Abaddon

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Posts by Abaddon

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  104

  Further incite on Dawkin's The God Delusion

  by Abandoned in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i started a thread after i finished the first chapter of this book entitled something like, i'm an atheist.

  i finished chapter three and i have to backtrack a bit, but i also feel the need to explain why since i was so vocal.. first, let me say that i think everyon should read the first two chapters of the god delusion by richard dawkins.

  he brings up some very important points about religion and about science's place in our world.

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  Abaddon

  Did we read the same book?

  Please give examples of supposed contorted reasoning and what you mean by 'claims he knows the begining'. Once I know what you mean, I can respond further.
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  40

  Nosferatu's School of Dating - Lesson 2.1 - The Approach

  by Nosferatu in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  now that you've done your practice on starting conversations with strangers, it's time to actually approach women.. first of all, let's cover what not to do when approaching a woman:.

  1) never approach a woman from behind.

  you will startle her.

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  Abaddon

  I never developed a routine, apart from a short but infamous phase where I would walk into a club and (without realising it) start trying to chat-up the cutest gay girl in the building. On one occasion I also tried to chat-up HER girlfriend too (not at the same time, more switching from one to the other in the others absense) not realising they were an item until they started getting off (and no, it wasn't a ruse, I knew them outside the club and that they were Bi, but not that they were a couple (well, that month they were)). I'm not talking Motorcycle Mommas, I'm talking about Tank-Girl meets Elf in big boots... still works for me.

  Another time I spent the entire evening chatting up another Tank-Girl meets Elf in big boots (this time a straight one), someone I actually knew from Uni', and she and her wing'man' ended up back at my place, and somehow I ended up sleeping with the wing'man'. Neither of them minded (LOL) and we all ended up afterwards in bed having a smoke. Girls are weird. Good. But weird.

  Rather than developing a routine I just eventually gained the ability to tell when a woman found ME attractive. I used to be clueless. Of course, is was more-or-less at the point I became monogamous so it's not much use, just something that gives me a smile now and then when I get the vibes; excessively jolly, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, physical, head-tossing, random favourable personal comments, gaze everted but attention focused... a hell of a lot to fit in by the coffee machine...

  Of course, attraction is just nice and doesn;'t neccesarily mean that much or indicate a desire for anything.

  The real banker is when you get stared at like you are chocolate.

  But, yeah, girls run in packs and have their routines too, and are just as ruthless in their own sweet way
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  104

  Further incite on Dawkin's The God Delusion

  by Abandoned in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i started a thread after i finished the first chapter of this book entitled something like, i'm an atheist.

  i finished chapter three and i have to backtrack a bit, but i also feel the need to explain why since i was so vocal.. first, let me say that i think everyon should read the first two chapters of the god delusion by richard dawkins.

  he brings up some very important points about religion and about science's place in our world.

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• 

  Abaddon

  lovelylil

  ID is part of what is know as the Wedge Stratagy.

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

  It was developed by the Discovery Institute;

  The Discovery Institute was founded in 1990 as a non-profit educational foundation and think tank based upon the Christian apologetics of C.S. Lewis.

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

  ID is demonstrably a stratagy conconcted by devout Christians who see ID as a method of getting god back in the classrooms. By 'debranding' a form of Creationism from Christianity they hope it will duck under the the 'no religion' bar masquerading as a science.

  Yes, the research in this area is still new but that does not mean it is invalid.

  Research on what exactly? Here's the skinny; ID consists of finding some perceived fault in modern evolutionary theory and saying 'Ha! Natural selction could not have done this! This was DESIGNED!'. It is a parasite; it exists on the blood of proper science.There is no 'research' because there is NOTHING to research. I am not being rude or funny; this is a fact. There is no proof of a designer, just speculation that x theory cannot explain y feature, so a designer must have done it.

  All such examples either were the result of inadequate knowledge and ARE explicable by theory, or have subsequently been shown to be explicable by theory.

  ID falsifies itself; it states that complexity requires a designer, yet such a designer would be complex, either requiring a contradiction in the hypothesis or an infinate chain of designers, which is just silly.

  And it really does not matter if these scientists are in the minority right now as this is true when all new theories are brought forth.

  And these THEORIES (in the past) had EVIDENCE. Even when they required science books to be re-written, if the evidence supported the new theory it gained sway over human truculence. ID is a hypothesis and has no evidence.

  When was the Bible last re-written because they found a mistake in it? Hmmmm.... glad you liked the quote, by-the-way... no magic smiley for you I think but that is a good thing...

  Of course, ID is a sneaky Trojan-Horse. Belief-lite, bought to you by people who think 'Merely Christian' is a good read, who would LOVE to get the Bible in the classroom, but know they haven't got a chance, so will try to ensure SOME degree of belief gets instilled in the next generation rather than them being 'nasty' Nerglists.

