Posts by Abaddon

72

The Origin-of-Life Foundation, Inc. The Secret $1,000,000 Prize

by Deputy Dog in

from http://www.scienceagainstevolution.org/v9i11f.htm

the secret $1,000,000 prize

one of the best kept secrets of science is the origin of life prize sponsored by the origin of life foundation, inc. when we first ran across their web site (www.lifeorigin.org), we thought that the offer of one million dollars to anyone who could propose a plausible theory for the origin of life was just a slick creationist trick for showing that the emperor had no clothes.

Abaddon

Spectrum

Theory, well I got this one wrong it seems because I remember in school being told that when a theory is proven it is then no longer a theory but a fact and since evolutionists describe evolution as a theory I assumed they were talking about educated guesses.

If you think the THEORY of evolution is educated guesses, my comments re. doing some reading on the subject again apply. However, to be clear, there is the THEORY of evolution (the hows and whys), and the FACT of evolution (as in the massive amount of evidence that organisms change over time). The FACT of Evolution is undeniable by anyone with a reasoning mind. Whether the THEORY is 100%, 95%, 75% or 0% correct is another thing.

Fair point, but it is not about double standards. It is simply that I don't want to go from one bullshit answer to another, like a fool that converts from one religion to another believing that God will find more favour in him, just because Abaddon will otherwise brow beat me.

We were both reponding at the same time earlier, so I'd already advised some self-study and not to listen to me.

To be frank, Ogabog the Goatherd's really smart idea of how the skyman made things and the modern theory of evolution can't both fairly be called bullshit answers, as they're just not comparable. Why not own up to having a presentiment in favour of Creation because of your upbringing and see if this is justified?

I mean, if you know as little of the subject as you do, how do you know evolution is bullshit? Isn't that a masive assumption, that you are right and all those scientists are wrong? Isn't that carrying on believing what you believed when you DID believe in bullshit? Believing what the people who taught you bullshit said, still?

Evolutionary theory is the only convincing explanation of the evidence for evolution we see around us. Without doing research yourself, you will never be able to descern bullshit from fact.

As ascot's asking, I'll hopefully be able to suggest some stuff that you might enjoy too; I'm not recommending textbooks, just lay-science stuff, although you might find yourself moving onto textbooks.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0309064066/sr=8-11/qid=1146234864/ref=pd_bbs_11/103-2457212-2543035?%5Fencoding=UTF8

Not read this myself but it looks excellent and is well reviewed.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618005838/sr=8-1/qid=1146235046/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2457212-2543035?%5Fencoding=UTF8

I've read this and found it easier to digest than The Selfish Gene (a classic), but still detailed enough.

Browse around Amazon; the reviews are generally a good indicator... ... and I'm sure your local library has a shelf or two. When I was learning this stuff I actually found books on human sexual biology with no explict coverage of evolution were actually some of the most elegant proofs of evolutionary theory, as even a casual study trashes the idea of Biblegod and makes the idea of specific creation seem rather silly.

But then, as you learn more about science you will see how often evolutionary theory is supported by the processes around us, how it can be used to explain and predict behaviours or forms. Until you do the research though, all of this won't make much sense. Fill your head with books, it's the nicest thing you can do for yourself.

Beware of books claiming to disprove evolution; it's quite likely if you read one you'd be convinced they did, but that is because you don't know enough about evolution, and such books are normally masterpieces of selective argumentation, evasion, casual ignorance and ommission.

You wouldn't know you were being conned. By all means read them AFTER you've given yourself a good grounding in evolution, that way when you throw them across the room in disgust at the intellectual dishonesty and bias of the authors you will know why I get techy sometimes...

If you DON'T do some research on your own you will never be able to have an informed opinion about evolution, only someone else's opinion.

72

The Origin-of-Life Foundation, Inc. The Secret $1,000,000 Prize

by Deputy Dog in

from http://www.scienceagainstevolution.org/v9i11f.htm

the secret $1,000,000 prize

one of the best kept secrets of science is the origin of life prize sponsored by the origin of life foundation, inc. when we first ran across their web site (www.lifeorigin.org), we thought that the offer of one million dollars to anyone who could propose a plausible theory for the origin of life was just a slick creationist trick for showing that the emperor had no clothes.

Abaddon

Spectrum

I understand the bit above but regardless doesn't a Lungfish exhibit a clear ability for species to go from gills to lungs and fins to legs and water to land. Isn't this what early evolution was all about. fish coming out of the sea and settling on land. Amphibians on the other hand look fully formed and adapted to living on land but like being near water to keep their thin skin moist Lungfish look slugish on land like they are just getting used to the idea. It just looks like an intermediate species to me. Is it?

