hamilcarr

Joined

• started 127 topics
• posted 1,857 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by hamilcarr

• 

  Test Your Savvy On Religion

  by hamilcarr in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what's your score?.

  op-ed columnisttest your savvy on religion .

  by nicholas d. kristof .

• 

  hamilcarr

  What's your score?

  Op-Ed Columnist

  Test Your Savvy on Religion

  By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

  Published: October 9, 2010

  </form>

  Time for a pop quiz.

  

  Damon Winter/The New York Times

  Nicholas D. Kristof

  On the Ground

  Share Your Comments About This Column

  Nicholas Kristof addresses reader feedback and posts short takes from his travels.

  Go to Columnist Page »

  The New York Times reported recently on a Pew Research Center poll in which religious people turned out to be remarkably uninformed about religion. Almost half of Catholics didn’t understand Communion. Most Protestants didn’t know that Martin Luther started the Reformation. Almost half of Jews didn’t realize Maimonides was Jewish. And atheists were among the best informed about religion.

  So let me give everybody another chance. And given the uproar about Islam, I’ll focus on extremism and fundamentalism — and, as you’ll see, there’s a larger point to this quiz. Note that some questions have more than one correct choice; answers are at the end.

  1. Which holy book stipulates that a girl who does not bleed on her wedding night should be stoned to death?
  a. Koran
  b. Old Testament
  c. (Hindu) Upanishads

  2. Which holy text declares: “Let there be no compulsion in religion”?
  a. Koran
  b. Gospel of Matthew
  c. Letter of Paul to the Romans

  3. The terrorists who pioneered the suicide vest in modern times, and the use of women in terror attacks, were affiliated with which major religion?
  a. Islam
  b. Christianity
  c. Hinduism

  4. "Every child is touched by the devil as soon as he is born and this contact makes him cry. Excepted are Mary and her Son.” This verse is from:
  a. Letters of Paul to the Corinthians
  b. The Book of Revelation
  c. An Islamic hadith, or religious tale

  5. Which holy text is sympathetic to slavery?
  a. Old Testament
  b. New Testament
  c. Koran

  6. In the New Testament, Jesus’ views of homosexuality are:
  a. strongly condemnatory
  b. forgiving
  c. never mentioned

  7. Which holy text urges responding to evil with kindness, saying: “repel the evil deed with one which is better.”
  a. Gospel of Luke
  b. Book of Isaiah
  c. Koran

  8. Which religious figure preaches tolerance by suggesting that God looks after all peoples and leads them all to their promised lands?
  a. Muhammad
  b. Amos
  c. Jesus

  9. Which of these religious leaders was a polygamist?
  a. Jacob
  b. King David
  c. Muhammad

  10. What characterizes Muhammad’s behavior toward the Jews of his time?
  a. He killed them.
  b. He married one.
  c. He praised them as a chosen people.

  11. Which holy scripture urges that the "little ones" of the enemy be dashed against the stones?
  a. Book of Psalms
  b. Koran
  c. Leviticus

  12. Which holy scripture suggests beating wives who misbehave?
  a. Koran
  b. Letters of Paul to the Corinthians
  c. Book of Judges

  13. Which religious leader is quoted as commanding women to be silent during services?
  a. The first Dalai Lama
  b. St. Paul
  c. Muhammad

  Correct answers can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/opinion/10kristof.html?_r=1&WT.mc_id=OP-SM-E-FB-SM-LIN-TYS-101110-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click
• 
  66

  Highlights of Annual Meeting 2010

  by elderelite in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  for those who are interested, the following changes were announced yesterday at the agm.

  1) mts school has been done away with.

  a) in its place two new schools have been formed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hamilcarr

  1) MTS school has been done away with

  A) in its place two new schools have been formed. One is for Single brothers. The other is for married couples. Further details will be forthcomming

  This only seems to be a change of labels. One school for single brothers is being replaced with another one.
• 
  10

  Atheists Excel in Religious Knowledge

  by whereami in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  amen to these comments.. "goes to show you... if most people knew anything about religion, they'd be atheists.".

  "it's easy, the more you know about religion, the easier it is to become an atheist.?".

  .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hamilcarr

  I don't believe this has anything to do with atheist superiority. Most atheists appear to be ex-theists. Just like x-jws know on average more about JW doctrines and practices, ex-theists know more about God and religion. It's just the advantage of having seen things from both sides.
• 
  1

  CNN Falsifies History Of Muslim Domination of Spain

  by Bangalore in

  1. social
  2. current

  cnn falsifies history of muslim domination of spain.. http://bigjournalism.com/abostom/2010/08/23/cnn-deliberates-falsifies-history-of-muslim-domination-of-spain-shills-for-islam/.

  bangalore.

  .

  1. 
• 

  hamilcarr

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Andalus

  Treatment of non-Muslims

  The non-Muslims were given the status of ahl al-dhimma (the people under protection), adults paying a "Jizya" tax, equal to one Dinar per year with exemptions for old people, women, children and the disabled, whenever there was a Christian authority in the community. When there was no Christian authority, the non-Muslims were given the status of majus. [ 19 ]

  The treatment of non-Muslims in the Caliphate has been a subject of considerable debate among scholars and commentators, especially those interested in drawing parallels to the coexistence of Muslims and non-Muslims in the modern world. María Rosa Menocal, a specialist in Iberian literature, has argued that "tolerance was an inherent aspect of Andalusian society". [ 20 ] In her view, the Jewish and Christian dhimmis living under the Caliphate, while allowed fewer rights than Muslims, were much better off than in other parts of Christian Europe.