  You might not be aware of the fact about ID, either its origins (it evolved out of Creationism, ain't that funny?), or the clever little 'Emperor's New Clothes' routine they have done making people think they actually have something like theories (check definiton) or evidence, I hope you don't mind this particular perspective and might find it of interest.

  BTW, I am a God believer but I personally do believe in evolution and think it is valid scientifically. As the evidence shows it to be such.

  Good for you. Believing in a god that 'rolled the dice' and was cool enough to have what she wanted happen at the end happen coz it threw them just so is a far more viable belief than many. Doesn't stop the absurd image of endless gods creating each other or special pleading that different rules apply to god (based on no evidence). It all depends on what you mean by god. Somedays I believe in god... it is just a vastly bigger and vauger one than before, one that doesn't even have to have a reality as it is an expression of philosophical outlook more than anything else, but is as grand as anything all the same. And still god. I hope yours suits you.

  Here is a link which lists many modern day scientists who believe either in ID or God. http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/bios/

  Scroll down to the middle of the page and the fields of science will be listed. You will see that many are in the biology or anthropology fields. Peace, Lilly

  Very very. Very few. You DO realise how FEW that list contains, compared to people researching and teaching evolutionary biology and associated sciences. Don't think they goit bored with phoning people up and asking... this list was the result of something not dissimilar to scraping the bottom of a barrel... finding one;

  1. not in a sympathetic faculty (like Bob Jones on Bingham Young) or an ID or Creationist institute. (BYU has a guy who believes in the Flood AND that they blew up the Twin Towers...)
  2. with their major experience in the field of evolutionary science or chronology they are commenting on
  3. with peer-reviewed papers on their ID or Creationist beliefs in peer-reviewed journals similar to ones they might release papers in their field of expertise in

  ... is astonishingly difficult. Reading about some of the names given (try TalkOrigins or Wikipedia) is also astonishing. Few people go to plumbers to have their teeth done, why treat your theories of origin less carefully?

  This isn't specifically at you lil, just musing on the topic in general.
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  104

  Further incite on Dawkin's The God Delusion

  by Abandoned in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i started a thread after i finished the first chapter of this book entitled something like, i'm an atheist.

  i finished chapter three and i have to backtrack a bit, but i also feel the need to explain why since i was so vocal.. first, let me say that i think everyon should read the first two chapters of the god delusion by richard dawkins.

  he brings up some very important points about religion and about science's place in our world.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Abaddon

  Theism; yeah. Enough said.

  Deism; the chocolate kettle of belief systems. It's there alright but will it do anything useful for you? Ooooo look at the pretty kittens! And God, isn't photosynthesis simply elegant?

  Pantheism; to those who remember Pan's People, the feeling you had the first time you saw them at age 10... Oh... My... God... To the rest, thou art god, I am god, the cat is god (especially my cat) that rock is god... well, some are like that to one extent or the other, others use 'god' to describe wonder(?).

  Atheism; I still believe in god enough to define myself by the absence of something I don't believe in, so add asantaist to the list too please...

  Bright has been suggested as an alternative label. Humanism is used by some but carries with it a not-necessarily-compulsory ethos for other atheists. Buddhism purports to be. I think Nergle is as good a word as any.

  Pan narrans. The story-telling ape. Of COURSE we think our individual stories makes sense. We stare at the night sky and see lions and bears, not sure about the tigers, but there you go.

  Whatever data points we have to assemble a world view, we end up assembling a world that on some level makes sense. If there HAD been buses when we thought the world was flat, they would STILL have been as reliable/unreliable as they are now. People somehow were born, married, had children and died under the misconception they were being orbited by the sun! You can believe what in hindsight is utter rubbish and still be absolutely convinced your story is true. Because that is how our heads work.

  The only way to be reasonably sure we are 'right' about something (whatever 'right' is) is to look at as much information about it as possible, and ensure we comprehend it. Even then, someone turns the page, the story can change.

  Quote I read in a Discworld book; "I don't like scientists on committees, they don't know where they stand on anything. Give them new data and they change their minds".

  I wish there was a magic smiley that would appear on the posts of people who don't get the joke...
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  13

  Am I right here, or just Sarcastic...

  by Tuesday in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so my mom might be having an operation shortly, so i asked her about the blood card.

  i said that since i was the closest relative that would at least understand her beliefs and follow them (no other relative in the area would allow her to not take blood) i said that i understood there was a new blood card with the various incraments and particles of blood that will be allowed.

  she said there was and she had the card filled out, which i took a look at it and everything was checked off.

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  Abaddon

  You are as close to being right as makes no difference as far as I know.

