Posts by DJS

82

Religion VS Atheism and the decline of ethics and morals

by EndofMysteries in

being back in college after leaving the borg, one of the required classes for a degree at my college is ethics.

after learning a few things, i am curious where morality and ethics is heading for the future of humanity.

i wish i could find the source again, but several weeks ago i recalled reading a transcript of a very old document that talked about when christianity was being spread in europe, it brought civility and community.

DJS

EOM,

Nice topic. Cofty and others have already debunked the 'findings" to which you refer. I'm glad you took the Ethics class. I developed and taught, for several years, an Ethics class at one of our local colleges. I have more statistical empirical data you could possibly want to view that supports what Cofty has said in the two posts above. In order to teach the class, I had to have the bonafides. Everywhere in the western world and likely developing world individuals are resolving conflict in a much more civil manner than they were decades or centuries ago. I would suggest visiting some of the museums around the country/world which present the actual manner in which people resvolved conflicts. It will stun you.

It may be difficult for some to believe at times due to the horrofic anomalies and the 24/7 media coverage, but it is true.

123

Imagine A World Where Being "Gay" The Norm & Being "Straight" Would Be The Minority!

by Dis-Member in

imagine a world where being "gay" the norm & being "straight" would be the minority!

[short film].. .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnojgdw0gpi.

DJS

Moon,

Supply and demand. Think about it. They would put more thought into it because having children would have to be a conscious choice, not a mistake between a heroine addict and a trailer park meth making buffoon. After this I won't respond to you. Grow up.

123

Imagine A World Where Being "Gay" The Norm & Being "Straight" Would Be The Minority!

by Dis-Member in

imagine a world where being "gay" the norm & being "straight" would be the minority!

[short film].. .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnojgdw0gpi.

DJS

Dis,

You are being dis-ingenuine about your post. You post anti-gay rhetoric, hide behind your intentions and then childishly whine why you can't have it both ways with your bigotry. Moo. If the world was dominated by gay and lesbian couples, they would want children just as many gay and lesbian couples do now. And as noted , they would put a lot more thought into it than heteros. Your asking how a gay couple could produce children is childish and immature. Use your brain; observe what is occurring in the world we live in. All kinds of couples are having children through a variety of means. Surrogacy?????

2596

The Pastor of my Old Church Tried to Re-Convert Me Yesterday

by cofty in

yesterday evening my wife and i were invited to friends house for new year's eve.

we met them when i was a christian and we have kept in touch.

they had a few other friends there as well, including the new church pastor and his wife.

DJS

Aprognophos,

I understand your comments and find agreement with them. Having said that, humans will never reach the full potential locked in their DNA as long as they rely on a make believe character to make them behave. Only by doing the right thing for the sake of goodness itelf (I call it the Santa clause) will mankind fulfill its potential. Behaving because you fear punishment or seek a reward means bad DNA gets passed on. The 'good' behaviior is simply externally driven rather than internally driven.

Einstein said the same thing decades ago, and his comments were posted on this site just a few days ago: "A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, educaton and social ties and needs;no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hopes of reward after death. It is therefore easy to see why the churches have always fought science and persecuted its devotees."

Empirical data suggests atheists behave better (I have the research and have posted it before), from the BOJ's crime and incarceration stats to the differences between religious nations and secular nations as reflected in crime of all types, etc.. The data is there for anyone to see.

I wish all of you could understand that we can evolve to be better, and this will occur much quicker if we leave religion behind and do good for goodness sake. The genes we pass along are primarily stamped in our code at conception, but the field of epigenetics shows there is much much more to it. Our DNA is much more malleable.

15

Can Elders Gauge If A Pedophile Has Repented? CBOE Tells me Yes!

by RottenRiley in

a few years ago i had a talk with a cobe of the local kingdom hall, he said the elders could tell if a child-sex offender like fredick cecil maclean fbi list(hidding in oak ridge, oregon) would strike again.

i wish i had this on tape for candance contii's legal team because he reflects many of the cowards i served on with the body of elders.

there was a pedophile elder who bullied the other elders in to covering over his sins because the elders were either too old or his buddies he showered with gifts.

DJS

These are two separate issues. First, elders - or any other human for that matter - can never determine repentence. Lots of people can fake anything, including repentence. Lots of time given where someone shows by their action and behaviors is the best determinant, but even that is not perfect.

Second, those who like children for sex are, based on what the experts say, brain wired to be sexually attracted primarly to children. This is no different, again from what experts say (lots of good data on it), this is similar to a hetero or homo-sexual. They are primarly brain wired to sexually respond to the opposite or same sex respectively.

That is why there are child molester laws that presribe where they can live, that they have to register and even Internet sites showing the residence locations of convicted child molesters. I really feel for those sexually attracted primarly to chldren. I wouldn't have wanted that in my DNA. Having said that, preying on children for sex is atrocious and warrants the laws and punishment.

So even if someon who was primarily sexually attracted to children was repentent, it is unlikely they would lose the desire. It is a very very difficult arena.

