The Scotsman

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Posts by The Scotsman

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  65

  I find it very hard to believe in a god

  by Newborn in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  but i find it equally hard to believe in the evolution theory .

  so for now, i chose not to believe in anything but myself and love.

  that was all.

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  The Scotsman

  I've read these posts and I fail to see any evidence to back your position

  Right back at ya!

  why billions of people can believe in blue gods, elephant gods, invisible gods, jackal gods, maize gods yadda yadda.

  I view it like the branches of a tree - all separate and distinct but all are attached to the trunk - different paths to the same destination.

  What you are describing is faith

  Correct. Not everyone has faith and this is where the problems start - people with no faith lecturing people who do have faith.

  Faith is beyond science. I am merely trying to tell you that you cannot rubber stamp everything as "fact" because somehow science has decided to accept it as a fact.

  the art of believing in something made up while pretending that it is as valid as assertion as fact

  You dare to tell me I am not open minded and you say this....LOL

  Bye.
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  65

  I find it very hard to believe in a god

  by Newborn in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  but i find it equally hard to believe in the evolution theory .

  so for now, i chose not to believe in anything but myself and love.

  that was all.

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  The Scotsman

  And the bottom line - even if there are some so-called holes - no evidence exists whatsoever that says the god of the bible is the answer to those wholes

  I will make a general point - one word - PREPOSITION!

  All of us approach the evidence based on a preposition - what we already believe. To say that "no evidence exists whatsoever that says the God of the bible is the answer" shows a lack of an openness on your part. Billions of people believe in a God of some kind and we are to assume not a shred of evidence exists to support this?

  Your faith is clearly stronger than mine - to assume no God - i.e. - nothing became something is beyond science, all evidence available and basic logic.

  Nothing in - nothing out.
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  65

  I find it very hard to believe in a god

  by Newborn in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  but i find it equally hard to believe in the evolution theory .

  so for now, i chose not to believe in anything but myself and love.

  that was all.

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  The Scotsman

  I'm sure it made perfect sense to the holocaust victims and the Rawanda genocides victims

  Oh right - so we are now blaming God for what humans did!

  Both of these examples merely highlight that humans can be downright evil to each other.

  And qcmbr - LOL. Your list has been debunked a 100 times!

  I am not a young earth creationist - the earth is clearly billions of years old. I am just saying that a higher intelligence was likely involved in the beginning of life. For me this was God.
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  65

  I find it very hard to believe in a god

  by Newborn in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  but i find it equally hard to believe in the evolution theory .

  so for now, i chose not to believe in anything but myself and love.

  that was all.

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  The Scotsman

  I can understand why people struggle to believe in God - as for me - I see God everywhere. His existence makes perfect sense to me.

  As for evolution - a subject discussed many times on here!!!!

  I have read soooo much on this subject - for and against. Still none the wiser - though some sort of creation event seems more logical. If you listen to the ramblings of someone like "book publisher Dawkins" he would have you convinced its a fact - but he ignores a heck of a lot of the evidence that does not support darwinian evolution.

  Evolution has more holes in it than swiss cheese!

  Dawkins is an atheist - so he is obviously going to promote a "non creation" origin.

  Of course - God and Evolution can co-exist - it is not one or the other.
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  64

  DEMONS

  by Band on the Run in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  growing up in the fifties and sixties, stories of demonic possession were prevalant in the watchtower and awake.

  i was terrified.

  we were told they would bother you if you were faithful, but also if you fell away.

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  The Scotsman

  Demons are as real as you and me.

  I do not fear them.
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  4

  Advice/Encouragement from experienced Faders?

  by Mad Sweeney in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when your insanely active jw family members start leaning on your more moderate jw family members who still talk to and associate with you to get them to "mark" (aka "shun") you, how do you channel your anger/frustration into something useful?.

  i keep trying to show the moderate jws the contrast between the unkind active jw's shunning behavior and the real love the christ spoke about.

  it works to keep my moderate dub family in touch with me but it doesn't really do anything for my mood.

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  The Scotsman

  Someone said to me or maybe I read it (can't remember now!) that one of the greatest defences we have is to look happy, content and pleased with our life.

