Posts by mrhhome

5

A different perspective

by mrhhome in

jw
friends

not much new to report on the jw front.

happily, i and my family have been able to avoid them for the most part.

my ex-jw wife appears to be patching things up with her jw mother, and i am beginning to think that my non-jw father-in-law actually enjoyed watching me put his jw relations in their place.

Not much new to report on the JW front. Happily, I and my family have been able to avoid them for the most part. My ex-JW wife appears to be patching things up with her JW mother, and I am beginning to think that my non-JW father-in-law actually enjoyed watching me put his JW relations in their place. Not that he would say it.

I confess that I have enjoyed the theist vs atheist debates. They have been thought provoking. Given my eclectic background, I have a rather non-tradition perspective on the subject.

When I was first out of graduate school, I conducted a substantial amount of performance modeling with a team that was arguably the best in the country. On one project, I worked with a researcher who wanted to make sure that his component in the system was modeled correctly. As I dove into this legacy model, I discovered an ugly batchwork of curve fits based on empirical data loosely correlated to physical parameters that was possibly decades old with layer after layer of corrections built on top of it. Suddenly, I realized that I too was forced to add corrections on top of this. I had a model that worked and generally speaking accurately represented the system. If I rewrote everything from scratch, it would be an absolute bear to validate the new model and very likely screw everything up.

I have encountered this several times through out my career. You have a model that accurate represents the system within its limits. If you push it to one extreme or another, it starts acting flaky; but then again, the mark of experience was knowing not to push the model to an extreme.

My view of Christianity is similar. Let's face it. Most of the Bible was written over two millenia ago. Like these models, it may not be the highest fidelity. However generally speaking, it works well if you do not push it to an absurd extreme. The JW are a walking example of what happens when you push it to an absurd extreme. There is millenia of collective wisdom that accurately captures the complexities of humanity. When this collective wisdom is in action in society, it has its own unique aggragate behavior and can be considered an entity. I give this entity spiritual significance. Not because I believe in a God that exists outside nature, but because I believe that the collective wisdom only can be understood symbolically given its extremely complex nature.

288

Is it just me or has this site become a Believer/Atheist warzone?

by BU2B in

jw
friends

i enjoy the odd thread about evoloution vs creation, etc but lately it seems that a large percentage of threads here devolve into fighting between atheists and theists and distract from what most of us here see eye to eye on, the wt and related things.

i wish things could be more civil here and fr people to realize that people will never see eye to eye on the topic.

it gets so tiring to see the contstant bickring and fighting on those threads.. they seem to go on page after page but very little of substance is discussed seeing as the existence or non existence of a god can be proven by anyone.

mrhhome

To answer the question about my background, Masters of Science in Engineering. Pre-Engineering I worked for a Zoologist research who went on to become one of the best in his field. Pre-graduate school, I worked on a research vessel with several world reknown marine biologist and oceanographers. Early in my career, I was heavy into modeling and analysis. Spent the last 6 years in applied research (more empirical in nature). Worked with numerous PhDs throughout my career.

90

Why do so many think JW Religion is a Cult? (NO APOSTATES PLEASE)

by Brother Mike in

jw
friends

my question is, why do so many think the watchtower bible tract society is a cult?

.

mrhhome

Let me make this simple. Using emotional black mail to enforce control makes the JW a cult. You can use cute rhetoric all day, but in the end, that meets any common sense definition.

90

Why do so many think JW Religion is a Cult? (NO APOSTATES PLEASE)

by Brother Mike in

jw
friends

my question is, why do so many think the watchtower bible tract society is a cult?

.

mrhhome

Brother Mike,

I am not an apostate, and I agree with what has been said above. I have witnessed the destruction of your organization first hand. The Witnesses meet the text book definition of cult.

In most modern Protestant churches, you can disagree over doctrine without fear of being shunned by family and friends. Likewise, you can challenge the leadership without fear of being shunned by family and friends. [I know, because I have on both accounts.] If you did the same thing in the JW, you run the risk of being DF'ed and being shunned by family and friends.

The JW are an organization that claims to be following the bible but are led by a governing body that has no scriptural foundation. Likewise, JW leadership routinely twists scripture out of context to justify their power trip.

