Posts by Abaddon

33

Harry Potter

by puppylove in

so, has anyone read these books, and if so, what do you think?

One of the most wonderfully hilarious things in the world is that fundy Christians in the USA mistook a satirical article about Harry Potter triggering a rise in Satanism for a real news report, and actually used the text of the article in chain E-mails warning of the danger;

http://www.snopes.com/humor/iftrue/potter.htm

As for the books themselves, they're great, and I'm looking forward to OotP out on film summer '07.

The last book seems liely to be the last Harry book, from what JK has said; no 'Harry at University'. This is and always has been a seven book sequence.

Harry dying is not impossible. Also in the firing line are Ginny, Hermie, Ron, and (prehaps more so as already commented on) Hagrid and Neville. I also agree that Severus might play a pivotal role at the last monute; maybe something like Vader chucking the Emperor over the railing in SWVI:RotJ? I predict that RAB is Sirrius's brother whose middle name is Arcturus... and maybe Sirrius will stage a come-back? I mean, him being dead isn't TOO much of a barrier in a fantasy. And Id be suprised if Dumbledore doesn't make an appearance as a portrait.

Given the linkage between Voldermort and Harry, maybe Harry absorbs Voldemort and extinguishes the evil, becoming the most powerful wizard of all time? Maybe Harry's destruction of Voldemort will come at the cost of his own magic powers? Those two options make far better endings than Ginny and Ron sobbing over Harry's body.

55

My wife I love her but?

by skyking in

jw
friends

i just posted this on another thread and decided to post my own thread about it.. a few posters here that know me personally know about my amazing wife.

i had a very hard time accepting what i have learned about her.

she has a gift she has kept from the world until she was in her 30's.

Abaddon

As per my PM skyking, this link is Uri Geller saying something.

I would not say that Uri Geller saying something is equivalent to proof of active remote viewing by the USA government, or any other. You might feel this is proof enough for you but it is just unsupported testimony by a professional illusionist who pretends (possibly even believes) he has special powers.

If he has special powers so does David Blaine; but the 'special powers' invovled in (for example) putting your hand through glass can be purchased online and are based around a stage illusion performed for the first time in the 19th Century; you just need access to a good-sized budget and expert glassfitters and carpenters. I've seen a Japanese guy do the same trick with a fish tank.

Thus I don't find the evidence credible, nor does it support your original claim; you said Bush refered to remote viewing with a slip of his tongue.

But thanks for providing the link.

44

If you experienced a supernatural event, could you convince anyone?

by free2beme in

jw
friends

i can not remember anything in the bible, that said the book of revelations would be the end of god's word to man.

at the same time, i know there are many parts to the accounts in the bible, that were not put in or are not accepted as inspired by god.

with this in mind, what if your morning started like this;.

Abaddon

free

I will stop you right there. Don't let your head explode trying to disprove me, as I did not ask you too. I don't respond to skeptics, not even interested in the idea.

Maybe you don't see it as I do. If a JW apologist comes here and says x y and z, they will be responded to. If a supporter of the W-o-T comes here and says x y and z they get responded to. If someone who likes Ned's Atomic Dustbin (a real band believe it or not) comes here and says x y and z they will be responded to. If someone who believs they can fortell the future comes here and says x y and z they will get responded to. If someone who believes WalMart are evil comes here and says x y and z they will get responded to. If someone who believes in evolution comes here and says x y and z they will get responded to.

None of the above people HAVE to react to the response what they say generates. It is not about claimants 'having' to respond; it is about objecting to people expressing their opinion about what one says or refusing to even enter into dialogue with anyone other than 'approved associates'; only you're the one that decides that now, ot the local Elders...

This is strange, as afterall, this is a discussion board, not a statement board.

Note I don't dispute the reality to YOU of what YOU experienced. I also don't (normally) dispute the reality to OTHERS of what OTHERS experience. I also admit if it happened to ME, I would be of a different opinion. I also encourage my daughter's interest in Wicca, LOL.

