slimboyfat

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Posts by slimboyfat

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  70

  Are we in a computer simulation?

  by Brokeback Watchtower in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znmk2viuqba.

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/simulation_hypothesis.

  consequences of living in a simulation[edit]some scholars speculate that the creators of our hypothetical simulation may have limited computing power; if so, after a certain point, the creators would have to deploy some sort of strategy to prevent simulations from themselves indefinitely creating high-fidelity simulations in unbounded regress.

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  slimboyfat

  Our physical brains? As in the very brains that we are trying to work out if they are purely material or if they are a simulation? If your argument assumes that they are purely physical to start with that's called begging the question.

  You cant say "we know purely material brains give rise to consciousness because our brains are purely material and they give rise to consciousness" within the context of a discussion about whether our brains are purely material or part of a simulation. Because if we "knew" that, then we'd already know the answer to the very thing we are calling into question. And if we already "know" that our brains are not a simulation then there's no point having a discussion.
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  245

  Is the Watchtower shy about repeating their new "generation" teaching?

  by slimboyfat in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as i recall in the 1980s talks and watchtower literature, magazines and books were always talking about the "generation" teaching and how it proved armageddon was going to come any day now.. but am i correct in thinking they have only actually mentioned the new "overlapping generations" teaching once or twice in the literature?

  why are they so shy about talking about their great new interpretation?

  it's almost enough to make you suspect they are a embarrassed about it.. mention it once or twice, don't dwell on it, hope everyone just accepts it, and don't bring it up again.

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  slimboyfat

  Yes Ray Kurzweil and Aubrey de Grey are the secular equivalent.
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  245

  Is the Watchtower shy about repeating their new "generation" teaching?

  by slimboyfat in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as i recall in the 1980s talks and watchtower literature, magazines and books were always talking about the "generation" teaching and how it proved armageddon was going to come any day now.. but am i correct in thinking they have only actually mentioned the new "overlapping generations" teaching once or twice in the literature?

  why are they so shy about talking about their great new interpretation?

  it's almost enough to make you suspect they are a embarrassed about it.. mention it once or twice, don't dwell on it, hope everyone just accepts it, and don't bring it up again.

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  slimboyfat

  Well Splane wasn't shy about demonstrating the doctrine with "visual aids" on JW TV. Maybe he devised the doctrine and has been handed the "privilege" of writing about it and explaining it on TV.
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  7

  "Age to Come" Christianity vs. Adventism

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i often read that ct russell was more influenced by "age-to-come" christians than adventist christians.

  what exactly is "age to come" christianity?

  what are some of its denominations?

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  slimboyfat

  I was thinking of buying that but it's a bit expensive. It talks about Age to Come?
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  7

  "Age to Come" Christianity vs. Adventism

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i often read that ct russell was more influenced by "age-to-come" christians than adventist christians.

  what exactly is "age to come" christianity?

  what are some of its denominations?

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  slimboyfat

  What other places? I can't find anything from a Google search.
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  70

  Are we in a computer simulation?

  by Brokeback Watchtower in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znmk2viuqba.

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/simulation_hypothesis.

  consequences of living in a simulation[edit]some scholars speculate that the creators of our hypothetical simulation may have limited computing power; if so, after a certain point, the creators would have to deploy some sort of strategy to prevent simulations from themselves indefinitely creating high-fidelity simulations in unbounded regress.

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  slimboyfat

  I don't think that's the killer objection you take it to be.

  After all, is there any evidence that cumulative events in a purely material reality can create consciousness? If you say we are such evidence it rather begs the question.
• 
  70

  Are we in a computer simulation?

  by Brokeback Watchtower in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znmk2viuqba.

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/simulation_hypothesis.

  consequences of living in a simulation[edit]some scholars speculate that the creators of our hypothetical simulation may have limited computing power; if so, after a certain point, the creators would have to deploy some sort of strategy to prevent simulations from themselves indefinitely creating high-fidelity simulations in unbounded regress.

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  slimboyfat

  Not exactly an analytical response from Dawkins there. Atheists seems to have real difficultly with the simulation argument, just laugh it off, or change the subject.
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  26

  Are gays really condemned in the Bible?

  by jws in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so i was having this argument with a friend about the westboro baptist idiots.

  my point is that while they are horrible people, they are pretty much right in that the bible is against gays because it has verses in both the old and the new testament.

  which is one of many reasons to reject the bible as merely man-made rules from ancient middle-easterners.. and she argued that there are problems in translation, etc.

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  slimboyfat

  Because they were perhaps more enlightened than some in the 20th century? Progress has not be linear or consistent on this issue. From Wikipedia:

  
  

  In ancient Assyria, homosexuality was present and common; it was also not prohibited, condemned, nor looked upon as immoral or disordered. Some religious texts contain prayers for divine blessings on homosexual relationships.[85][86] The Almanac of Incantations contained prayers favoring on an equal basis the love of a man for a woman, of a woman for a man, and of a man for man.[87]

  In Greater Iran, homosexuality and homoerotic expressions were tolerated in numerous public places, from monasteries and seminaries to taverns, military camps, bathhouses, and coffee houses. In the early Safavid dynasty (1501–1723), male houses of prostitution (amrad khane) were legally recognized and paid taxes.

  Some scholars argue that there are examples of homosexual love in ancient literature, like in the Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh as well as in the Biblical story of David and Jonathan. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the relationship between the main protagonist Gilgamesh and the character Enkidu has been seen by some to be homosexual in nature.[88][89][90][91] Similarly, David's love for Jonathan is "greater than the love of women."[92]

  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality#Middle_East
  
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  26

  Are gays really condemned in the Bible?

  by jws in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so i was having this argument with a friend about the westboro baptist idiots.

  my point is that while they are horrible people, they are pretty much right in that the bible is against gays because it has verses in both the old and the new testament.

  which is one of many reasons to reject the bible as merely man-made rules from ancient middle-easterners.. and she argued that there are problems in translation, etc.

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  slimboyfat

  By coincidence I just posted this on another thread!

  http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/06/05/us/samesex-scriptures.html?_r=0

  People who take the Bible seriously can always emphasize one part over another, or point out that cultural situations are not equivalent so you can't draw a direct line.
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  75

  JWs anti gay video reaches over 1,000,000 views on youtube

  by alanv in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the anti gay video that watchtower recently produced has now had over 1,000,000 views.

  of those who selected to like or dislike the video, over 92% disliked it.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnk52bu92oe.

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  slimboyfat

  You didn't say JWs interpret the Bible that way. You stated that the Bible itself condemns gay relationships. It's relevant to point out that many don't interpret the Bible that way. And JWs may change their position too as society changes it view. It's increasinly socially unacceptable.