It might be seen as an intermediate species, as we have knowledge of forms that seem to fit either side of it. To it initself is the end point thus far reached and thus not intermediate to anything.

But you would be more correct to think of it as a cousin to amphibians, rather than an intermediate between amphibians and fish. Both lungfish and amphibians share characteristics that were possesed by a common ancestor intermediate between them and fish, but both have since that point followed different paths.

Again, the reason why evolutionists are not screaming about lungfish is that the idea evolution needs proving is a lie out around by Creationists that many scientists aren't even interested in responding to, as it is blatently obvious evolution (as a process) is factual, even if the theory of how and why it happens is something still under development. How many cosmologists would bother getting into a debate about heliocentrism of flat-earthim?

Nobody took evolution seriously in my day at school. The only exposure we got was David Attenborough's series but it went straight over my head as quack.

Then why not learn about it using your own initiative instead of (as you seemingly do) assuming that it is something which needs to be proved when you admit you don't know enough to reach that conclusion. I don't want you to believe in evolution 'cause I say so. I want you to believe in evolution because YOU know so. Without doing something about this yourself, this will never happen and your challaneges to the theory will, even though you're an intelligent person, come from an uninformed point-of-view.

ellderwho

Ah, poor diddums; I don't think that there is one part of your last post that isn't deceptive, fallacious, or just plain wrong. I told you why that web pages's arguments were bad. If you're craven enough to avoid responding directly, fine. If you don't understand what I said about those arguments, then admit it and I'll explain it to you. Just stop the empty posturing; if you actually believe what you say then I think we may have to use subtitles for the hard of understanding henceforth. But until you show yourself capable of writing a post that's worth responding too...

37

The Increasing Degradation of Women in the Watchtower Society.

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

from towerwatcher:the increasing degradation of women in the watchtower society.

the lifestyle of a woman as one of jehovah's witnesses is certainly not an easy job.

it is a well known fact that most of the work that takes place within the watchtower society contributing to its success, is due to the backbone of the watchtower which can be described as the women in the congregation.

Abaddon

Most religions put women down. Sure the JW's are a very 'good' example.

But look at Islam. Then a remove away, traditional or revivalist churches. Seikhism is maybe 'better' than Hinduism, Buhddism in theory very good (in practise, less so, but as with all excess of religion that is a cultural thing).

But it is hard to find a truly egalistarian religion, outside of some modern Christian viewpoints, maybe - and there might be others.

On the face of it it really looks like guys made god up to keep women down; or 'god' got turned into the boogie-man of patriarchal society. There's some belief early societies were matriarchal, good evidence that some cultures didn't sex-sort occupations.

But on the whole, women have had a hard time of it.

But then maybe men need all that bullshit to be in control, and now's the time to pay the piper?

Most intelligent woman who act like a women can run rings round most men as able as they are. That's the way it's meant to be in terms of sexual biology, and that influences gender interaction even when intercourse is not an outcome. Dress them in floor-to-ceiling clothes and don't let them show their hair or face or talk to another man... then you got some chance of keeping them down.

Fundamentalists aren't really afraid of the West. They're afraid of Western women, and of what life would be like if their women were like that. And some Christian denominations, JW included, have a similar fear.

But we got trouble too; contraceptive choice, priesthood, abortion -it's all about making women do or not do stuff.

16

Anyone know of worldwide seance' to contact Lennon?

by Star Moore in

.

Abaddon

I have a dog that can sing Elanor Rigby just like John Lennon. Send me €9.95 and I'll send a recording of it.

This is essentially the deal they're offering.

I suggest you look into pareidolia. Try the Wikipedia entry on it or EVP.

186

God led me to the JW congregation.

by jw in

i rented a house in the late !970's and the contents in the home were given to me.. it happened to be books: ( making my life happy, revelation, children bible stories, listening to the great teacher ) i was enjoying the reading.. -----------------------------------.

a few years later began to notice awake magazines in doctor offices, and other public places and read them and enjoyed them.. ------------------------------------.

late 1980's my 7th son was 2 yrs.

Abaddon

jw

I am curious how you can be so sure you've checked everything up. For example; take the Flood.

There are trees alive in California today that were standing BEFORE the dates the Flood is meant to have happned. The Great Pyramid at Giza and the Egyptian civilisation were in existence hundreds of years before the Flood and carried on through the dates of the Flood without interuption.

These are facts.

But your belief is based on the assumption that such accounts are literal.

How can you claim you've checked up on things if you're not even aware of simple scientiifc or hsitoric fact?

