or Songs That Everybody Liked But You?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i never loved the beatles.

i especially didn't care all that much for john lennon.. bob dylan, i never got his appeal!.

any songs that just didn't do anything for you?.

rocketman

Hey Minimus, yes, I am a fan of Elton's music; but I understand that while he has many fans, a lot of people either don't like his music or just don't see what the attraction is. It's just like everything else in music - purely subjective.

By the way, this April was the 40th anniversary of the release of the song Rocket Man as a single.

82

What Are Some Musical Groups And/Or Songs That Everybody Liked But You?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i never loved the beatles.

i especially didn't care all that much for john lennon.. bob dylan, i never got his appeal!.

any songs that just didn't do anything for you?.

rocketman

I certainly like the Beatles, but I actually think they're somewhat overrated. I'd catch a lot of flack for that if I said so publicly. I'm not saying they're bad - something can be very good, even great, and still be overrated.

Bruce Springsteen is another one. Again, I like his songs, but I don't quite understand the attraction his fans seem to have.

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of The Moon is, to my ears, an album with one great song (Money) and a bunch of strange stuff. Again, I just never bought into the mystique.

However, one of the great things about music is exactly that - it is very subjective. We each feel its pull in different ways.