Finally and most importantly, actions speak louder than words. I have watched people, who were good loving Christians sincerely following Christ's example, shunned by their family as the result of JW pressure.

If the JW do not like being considered a cult, maybe they should stop acting like one.

79

The life differences between a good christian and good athiest

by EndofMysteries in

let's compare a christian who goes to a non judgemental / non guilt trip church which focuses really on the gospels, jesus teachings on being non judgemental, anything out of love there is no law against, and they contribute to society.

then an athiest who if you put side by side w/ the above christian, you would not know any difference unless you asked their beliefs.

both are good people, who are able to lead lives doing what they want, enjoying their life, and trying to help their neighbors too.

mrhhome

Cofty, you have sufficiently illustrated my point. Further elaboration is not needed.

288

Is it just me or has this site become a Believer/Atheist warzone?

by BU2B in

jw
friends

i enjoy the odd thread about evoloution vs creation, etc but lately it seems that a large percentage of threads here devolve into fighting between atheists and theists and distract from what most of us here see eye to eye on, the wt and related things.

i wish things could be more civil here and fr people to realize that people will never see eye to eye on the topic.

it gets so tiring to see the contstant bickring and fighting on those threads.. they seem to go on page after page but very little of substance is discussed seeing as the existence or non existence of a god can be proven by anyone.

mrhhome

jgnat...I think you know that my comments were not directed at you. Your points are articulate and thought provoking.

There are some here, however, who like to beat people with broad categorical statements about science who obviously do not understand much about it.

288

Is it just me or has this site become a Believer/Atheist warzone?

by BU2B in

jw
friends

i enjoy the odd thread about evoloution vs creation, etc but lately it seems that a large percentage of threads here devolve into fighting between atheists and theists and distract from what most of us here see eye to eye on, the wt and related things.

i wish things could be more civil here and fr people to realize that people will never see eye to eye on the topic.

it gets so tiring to see the contstant bickring and fighting on those threads.. they seem to go on page after page but very little of substance is discussed seeing as the existence or non existence of a god can be proven by anyone.

mrhhome

No, targeting crofty is completely fair. I do not go around picking fights, but when I find someone being rude, I will call them on it.

79

The life differences between a good christian and good athiest

by EndofMysteries in

let's compare a christian who goes to a non judgemental / non guilt trip church which focuses really on the gospels, jesus teachings on being non judgemental, anything out of love there is no law against, and they contribute to society.

then an athiest who if you put side by side w/ the above christian, you would not know any difference unless you asked their beliefs.

both are good people, who are able to lead lives doing what they want, enjoying their life, and trying to help their neighbors too.

mrhhome

Cofty, I am not baiting you. I am making a plain, simple statement. You have established a pattern of bouncing on people. I am going to return the favor. You are rude, and your arguments lack depth. Cut it out.

79

The life differences between a good christian and good athiest

by EndofMysteries in

let's compare a christian who goes to a non judgemental / non guilt trip church which focuses really on the gospels, jesus teachings on being non judgemental, anything out of love there is no law against, and they contribute to society.

then an athiest who if you put side by side w/ the above christian, you would not know any difference unless you asked their beliefs.

both are good people, who are able to lead lives doing what they want, enjoying their life, and trying to help their neighbors too.

mrhhome

Respectfully, the premise of this thread is flawed. Christians and atheist live their lifes differently. You can tell when you are around them. Obviously, that is a generality. You may find some Christians that are obnoxious and some atheist who try to get along with their neighbors, but statistically speaking, you are fooling yourself if you think that there is no difference between how a Christian and an atheist conduct themselves.

79

The life differences between a good christian and good athiest

by EndofMysteries in

let's compare a christian who goes to a non judgemental / non guilt trip church which focuses really on the gospels, jesus teachings on being non judgemental, anything out of love there is no law against, and they contribute to society.

then an athiest who if you put side by side w/ the above christian, you would not know any difference unless you asked their beliefs.

both are good people, who are able to lead lives doing what they want, enjoying their life, and trying to help their neighbors too.

mrhhome

cofty,

Normally, I do not like bouncing, but you are being obnoxious. You sure like talking about science and logic but do you actually have any training in science? Your responses are emotional and your logic cliches.