72

The Origin-of-Life Foundation, Inc. The Secret $1,000,000 Prize

by Deputy Dog in

from http://www.scienceagainstevolution.org/v9i11f.htm

the secret $1,000,000 prize

one of the best kept secrets of science is the origin of life prize sponsored by the origin of life foundation, inc. when we first ran across their web site (www.lifeorigin.org), we thought that the offer of one million dollars to anyone who could propose a plausible theory for the origin of life was just a slick creationist trick for showing that the emperor had no clothes.

Abaddon

ellederwho

LOL, keep it up. You say 'I don't have to prove anything', yet seem woefully ignorant of how much you prove with every post on this subject.

Pretty much everyone on this thread can see that, but of course, despite the fact you've not done anything other than advance criticisms it is painfully obvious you don't even understand the refutation of, you're still convinced you're right.

And I thought hooberus was a tough act to follow...

59

I need to lose weight. but HOW?

by Sirona in

jw
friends

i've gained a lot of weight recently.

i really need to lose some.

now, my diet isn't the problem as such....its the excersize part.

Abaddon

Eat less, do more.

DON'T DIET.

Just eat good quality (as little processed) food three times a day, and control your portiions if you have lost the natural ability to know when you've eaten enough (something that happens to many people).

Then grit your teth and exercise more - of course it's boring but it's the only way. If you get out of breath speed-walking the dog, walk a little slower so you don't become winded and allow your body to get used to that effort level before going faster.

Don't expect over-night results, don't set an unrealsitic target weight, realise that if you are in a sedentary job you'll need to be exercising hard enough to feel a little breatheless 3 x 20 minutes minimum a week, or longer periods of less intense exercise.

Oh; does your weight gain match a change in lifestyle? Stress can often cause an increase in weight (due to Cortisole), that's just one example.

31

Why wasnt Noah's wife mentioned in Bible?

by Stewart75 in

Abaddon

greendawn

Did myths get inserted into real events, or did real events become mythic?

I mean, at some point there was a bloke who saved his wife and kids in a flood. It may have been quite a big flood, and inundated their 'world'. But we know through little things like trees alive today older than the Biblical Flood, and big things, like the Great Pyramid at Giza (which was built before the Biblical Flood), that there was never a Biblical Flood, either at the possible points in time, or on the claimed scale.

I'd say the evidence is that rather than a real record becoming inaccurate though the insertion of myths, a real event was given a mythological slant over the centuries by the culture holding the story. Afterall, why should the Jewish culture be any different from all the other cultures that did the same thing. Most claim to have god involved, either they are all right or none are; those who claim any particular one is right ignore their choice (what ever it might be) is likely just as flawed as those they attack.

You are right by the way - as was the poster who said something about it being hard to make names up. Why should a patriarchal misogynist bother with a making up a woman's name?

13

Math 1950-2005

by startingover in

jw
friends

what is his profit?

did he make a profit?

Abaddon

I think opportunity to use Maths is an important factor.

I was terrible at mental arithmetic until I worked in a bar. I'm nowhere good as I was as that was 7 years ago.

I can multiply and divide, subtract and add, and use and understand all the obvious extensions of that like percentages.

Big numbers I use a calculator. Repetative operations, I use a calculator; anything complex goes in Excel.

If I didn't have a computer or calculator, I'd be far better at more complex problems. And waste oodles of time doing repetative ones.

If I ever had a reason to differential calculus or quadratic equations, I'd have to re-learn it or use Mathmatica.

Younger people may have never gone through the phase where they became habituated to doing simple maths as they now are surrounded by machines that do it for them. Complex manual maths is now only done by mathematicians and some scientists, and even those people often use machines because it's quicker or simpler, or just easier.

If 'we' with maths educations in or before the seventies had never had to use what we learnt in our lessons, we'd be pretty much the same.

58

Things you see in a Public Bathroom!

by ButtLight in

jw
friends

ok, this is gross.. i use to work in a restaurant in fl.

this lady use to come in that we called poopy pants.

(not to her face) anyway, she would sit, eat, and go to the bathroom like clockwork.

Abaddon

Apostate Kate

That's a brilliant story! I love it!

I think multi-day music festivals probably provide the best example of icky bathrooms.

There are two types. The porta-loo/porta-potty is perhaps the best of the two. A plastic cube with a seat - some additionally have a urinal in the corner, and a drop into a holding tank. Some even have a manual flush. If they're not cleaned and cleared regularly they end up with mountains of poo rising over the rim of the seat. God only knows how people add the upper layers... Smart Bombing? I saw one particularly high one decorated with a flag at the summit.

The other type is the trench toilet; metal cubes with a hole in the wood you sit on, and a trench below. I've always thought the trench an ideal holding pen for anyone caught menacing or attacking a woman. They actually are often the more 'pleasant' option...

When you go back to the real world, white porcelain and running water are fascinating...