Posts by JeffT

67

How do you feel about religion as a whole?

by FatherFirst in

it just seems to me religion in general primarily makes truly bad people worse, not genuinly good people better; and in many cases has even made good people do bad things in the name of their religion.

just curious, a personal poll if you will.

what are you guys' current views on religion as a whole?

JeffT

Anything that brings a big bunch of people together will produce both good and bad results; religion, politics, soccer, pop music, freeways, beer, you name it. I don't think painting entire groups with one big brush is helpful.

Here in Seattle we have had, for many years, a roaming tent encampment for homeless people that are allowed to set up at certain locations for a period of time. Many, if not most, of those locations have been in church parking lots. For a very long time one was set up next to a church that let us use their fellowship hall for an AA meeting. The camp was clean, safe, quiet and well run. For that matter, the AA group had an inexpensive place to meet.

So who here wants to provide an alternative location for these two groups?

274

Indiana "Religious Freedom" (right to discriminate)

by Simon in

sickening to see the photo of the religious zealots all stood around the governor signing into law the right for people to discriminate against others (gay, lesbian, trans-gender) based purely on religious dogma.. if religious people want those freedoms then the can't have it both ways - they cannot complain if *they* are discriminated against.. "sorry, we don't like zionists, get out".

"oh, it's some special mass and you can't work your shift?

you're fired!"..

JeffT

People keep citing the Arlene's Flowers case here in Washington State as an example of Christians wanting to refuse service to Gays. I think a little background is in order. The owner of the flower shop had been doing business with the gay couple for a number of years, knew they were gay and even sold them flowers for events like birthdays for each other. When approached to supply flowers for the wedding, she declined but referred them to another local florist who could comfortably meet their needs. They filed the lawsuit and the fireworks started.

https://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/ingersoll-v-arlenes-flowers

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/02/20/3419458/arlenes-flowers-owner-rejects.html

Food for thought: do you want to be required by law to provide whatever you do for a living to a Kingdom Hall?

Edited to add: should she be required by law to provide flowers for this weekend's memorial service, even if she doesn't want to?

274

Indiana "Religious Freedom" (right to discriminate)

by Simon in

sickening to see the photo of the religious zealots all stood around the governor signing into law the right for people to discriminate against others (gay, lesbian, trans-gender) based purely on religious dogma.. if religious people want those freedoms then the can't have it both ways - they cannot complain if *they* are discriminated against.. "sorry, we don't like zionists, get out".

"oh, it's some special mass and you can't work your shift?

you're fired!"..

JeffT

Let's take another example. If the government reinstates the draft, should conscientious objector status based on religious belief be denied?

274

Indiana "Religious Freedom" (right to discriminate)

by Simon in

sickening to see the photo of the religious zealots all stood around the governor signing into law the right for people to discriminate against others (gay, lesbian, trans-gender) based purely on religious dogma.. if religious people want those freedoms then the can't have it both ways - they cannot complain if *they* are discriminated against.. "sorry, we don't like zionists, get out".

"oh, it's some special mass and you can't work your shift?

you're fired!"..

JeffT

I have mixed thoughts on this subject. My daughter is a lesbian married to a transgender woman. They have already been subject to employment discrimination (in Oregon for crying outloud! A lawsuit is under way). They do not need any more such treatment.

On the other hand, I do not believe the government should be ordering people to do things they don't want to do. Ask yourself a question: if you're planning a wedding do you want to put it in the hands of people who are doing it only because the state is threatening them?

21

Going clear: Scientology

by James Mixon in

a must see if you haven't seen it.

some scary stuff.

they pay their workers.

JeffT

We just finished watching it. Very powerful documentary. I'm still trying to digest it. I may post my thoughts tomorrow.

29

March Broadcast- Jehovah is speeding up the work

by adjusted knowledge in

jw
friends

i watched some of the segments on the jw broadcast.

in the video they showed how they managed their inventory orders for the congregations.

at the conclusion it was stated by the narrator how god is speeding up the work.. the problem is the system they implemented has been used for over two decades in logistics.

JeffT

The couple who started our bible study told us that the Speeding Up scripture meant that it was taking less time for their bible students to progress to baptism.

What? Last time I looked it took about 7000 hours of field service for each baptism. A few years ago it was 4000. I think it was one or two thousand when I was baptized in 1973. How is this taking less time?

11

Shunning Styles 101. Any I missed? Care to elaborate?

by Open mind in

my oldest brother got baptized at 12 and realized he was 100% gay at 12 1/2.

sucky timing huh?

he fought the fine fight of the abstinent until his mid-twenties and then decided he couldn't live like that anymore.

JeffT

I've seen or heard this one a couple of times:

Ultra-Hypocritical Shun: "I can't talk to you except for important family business and won't, but right now I need to borrow a few dollars."

6

Any cyclist participate in critical mass?

by Protarded in

for those unfamiliar with critical mass, it's a mass bike ride through many major cities on the last friday of each month.

i was not very familiar with the ride until my hethen, worldly, unjudgemental, friend invited me last night.

after googling it, i found that it's pretty controversial.

JeffT

The thumbs down wasn't mine, but I will answer the questions for you.

First off, two of my three children are avid urban bikers and I want them to be safe. Maybe its different where you are, the group has a bad rep here in Seattle. They've been known to block the road no matter what is behind them, including emergency vehicles and a guy trying to get his wife to the hospital. I fail to see how you encourage sharing something by attempting to hog it for yourself. Some of the people associated with the group have made some really asinine and rude comments about drivers. This is not helpful.

This even happens when he has the right of way, say turning left at a red light

I don't understand how this situation gives him the right of way.

6

Who is like the Wild Beast (Russia) and who can do battle with it? Rev 13:3,4

by scotoma in

jw
friends

continuing my posting to the blind, deaf, & conventionally minded ... you may be out of the jw's but you are still thinking in a box.. now that russia is back it is clear why powerful countries are wary of doing battle with it.

putin is getting his way.. sorry, ukraine, you can't beat putin - bloomberg view.

jan 28, 2015 - ... restrain russia's incursions into ukraine, but they can't defeat putin.

JeffT

Continuing my posting to the blind, deaf, & conventionally minded .

I'm going to see if I can have a compulsive need to apply logic and critical thinking declared a mental illness.

22

Utah to bring back firing squads

by cofty in

are parts of the usa in a different century from europe?.

why don't they just stone them to death?.

JeffT

Save the money necessary by releasing the people jailed for not paying $10 parking fines.

Just not pursuing the death penalty will save the necessary money. I've long been against the executing anybody. There is a very good conservative argument against it: "It's a government program and they'll screw it up."

And yes, it is about the Mormon blood sacrifice thing, and we have several centuries of experience with killing people with guns.