zoiks

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Posts by zoiks

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  21

  Critique of the October 1 Watchtower article"When Was Ancient Jerusalem Destroyed?"

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  my critique of the october 1, 2011 watchtower article "when was ancient jerusalem destroyed?

  http://www.jwstudies.com/critique_of_when_was_ancient_jerusalem_destroyed.pdf .

  i am looking forward to hearing of correction or omissions.. please note that this is a large file (almost 7 meg) which takes a while to download and a while to format in a web browser.. the design of the critique allows a single major topic to be individually printed, so that those pages may be handed to an apologist for the watchtower society.

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  zoiks

  Doug,

  Thanks very much for your hard work. I will be referring back to this in the near future, no doubt.
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  83

  Common Misconceptions Re: Evolution

  by cantleave in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is another cut and paste, but i make no apology (unless it has been posted on here already), as it is very informative.

  evolution is one of the best supported, most elegant, and most powerful theories in all of science.

  as it stands, it is the best explanation that we have for the diversity of life on earth.

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  zoiks

  Bookmarked - I'm gonna have to bow out for a while to get some work done, guys!

  I like your questions, PSac, and I wish that I was even remotely qualified to more fully address them.

  Shack - the clan is good, school is back in session and my future as the father of a soccer star would be well on its way if I lived in just about any other country on earth.

  Cantleave - good thread!
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  83

  Common Misconceptions Re: Evolution

  by cantleave in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is another cut and paste, but i make no apology (unless it has been posted on here already), as it is very informative.

  evolution is one of the best supported, most elegant, and most powerful theories in all of science.

  as it stands, it is the best explanation that we have for the diversity of life on earth.

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  zoiks

  I don't believe that the environment causes our DNA to do anything. It self-replicates, and variation occurs. This doesn't always work out well for a species: 95% of every species that has existed on earth has gone extinct. Also, some species go for long periods of time with little or no change, whereas some changes have happened very quickly, in geologic terms.

  So, PSac, whatcha getting at?

  Edit: I see that I pretty much duplicated James' post.

  PSac - it IS amazing, regardless of one's beliefs.
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  83

  Common Misconceptions Re: Evolution

  by cantleave in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is another cut and paste, but i make no apology (unless it has been posted on here already), as it is very informative.

  evolution is one of the best supported, most elegant, and most powerful theories in all of science.

  as it stands, it is the best explanation that we have for the diversity of life on earth.

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  zoiks

  If its been so "clearly demonstrated", why the shepticisim by so many?

  It must be noted that 99% of the skepticism is not coming from scientists.

  Natural selection is simply a term for the result of selection pressure being placed on organisms by their environment. The organisms' genetic makeup provides the raw material. Selection pressure from outside sources such as predators and environmental factors provides the means to sort out what survives long enough to pass on its genetic material...and what doesn't.
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  83

  Common Misconceptions Re: Evolution

  by cantleave in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is another cut and paste, but i make no apology (unless it has been posted on here already), as it is very informative.

  evolution is one of the best supported, most elegant, and most powerful theories in all of science.

  as it stands, it is the best explanation that we have for the diversity of life on earth.

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  zoiks

  And the cause of all those? and WHY we can adapt? where does that come from?

  I'm not sure of the WHY that you refer to. The mechanics themselves are simple: DNA replicates itself imperfectly, all the time. Otherwise everything would be a perfect string of clones. The imperfectly replicated and spliced DNA causes variation and mutation. These have a chance of being passed on to the next generation. Beneficial variations and mutations generally have a greater chance of being passed on. Repeat ad nauseum. Life is just degrees of variation; nothing is fixed.

  Maybe I totally misunderstand your question, Psac...
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  83

  Common Misconceptions Re: Evolution

  by cantleave in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is another cut and paste, but i make no apology (unless it has been posted on here already), as it is very informative.

  evolution is one of the best supported, most elegant, and most powerful theories in all of science.

  as it stands, it is the best explanation that we have for the diversity of life on earth.

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  zoiks

  A shiny Newton apple for zoiks

  Hey, where did that apple come from? **rubs sore head and looks suspiciously at the sky**

  How ya doin', Shacks?
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  83

  Common Misconceptions Re: Evolution

  by cantleave in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is another cut and paste, but i make no apology (unless it has been posted on here already), as it is very informative.

  evolution is one of the best supported, most elegant, and most powerful theories in all of science.

  as it stands, it is the best explanation that we have for the diversity of life on earth.

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  zoiks

  Hi Psac!

  the mechanisim is what drives it and while we have a few theories such as natural selection and survival of the fittest, but I don't think we can PROVE that they are what drives evolution, can we?

  Evolution is simply this: the change in genetic makeup of a population over time.

  This happens all the time with variations and errors in the copying of DNA - just ask a surgeon if the organs inside people are always the same shape, size, and in the same place. Or just look at humans or any other species. Variation is the key. The chief 'mechanisms', as you say, are mutation, migration, genetic drift, and natural selection acting upon the raw genetic material (living beings). These are all things that have been observed.
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  83

  Common Misconceptions Re: Evolution

  by cantleave in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is another cut and paste, but i make no apology (unless it has been posted on here already), as it is very informative.

  evolution is one of the best supported, most elegant, and most powerful theories in all of science.

  as it stands, it is the best explanation that we have for the diversity of life on earth.

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  zoiks

  Exactly! For example, the Law of Gravity could be expressed: F = G x [(m 1 m 2 )/r 2 ].

  Gravitational theory, on the other hand, attempts to provide the explanations of how and why gravity works.
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  83

  Common Misconceptions Re: Evolution

  by cantleave in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is another cut and paste, but i make no apology (unless it has been posted on here already), as it is very informative.

  evolution is one of the best supported, most elegant, and most powerful theories in all of science.

  as it stands, it is the best explanation that we have for the diversity of life on earth.

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  zoiks

  It is also the law of gravity, though, right? A bit more than a theory - even a scientific theory?

  Tammy, there is also a misunderstanding about scientific laws vs. theories. A law isn't the 'next step' after a theory. A theory can never become a law, because they are two different things with different uses in science.

  Generally a law can be defined as: "A set of observed regularities expressed in a concise verbal or mathematical statement". In general, a law is a rule or set of rules for the behavior of certain phenomena.

  A theory can be defined as: "An explanation for an observation or series of observations that is substantiated by a considerable body of evidence". So a theory can be used to explain a law or even a set of laws, among other things.

  Cool, huh?
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  138

  My Father passed away during the night

  by jwfacts in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  dad was a great man, great, despite the religion.

  he was powerful, tall and intelligent, yet humble and kind.

  he was an introvert, and a circuit overseer.

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  zoiks

  Paul,

  Please accept my sincere condolences for the loss of your dad. From your description, he sounds like a wonderful man and a good father. He obviously played a large part in your turning out to be a good, intelligent, and honest man. Peace and strength to you and your family, and may he rest in peace.