  JWs think that everyone that leave's must be faithless, immoral, depressed, worldly etc etc.

  If you can show that life after Watchtower is pretty good it is harder for them to ignore you.

  The slanderous stories that went around about me were shocking. Biggest was I had a breakdown and was severely depressed. but application of the above was the best response.

  I was invited to my sisters wedding (big JW event) and I went out of my way to tell anyone that asked how I was that everything was great, great job, going holidays etc etc. It puts them off balance and they start to view you as almost normal.

  When I first left I was pretty much shunned by everyone but in time people started to mellow, my mother started to phone again and people sent emails etc. Direct family members really backed off but it is better now - not great - but better.

  My final point I suppose is that it will never be perfect - you, me and everyone else that fades, DAd, DFd will be viewed as an outsider to some extent and to be kept at some sort of distance - though for some moderate JWs that distance is minimal.

  Best of luck with it - this site is living proof that life after Watchtower can be great and can include those who are still active JWs.

  The Scotsman
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  28

  Dawkins Letter To His Daughter

  by Bangalore in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  to my dearest daughter,.

  now that you are ten, i want to write to you about something that is important to me.

  or is it the kind of thing that people only believe because of tradition, authority or revelation?

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  The Scotsman

  Nothing in the universe is beyond science.

  I suspect you will find it difficult to prove that scientifically. Prove to me via science that God does or does not exist? It cannot be done - this is a matter of faith. Also your statement highlights the great lack of humility within the science community in general.

  I also need to pick up on a point you directed at PSacramento.

  Please do'nt procreate if you do'nt plan to teach your kid critical thinking.

  Critical thinking makes me question evolution and atheistic world views.

  This is a 2 way street - critical thinking works in both directions, it is not merely critical thinking if someone questions God, spirituality or creation.

  The Scotsman
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  28

  Dawkins Letter To His Daughter

  by Bangalore in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  to my dearest daughter,.

  now that you are ten, i want to write to you about something that is important to me.

  or is it the kind of thing that people only believe because of tradition, authority or revelation?

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  The Scotsman

  Sheesh - yet another thread about Dawkins!!!

  I tell you - Richard Dawkins should start his own religion - he would make a fortune and would have millions of adherents eating out of his hand.

  Looks like he is messing with his kids mind just the way JWs do.

  His letter pretty much ignores the possibility of faith based belief - that would be due to the fact he does not have faith in such things himself. Faith in anything supernatural is beyond science to prove/disprove so to turn around and ask the question "show me the evidence" for "everything" is a failure to recognize that Faith in God, Faith in life after death or Faith in any kind of supernatural life etc, is beyond science and may not have direct physical evidence.

  Also for Dawkins - the ultimate test for anything is "science". But even within the realm of science their is a lack of cohesion and agreement. Within the letter he uses this line -

  Scientists - the specialists in discovering what is true about the world and the universe

  But what if the scientists disagree - who do we believe, follow or accept as the "truth about the world"?

  Some scientists are athiests and some are not. Which is correct? If I shout "show me the evidence" I will be none the wiser as neither will have absolute evidence to "prove" their position. So ultimately it comes down to a personal choice.

  As far as I am concerned we should let kids grow up in there own way without pre-programming them to think a certain way - religious, scientific or otherwise.

  The Scotsman
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  12

  Hey Brits! Have you got snow?

  by highdose in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i hear things are getting bad in the old country?

  food shortages and money/ fuel running out.... i could start ranting here about the scandinavien countries who manage just fine with snow... but i'll let someone else do that.. i just heard that some people in north yorkshire got snowed in a pub for 8 days!...

  poor things;).

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  The Scotsman

  We have about 1 and a half feet of snow! Coupled with below zero temps 24 hrs a day - its crazy.

  I have dug my car out about 6 times in the last week.

  A lot of JW meetings have been cancelled in the area - bet they were gutted!!!

  The Scotsman
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  44

  When Was The Last Time You Said A Prayer?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  do you ever pray?.

  have you felt, "what the heck?

  it's worth a shot"?.

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  The Scotsman

  Every day.