Whether this shows me to be more or less interested than someone who won't even discuss a topic with skeptics is a matter of opinion.

Please note; you're in a totally different class to certain other posters I've responded to in this thread; this is a compliment.

44

If you experienced a supernatural event, could you convince anyone?

by free2beme in

jw
friends

i can not remember anything in the bible, that said the book of revelations would be the end of god's word to man.

at the same time, i know there are many parts to the accounts in the bible, that were not put in or are not accepted as inspired by god.

with this in mind, what if your morning started like this;.

Abaddon

skyking

If you dislike proving your wild claims, let them hang there looking like what they are; wild claims made by someone who makes excuses not to prove his claims. Undermine your own credibility as much as you like. it's one area you have a definate talent.

Just to clarify, this George Bush quote; were you repeating rubbish you had accepted without checking it (not the first time, eh?) or does it exist?

And please don't make your lack of credibility and your poor research out to be my problem.

It is a little rich you making out I quote out of context, as this thread is a good example of your misrepresention (the link you cite on csicop), as already noted. But as you seem to care little for whether you pass on lies, manufacturing them about other people is the next logical step for you I suppose.

55

My wife I love her but?

by skyking in

jw
friends

i just posted this on another thread and decided to post my own thread about it.. a few posters here that know me personally know about my amazing wife.

i had a very hard time accepting what i have learned about her.

she has a gift she has kept from the world until she was in her 30's.

Abaddon

Please provide the URL for your claim about Bush.

I already have found several websites repeating the claim, but the text they quote contain no references to remote viewing.

44

If you experienced a supernatural event, could you convince anyone?

by free2beme in

jw
friends

i can not remember anything in the bible, that said the book of revelations would be the end of god's word to man.

at the same time, i know there are many parts to the accounts in the bible, that were not put in or are not accepted as inspired by god.

with this in mind, what if your morning started like this;.

Abaddon

Oh come skyking, it's not fun if you avoid doing anything to back your claims other than unreferenced mumbles. I know when you DO post a link it tends to go a little dreadfully wrong if someone actually goes to the bother of reading it and thinking about it, but unless you back up your claims with some substance you risk falling into the 'Macbeth 5:5' trap;

... a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing

Your lack of evidence is not my problem!

44

If you experienced a supernatural event, could you convince anyone?

by free2beme in

jw
friends

i can not remember anything in the bible, that said the book of revelations would be the end of god's word to man.

at the same time, i know there are many parts to the accounts in the bible, that were not put in or are not accepted as inspired by god.

with this in mind, what if your morning started like this;.

Abaddon

skyking

Well? Go on... I am waiting. If you want the paranormal powers you believe to be genuine to be accepted as a proper science, you know what to do. The fact the are NOT accepted as 'proper' science is down to 'believers' who've never bothered supporting their claims in a decent fashion.

I have the Remote Viewing training manual somewhere (it's easy to find online). Why don't you download them and try? Here's some; http://www.remoteviewed.com/remote_viewing_manuals.htm

Just tell me what I have on the window ledge next to my desk at work. Or if that is too difficult, describe the row of buildings I am in as viewed from the air. Tell me what 'beacon' you need.

Or I can send someone I think most people would regard as unimpeachable, say Ross (LittleToe) an envelope with a picture in it (although I promise as I would LIKE someone to PROVE the paranormal just telling me what's on my window ledge would convince me and I would say so) and one of you spooks can tell me what the picture is.

As you might guess by me having the manuals already RV is something I am fascinated by. The proof is sadly lacking, for all the grandiose claims.

But as it is obviously uncontestable, well, prove it. And don't do it just for me; Randi has put up $1,000,000!

3

US evangelist preacher admits battle with 'dark side'

by jstalin in

i think the saddest part of this whole situation is that rev.

haggard is only going to perpetuate the hate and intolerance of homosexuality amongst the evangelicals he used to represent.

one important quote from him:.

Abaddon

Now, given the 'fundy line' on homosexuality is that is 100% CHOICE and caused by ENVIRNONMENT...

