Posts by DJS

28

Education makes you leave God

by FusionTheism in

quote from the watchtower, simplified edition, september 2015, "how can we show that we love jehovah?".

higher education often makes them lose their love for god..

What we feel, think or believe doesn't really matter. Empirical evidence suggests that smart people tend to be less religious and less likely to believe in god. Educated people tend to be less religious and less likely to believe in god. And smart, educated people? Duh.

Most of the recent scientific studies have found a negative correlation between I.Q. and religiosity. On the individual level, the education level is positively correlated with a belief in a God in African countries (for now, at least), and negatively correlated in Western countries.

It's called evolution.

15

Do we have a "spiritual need"?

by LexIsFree in

so this is only my second post but its about something that has been on my mind for awhile now.

have any of you ever felt the need to pray or speak to a higher power?

do any of you beleive that we were created or have evolved with a "spiritual need"?

DJS

No and No. Other OPs have stressed the non-religious/god aspects of 'spirituality', such as enjoying the beauty of nature, the warmth of family and friends, or appreciation for great art, music, etc.

I definitely would classify myself as 'spiritual' in the secular definition of the meaning. Having said that, spirit and spiritual are nothing more than a self induced emotional state based on internal and external stimuli. Contributing factors include memories, thoughts, experiences, nurture (how we were raised and our culture), nature (DNA) and our current mental, physical and emotional state.

Externalities contribute as well, such as being caught up in the moment at a sporting event or during a church service, for example, or the aforementioned nature, art, movie, music, etc.

That's all it is. Until someone presents evidence to the contrary (and really, people, after 100,000 years of human existence don't you think that would have already occurred if there was something unseen/supernatural?), that's all it is.

51

Best Argument for Atheism - In your view.

by LAWHFol in

if crisis of conscience is one of the top watchtower doctrine killers, what is the coc of theism?.

i'd like to read a book, or other material that does the best job logically arguing for atheism.. i've not read any darwin, however it is my assumption that his focus is primarily on evolution, is this correct?

if you were to recommend one book or a few pieces of reading material, which do the best job of defending atheism, what would they be?.

DJS

Thank(s) Heaven,

Quote number 2 did it for me; I came to the same conclusion never having heard of Hitchens. I really don't see how anyone can believe in a god with this understanding. If she exists, she is an evil, uncaring monster. Kinda like my ex-wife.

42

I need help with this one. What do you think I should do?

by Quarterback in

jw
friends

my wife is pleasant and easy to get along with.

she is also helpful to many.

lately, however, there is a jw sister who some are curious about has befreinded my wife.

DJS

Are you bragging or complaining? Let's vote, class.

17

What's worse, brutal murder or fornication?

by Tornintwo in

just to give you a bit of background, i've been researching my doubts for over a month, i'm convinced that although they may have some things right, they have a lot of other things horribly wrong.

i'm still clinging to a faith in god, because i see a creator's hand in nature, and i believe in jesus and his teachings, love, mercy, compassion.....that if everyone truly applied these (including jws) then all would benefit.. but i read this article in march and it's been on my mind ever since.

where isis stone a young couple to death for sex before marriage (a bit graphic).. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3017800/sickening-images-blindfolded-bound-couple-brutally-stoned-death-fornication-isis-militants-iraq.html.

DJS

Torn,

ISIS is also throwing gay men off buildings. Fornication is a man-made concept. It was invented to control sexual urges at a time when emerging societies did not have the resources to deal with children without baby daddies and the like.

The entire concept of pornea/fornication is fabricated. As long as you hold onto that concept, you will judge gays, people living together, teens experimenting (which is called normal), etc. as deserving of death. Is that really what you want to believe and be known for? Really?

I would suggest losing the term fornication. It is meaningless; it is a loaded word with pejorative death dealing connotations that needs to be thrown onto the ash heap of the 12 Century. Why we still use that word in the 21st Century speaks poorly of us as a species.

35

Do you consider this site Godly or Ungodly

by Truthexplorer in

over the years, i have seen a change in heart with the country i grew up in and the general view of what they perceive as how everyone should view things in relation to morality.

a strictly religious country for centuries now forever changed within a short number of years.

i have also seen the viewpoint on this site gradually change in many ways.