  Jews constituted more than 5% of the population. [ 21 ] Al-Andalus was a key center of Jewish life during the early Middle Ages, producing important scholars and one of the most stable and wealthy Jewish communities. But there is no consensus among scholars that the relationship between Jews and Muslims was indeed a paragon of interfaith relations. Bernard Lewis takes issue with this view, arguing its modern use is ahistorical and apologetic. He argues that Islam traditionally did not offer equality nor even pretended that it did, arguing that it would have been both a "theological as well as a logical absurdity." [ 22 ] However, even Bernard Lewis states:

  Generally, the Jewish people were allowed to practice their religion and live according to the laws and scriptures of their community. Furthermore, the restrictions to which they were subject “were social and symbolic rather than tangible and practical in character. That is to say, these regulations served to define the relationship between the two communities, and not to oppress the Jewish population.

  – Bernard Lewis, The Jews of Islam (1984),
• 
  8

  Are you a theist and an agnostic?

  by DT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i know this question could be either trivial, with a lot of theists shouting no, or overly complicated with endless debates about the definitions of theist and agnostic.

  so, since i asked the question, why don't i also provide definitions.

  please answer the question in relation to the definitions provided.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hamilcarr

  Such a person is called a weak theist, so still a theist. An agnostic will never go as far as to assert that God exists.
• 
  17

  I find it curious that these two look so much alike.... hehe

  by AK - Jeff in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hamilcarr

  I guess both had a similar opinion on evolution except for the descent of man.
• 
  52

  Great refutation of Watchtower's "Origin of Life" and "Was Life Created?" brochures

  by Third Eye Open in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  link: http://www.mediafire.com/?fzjmfambyro0fof.

  the essay linked above was written specifically to address the new creationist brochures that were put out by the watchtower at this year's district convention.

  the goals of the essay are the following:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hamilcarr

  That's a great document, written with intelligence, tactfully, but uncompromising.
• 
  43

  A critique of Dawkins' "Argument from Complexity."

  by BurnTheShips in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/11/on-dawkinss-atheism-a-response/.

  on dawkinss atheism: a responsemy august 1 essay, philosophy and faith, was primarily addressed to religious believers.

  it argued that faith should go hand-in-hand with rational reflection, even though such reflection might well require serious questioning of their faith.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hamilcarr

  Secondly, how does Dawkins know that the Designer would be "highly complex"?

  He doesn't. But if the designer metaphor is accepted as proof of God's existence, it's logical to state that the Designer is more complex than the thing being designed. If this is wrong, the designer metaphor is flawed.
• 
  43

  For Atheists & Strong Agnostics: (Believers can counter-post also!)

  by UnDisfellowshipped in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for atheists and strong agnostics (those who believe that we cannot know about god if he exists):.

  i am posting this thread because i think it greatly help myself (and other christian believers) to better understand your beliefs and your viewpoints, if you posted a short (or long) summary of what the reasons and basis are for your not believing that there is a god, or for believing that we cannot know god if he exists.. you can include arguments against god, against the bible, against the christian interpretations of the bible, etc.. you can include scientific evidence that you believe contradicts the bible, or contradicts the existence of a god/creator/designer.. christians believers: you are welcome to post counter-arguments, or summaries for why you believe in god/creator/designer or why you believe in the bible or the christian interpretations of the bible.. i also thought it might be good to link to another lively thread we had on this website a while back: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/175688/1/god-morals-and-atheists.

  when you include your reasons for why you don't believe in god or the bible, or why you do believe in god or the bible, please include at least a little bit of the evidence (or link to the evidence) that backs up your statement.. for example, it doesn't do much good to claim "evolution is false" and just leave it at that, or on the other hand, to say "the bible is full of scientific errors" and just leave it at that.. here are two threads i posted where i explained the reasons why i personally believe in god and the bible:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hamilcarr

  Because there is no man without a God or gods…regardless of whether they want to recognize it or not.

  Considering the second part of your thesis, I'm wondering if there's a way to falsify the first part.
• 
  43

  For Atheists & Strong Agnostics: (Believers can counter-post also!)

  by UnDisfellowshipped in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for atheists and strong agnostics (those who believe that we cannot know about god if he exists):.

  i am posting this thread because i think it greatly help myself (and other christian believers) to better understand your beliefs and your viewpoints, if you posted a short (or long) summary of what the reasons and basis are for your not believing that there is a god, or for believing that we cannot know god if he exists.. you can include arguments against god, against the bible, against the christian interpretations of the bible, etc.. you can include scientific evidence that you believe contradicts the bible, or contradicts the existence of a god/creator/designer.. christians believers: you are welcome to post counter-arguments, or summaries for why you believe in god/creator/designer or why you believe in the bible or the christian interpretations of the bible.. i also thought it might be good to link to another lively thread we had on this website a while back: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/175688/1/god-morals-and-atheists.

  when you include your reasons for why you don't believe in god or the bible, or why you do believe in god or the bible, please include at least a little bit of the evidence (or link to the evidence) that backs up your statement.. for example, it doesn't do much good to claim "evolution is false" and just leave it at that, or on the other hand, to say "the bible is full of scientific errors" and just leave it at that.. here are two threads i posted where i explained the reasons why i personally believe in god and the bible:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  hamilcarr

  Because I can give meaning to my life without him.