... obviously the upper hierachy of this organisation must be crammed full of homosexual's whose 'gay vibes' made this man fall into temptation.

Or is Satan to blame?

I mean it is obviously nothing to do with any inbuilt inclination... just like dogs raised to be vegetarians by stupid owners will not eat meat from any inbuilt inclination but as a result of sniffing a carnivourous dog's bottom...?

I feel sorry for the poor sod. He is so conflicted and must loathe himself. Pity that those around him want him the way they want him, not the way he is.

Has the good stuff he's done for other people changed one iota because of this? No; unfortunately the sex-obsession of fundamental religions (Motto; control their sex life and everything else is EASY) criminalises people who have committed a victimless 'crime'.

44

If you experienced a supernatural event, could you convince anyone?

by free2beme in

jw
friends

i can not remember anything in the bible, that said the book of revelations would be the end of god's word to man.

at the same time, i know there are many parts to the accounts in the bible, that were not put in or are not accepted as inspired by god.

with this in mind, what if your morning started like this;.

Abaddon

Six

No, no, it is 'OUR' fault for having high standards of evidence. Isn't it obvious to you that ghosts should have different standards of evidence to cheeseburgers?

Hehe; basically; if someone wants a portion of the supernatural to be treated like a proper science, then there's a great opprtunity for them to be in at the ground floor.

Yup, all you paranormal experiencing people could be the Galileo or Newton of the paranormal; the one who actually harnesses the great good our hidden supernatural powers have by an unimpeachable and thorough series of investigations showing the existence of such powers beyond reasonable doubt, and how they can utilised in a reliable and consistent fashion for man's good. You would be spoken of in the same way as Einstein and Darwin.

Given how common the occurance of such power is just on this board (in the past we've had remote viewers too!) I'm a little unsure why it's so difficult if it is so real. Or is that me being a nasty little skeptic?

Nah... don't blame me... blame all the people who are making false claims of paranormal powers who are obviously the ones responsible for the level of credibility of the paranormal... I think the practisers of genuine paranormal powers need to get their own house and flush out the charaltans before they play the 'blame' card.

First thing that needs to be done is for the practisers of paranormal powers to get together and agree on what would be satisfactory evidence. Fortunately they don't have to re-invent the wheel;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method

Just as science was born from natural philosophy so to I expect, any day now (nah, I'm not prophecying, just stands to reason with so many people doing it it won't take long) a new science or sciences to be born from the paranormal/supernatural.

55

My wife I love her but?

by skyking in

jw
friends

i just posted this on another thread and decided to post my own thread about it.. a few posters here that know me personally know about my amazing wife.

i had a very hard time accepting what i have learned about her.

she has a gift she has kept from the world until she was in her 30's.

Abaddon

Ross

Oh, I didn't take it personally, you know I regard these discussions as mostly humourous fun. I was just playing with words.

I'm quite content with the concept and practice of healthy scepticim. What I object to is hyper-scepticism, where something is discounted without even considering it.

Mmmm.... I use the word in the defintion of 'the method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt'. I don't see that as excluding consideration, and I know what you mean about there being a tendancy in some (inc. me at times) to EXCLUDE consideration. I think this comes from the duck paradigm; if no event of the supernatural has ever been proved it is not suprising that one assumes a supernatural event cannot be proved... it is very unlikely we will see the first proof of mediumship on this board... so when such claims are piled high and sold cheap, they get tarred with the same brush. Sloppy, yes. But as this sloppy approach doesn't result in people actually going and proving the paranormal to confound the skeptics, sloppy works quite well as a first approximation.

Maybe the best approach is 'sorry, all previous claimants of this power were unable to prove it so were either experiencing something we cannot measure directly or indirectly (i.e. even if means and method are unknown we cannot even measure the claimed effect), lying, mentally ill or mistaken'. But that doesn't really sweeten the pill, does it?

For example, what's so objectionable about the following statement?

Nothing, but there's nothing wrong with being more interested in probable than possibles.