  AND sarcastic at the same time, so you get bonus points!!!!
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  11

  UK-Aisleyne's dad recalls emotional reunion

  by DannyHaszard in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  digital spy

  aisleyne's dad recalls emotional reunion

  digital spy, uk - 59 minutes ago .

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  Abaddon

  I was just wondering what Congo she went to; I was in Marylebone until I left London in 1990, Paddington before then. If he mum ives near Regent's Park then it's Camden, Paddington or Marylebone, isn't it? Or am I forgetting Kensal Rise or something like that?

  Whatever, can't picture her or her mum.
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  28

  Do You Get Any Pleasure Out of the Holidays Since Leaving the Watchtower?

  by jayhawk1 in

  1. social
  2. family

  yesterday was my crappy birthday, http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/20/127389/1.ashx and while the evening went along, i realized something.

  i've been out of the watchtower for about 6 years now and i still don't enjoy the holidays or my birthday.

  i can't recall one time saying to myself, "wow, that was so much fun.

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  Abaddon

  The first year, no. Few friends as I'd left the Dubbies, I was student and most all the people I knew disappeared during Christmas. I didn't see anyone for three days I think.

  Following year I had Christmas with my then-gf's family, and it was lovely. Really warm and loving. A few uninspiring Xmases since then, mostly in student days when most of my friends were back home in the vacations. A rather funny one at another x-gf where I made the cardinal mistakes of totally thrashing her entire family at Trivial Pursuit AND compunded it by beating her mum's High Score (she prided herself on being indisputed family Tetris queen) on a Tetris hand-held the first time I picked it up (blind chance more than skill). Another one at friends from Uni' after Uni meeting up at their house with a mutual acquaintence who was a fb of mine, very boozy and humourous. Then I move over here (from UK to Holland) and it's back to family CHristmas's again, which are great. I even go to Christmas Mass as my fiance likes me to.

  This Christmas was the best, as I was able to give my 16 year-old daughter her first proper Christmas; seeing her face when we walked into the Chricstmas deocrations dhepartment was wonderful, and she still has her own tree up, LOL.

  I had a few memorable birthdays at Uni', most years I don't get round to organsing anything but this year had quite a nice party, considerably tamer party than in Uni' days, but with family round and a fiance there's less potential for debauchery than with twenty people cramed into a student bedroom off their faces (with at least two who fancy me).
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  23

  SKYPE - ANYONE

  by stillajwexelder in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am sure there has been a thread about this but i downloaded skype - (free) and i have a webcam and a microphone so i can call friends and family in europe who also have skype and i can talk and see them free of charge - really cool.

  anyone of you guys got skype?

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  Abaddon

  Heya FBF/RAF/Corrine...

  ... your written English is SO good, much better than I remember. Wish my Dutch had improved as much in that time!!

  Just to add, Skype also works like any old Chat software ICQ/Messenger/Communicator etc.
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  23

  SKYPE - ANYONE

  by stillajwexelder in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am sure there has been a thread about this but i downloaded skype - (free) and i have a webcam and a microphone so i can call friends and family in europe who also have skype and i can talk and see them free of charge - really cool.

  anyone of you guys got skype?

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  Abaddon

  To clarify, you ONLY need

  1. a PC, Mac or Linux box
  2. speakers or headphones and a headphone socket
  3. mike and/or a microphone/line socket

  You can then download and install Skype and make yourself an ID, like gyles_williams, for example. You can then talk free to anyone with Skype, and make low-cost calls to real phone numbers by purchasing 'SkypeOut' credits; all of this only works whilst your computer is on.

  You can also;

  1. use a webcam
  2. purchase a Skype USB phone (several models available, PC and maybe Mac compatable) which means you can use a normal phone handset instead of yodelling into a mike and using your speakers or headphones
  3. purchase a cordless Skype USB phone (several models available, PC only) which means you can use a normal phone handset instead of yodelling into a mike and using your speakers or headphones or being in front of your computer
  4. purchase a SkypeIn number which gives you a normal phone number; for example, I could have an American NYC number ringing in London if I got one off Skype

  Again, all the above requires your computer to be on.

  As pointed out, quality of service depends on connection speed of the client, i.e. your computer, and a bad WLAN link can bugger up a good Internet connection...
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  23

  SKYPE - ANYONE

  by stillajwexelder in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am sure there has been a thread about this but i downloaded skype - (free) and i have a webcam and a microphone so i can call friends and family in europe who also have skype and i can talk and see them free of charge - really cool.

  anyone of you guys got skype?

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  Abaddon

  Corrine!! So good to see you here again.

  Yes, you're right a Skypecast, Conf calls have a low participant limitand need a central person whose ID is known to all or knows the ID of all participants, but Skypecasts are (I think) >99 people.

  Mmmm... "Outcast ApostoSkype" - the weekly Skypecast for xJW's - bring your own intoxicants"?