DJS

Xanthippe,

Very well stated. Thank you. It is likely that TE suffers from N. European DNA angry old white man syndrome (of course, the last time I made that evaluation it turned out to be a transgender Diana Ross impersonating African American, so my batting average isn't so good).

The world isn't completely run by old white guys like it used to be, and he just can't get over it. What people do with their private parts, as you suggested, is likely the only thing he can rail about when the real issue is that he has been designated as dead Tyrannosaurus Rex walking.

I'll bet TE was thrilled with the Irish gay marriage vote. If the SCOTUS approves gay marriage I'm sure he will be even happier. If it passes I will have a drink or two for TE.

35

Do you consider this site Godly or Ungodly

by Truthexplorer in

over the years, i have seen a change in heart with the country i grew up in and the general view of what they perceive as how everyone should view things in relation to morality.

a strictly religious country for centuries now forever changed within a short number of years.

i have also seen the viewpoint on this site gradually change in many ways.

DJS

Let's see TE, and I hope you are watching, I don't consider this site either godly or ungodly (but since I don't believe in god and don't really care I guess my opinion doesn't matter) but if you really are gone, I consider that it has immediately become more intelligent.

And if you would only take your kind with you, you know, the slow moving zombie end-of-time jesus loving bible thumping high school graduates without the cognitive abilities displayed in WWZ or Legend (what IS up with that - they have ruined the genre. Bring back slow moving zombies. Are you listening Hollywood?) that will be our pets one day, the site would be a LOT smarter and better for our planet.

35

Do you consider this site Godly or Ungodly

by Truthexplorer in

over the years, i have seen a change in heart with the country i grew up in and the general view of what they perceive as how everyone should view things in relation to morality.

a strictly religious country for centuries now forever changed within a short number of years.

i have also seen the viewpoint on this site gradually change in many ways.

DJS

TE,

Bye bye. And take Introvert with you.

28

Jehovah's Witnesses and Plastic Surgery?

by John Aquila in

in my area, a lot of the young jws, especially girls are getting breast implants, nose jobs, chin implants.

asian jws girls get eyelid surgery, and one girl even got her legs lengthen 5 inches making her about five feet nine inches tall the male jws are getting hair transplants and nose jobs.

and nobody in the congregation says a word, including elders.

DJS

Plastic surgery is no one's business but the person getting it, and perhaps a mate or parent if they are paying for it. So that makes it surprising the Dark Lords haven't written one of those near, semi, kinda sorta rules about it in one of their study articles. They stick their noses into a lot of things that are none of their business. It also isn't any business of the rank and file, but they've been trained like Pavlov's dog by the Dark Lords to judge others.

I know lots of people who have had plastic surgery of various kinds, and every one of them is satisfied and feels better about themselves for it. I have stories.

86

What are you gonna do when the existence of god is disproved?

by Doltologist in

in 1897, j.j. thomson discovered the electron.

this was the first constituent part of the atom which, for 2,000 years, was thought to be indivisible.

today, we know of 18 elemental particles following the recent discovery of the higgs boson, the so-called god particle.. back in 1897, most people believed in god because there weren't even any theories as to how the universe came into being.

DJS

Wozza,

I'm trying to ignore this OP, but your comments resulted in a disturbance in the force. You aren't a newbie; have you not been reading ANYTHING posted on this site the past couple of years? If you were, you would not have posted the following: "I wonder what this will do to peoples consciences ,no god, so no higher authority apart from mankind. Well people could really do what they can get away with now knowing there is no all seeing god and therefore no consequences'"

We have provided empirical evidence on numerous occasions that what you suggest is exactly opposite from what is occurring. The more secular and atheistic an individual, state, region or country is the more likely it is to be functional and ethical. Until the human species evolves away from religion and a belief in god and begins to start doing the right things for no other reasons than they are the right things we will never evolve. Religion and a belief in god are the problems, wozza, not the solution. Geesh, man (or girl), WTF? Download. Process.