123

Imagine A World Where Being "Gay" The Norm & Being "Straight" Would Be The Minority!

by Dis-Member in

imagine a world where being "gay" the norm & being "straight" would be the minority!

[short film].. .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnojgdw0gpi.

DJS

Dis,

Refusing to accept people for the way they are born is hate speech. You can pretty it up all you wish, put a bow on it and feel good about it yourself, but it is no different than bigoted whites trying to "splain why they should hate blacks for so many years or why blacks are somehow inferior. Christian churches supported the bigotry for a long time. There are only 2 viewpoints about this topic. Gays and lesbians are born that way (ok I know some people experiment, etc), but look around and observe the world. I know girls and boys who were clearly gay/lesbian at a very early age. They didn't choose this.

I crawled out of my hole when I left the JWs, out of the cave actually and have left it far far behind. You, on the other hand, are one tiny half step from it. Hang on to your cherished bigotries and judgmental thinking. I am sure they give you a certain amount of comfort. And try in vain, without any real supporting arguments (because you have none other than whining about why there can only be 2 sides) for your thinly disguised bigotry.

If you really want a discussion with me or anyone else on this board about this topic, quite hiding and come out and discuss it was facts or a better argument than you just want to feel that way and why can't there be more than 2 sides. I'm embarrassed.

123

Imagine A World Where Being "Gay" The Norm & Being "Straight" Would Be The Minority!

by Dis-Member in

imagine a world where being "gay" the norm & being "straight" would be the minority!

[short film].. .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnojgdw0gpi.

DJS

Dis

You are playing a dis-ingenuine boring ass game. You copy and past anti-gay statements. Doing so makes all of us view you as homophobic. If you arent' then state so and explain the anti-gay copy and paste blurbs. If you are then state so and counter your anti-gay blurbs. Otherwise you think you are being cute. You are not. You are childish and immature.

2596

The Pastor of my Old Church Tried to Re-Convert Me Yesterday

by cofty in

yesterday evening my wife and i were invited to friends house for new year's eve.

we met them when i was a christian and we have kept in touch.

they had a few other friends there as well, including the new church pastor and his wife.

DJS

Sunny,

Excellent post, and I will bet that a lot of lurkers see themsleves in you. Welcome to the road to atheism. I went through a simialar journey post-JW; after lots of study and research I became agnostic, then an atheistic leaning agnostic and then an atheist. I didn't make the transiition without years of study, research and meditation (and almost all of it was before the Internet's full capabilities to assist me - I would have loved to had Cofty's threat available to be 20 years ago). I'm so glad you understand that the bible is probably the weakest tool for theists. In fact I would say it may be the best argument atheists have.

Thank you for posting the link. Tyson is correct; the best argument against theism is the scientific method. Upon completion of my master's degree, I was a full fledged atheist. I'm working on a PhD currently, and I can't imagine anyone with advanced degrees being a theist, but as Tyson points out, it will never go to '0." Some people need a personal god.

Those of us who don't need a personal god, IMHO and suggested by scientific studies on the topic, to behave and be ethical are more highly evolved. It is where all humanity needs to be in order to solve the myriad of problems facing us. Religion will always be more divisive and destructive than otherwise. Does anyone really think the Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, etc. etc. will ever truly get along without wars, terrorism, economic disparity, etc.? Will secular humanism solve all of the problems? Probalby not, but it has a much better chance.

Good luck to you, and I will be preparing your official atheist ceritificate.

123

Imagine A World Where Being "Gay" The Norm & Being "Straight" Would Be The Minority!

by Dis-Member in

imagine a world where being "gay" the norm & being "straight" would be the minority!

[short film].. .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnojgdw0gpi.

DJS

Apostatethunder, you are over-simplifying. Women are sexual objects in addition to being doctors, lawyers, moms and CEOs. Given the freedom of choice and the market opportunity, look at how many beautiful women capitalize on their sexuality, and I see nothing wrong with it. It has always been that way and it will always be that way; ranting about it as if it is somehow wrong is a waste of time.

I will agree that when a society leaves only one option that is not civilized. But in the U.S. there are many options. Follow some of the twitter or tumbler blogs from young women. Commiserate with a bunch of 20 something girls. Listen to how 12 and 13 year old girls talk and think. They have options, but they are very well aware of the power of their sensuality and sexuality and many if not most will at times capitalize on it. God bless America (ok I'm an atheist but you get my point).

123

Imagine A World Where Being "Gay" The Norm & Being "Straight" Would Be The Minority!

by Dis-Member in

imagine a world where being "gay" the norm & being "straight" would be the minority!

[short film].. .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnojgdw0gpi.

DJS

Rub,

I think you hold promise of being a very good and tolerant person. Right now you seem to be a follower, and the comments you make that are intended to be smart-ass are neither original nor smart. You are copying and pasting hate speech and wise ass stuff I have seen a million times from others. I believe you are better than this. Become a leader.