Posts by losthobbit

114

Anyone here have any experience with the "super-natural"?

by Knowsnothing in

and if so, would that prove an existence of evil-spirits (demons)?.

i have heard of a couple of stories of possession, or of jw's talking to spiritists and the spiritists having seen 2 men following the jw, either dressed all in black, or all in white, and very strong looking.

yet, i have never experienced any of it.. another experience that i heard is about a brother whose mom had super-natural strength, and tossed something really heavy.

losthobbit

Technically, super-natural is simply something that has not been explained. So in that sense there are definitely many things that are super-natural. There were many super-natural things in bible times, like sickness, wind, lightening, rainbows, etc., simply because the did not have the scientific understanding to explain them.

Derren Brown is a famous English magician, who can perform all the seance, mind reading, ouja board stuff, ... but he's an athiest (ex-Christian), who does not believe in spirits and admits that everything he does is just a trick.

I remember when I was a little boy I was able to predict things... now I believe that my memories are not very accurate.

67

Is it possible to define faith in a simple, logical, unambiguous way?

by losthobbit in

i was wondering if it's actually possible to define what faith is in a simple, logical, unambiguous way.. .

i have a theory that words which cannot be defined in a simple, logical, unambiguous way do not really mean anything specific, and therefore should probably be avoided.. .

i know there have been books written on this subject, but i think that anyone who has to write an entire book to define a simple word like faith, does not really understand what it means.. .

losthobbit

Hi Guys

I'd like to say thank you for all the answers. I really appreciate all your thoughts. I know you didn't all write your points for my benefit, but it's nice to be able to see everyone's point of view.

I like to debate, but sometimes debates do go on for a while, with not much positive happening, because everyone's saying what they believe and no-one's changing what they believe. This is a very common mental process which goes on in peoples' heads to protect their knowledge in every way possible, especially when they believe bad things will happen if they change their mind.

I often like to tell people about a free eBook, called "Software for your brain", which teaches you to be open minded. I know you probably think that you're right and everyone else is wrong... so you don't need this book, and so all I can do is urge you, or dare you, or whatever works best, to read a book on open mindedness. The worst that can happen is you realize that you knew all this already:

http://www.schoolofthinking.org/software.pdf

Enjoy :)

... and a quick note to jgnat: You completely lost me on the whole two sides to your brain, where one is rational and the other is irrational. I have no idea what you're talking about.

7

They're Growing Hearts In The Lab

by metatron in

jw
friends

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1372938/live-human-heart-grown-lab-using-stem-cells-potential-transplant-breakthrough.html.

at this juncture, i will add my usual 'intercourse you, watchtower and your lying promises' ..................... realizing full well that a future witness will benefit from a lab grown heart while parking his flying car and while muttering 'everything is worse and worse'.

i guess that's no differerent than watching an ultra-orthodox rabbi in 18th century ghetto dress on satellite tv or jihadists using the internet to extol the virtues of a corrupt and ignorant caliphate in the middle ages.. if this keeps up, i will be hard pressed not to empathize with atheists who absolutely despise religion.

losthobbit

The future is what we make it... There are three futuristic movements I support:

Humanity Plus, OpenCog, and The Venus Project

Humanity+ :

What is the Mission of Humanity+?

Humanity+ is an international nonprofit membership organization which advocates the ethical use of technology to expand human capacities. We support the development of and access to new technologies that enable everyone to enjoy better minds, better bodies and better lives. In other words, we want people to be better than well.

OpenCog:

No challenge today is more important than creating Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), with broad capabilities at the human level and ultimately beyond.

OpenCog is an open-source software project aimed at directly confronting the AGI challenge, using mathematical and biological inspiration and professional software engineering techniques.

The Venus Project:

The Venus Project presents a bold, new direction for humanity that entails nothing less than the total redesign of our culture. There are many people today who are concerned with the serious problems that face our modern society: unemployment, violent crime, replacement of humans by technology, over-population and a decline in the Earth's ecosystems.

67

Is it possible to define faith in a simple, logical, unambiguous way?

by losthobbit in

i was wondering if it's actually possible to define what faith is in a simple, logical, unambiguous way.. .

i have a theory that words which cannot be defined in a simple, logical, unambiguous way do not really mean anything specific, and therefore should probably be avoided.. .

i know there have been books written on this subject, but i think that anyone who has to write an entire book to define a simple word like faith, does not really understand what it means.. .

losthobbit

jgnat, anthing that is unable to "dance with logic", has that problem because it is illogical... it doesn't make sense, or it isn't true. Anyone who thinks rationally cannot have faith.

AGuest, ... if I understand correctly, I must listen for a voice that I don't know, without using my physical ears?

I have chosen to stick to maths, science and logic; things that make sense to me. I continue to do as much good as I know how, not out of some desire to get into heaven or escape from hell, but out of love instead.

If God existed, and had any intention of talking to me, he would have been smart enough to communicate with me in a way that I understand. He is supposed to be all powerfull, after all. So far he hasn't done that. I don't think I'm asking for much at all... if he doesn't have the time for me, then he shouldn't have created seven billion people.

I dream of a time in the future when the world will be united by logical reasoning and love, rather than divided by our personal faiths.

67

Is it possible to define faith in a simple, logical, unambiguous way?

by losthobbit in

i was wondering if it's actually possible to define what faith is in a simple, logical, unambiguous way.. .

i have a theory that words which cannot be defined in a simple, logical, unambiguous way do not really mean anything specific, and therefore should probably be avoided.. .

i know there have been books written on this subject, but i think that anyone who has to write an entire book to define a simple word like faith, does not really understand what it means.. .

losthobbit

Thanks Ding, your little chart / table above is a nice, clear way of explaining faith.

67

Is it possible to define faith in a simple, logical, unambiguous way?

by losthobbit in

i was wondering if it's actually possible to define what faith is in a simple, logical, unambiguous way.. .

i have a theory that words which cannot be defined in a simple, logical, unambiguous way do not really mean anything specific, and therefore should probably be avoided.. .

i know there have been books written on this subject, but i think that anyone who has to write an entire book to define a simple word like faith, does not really understand what it means.. .

losthobbit

Hi AGuest

(Peace to you, and everyone on the entire planet)

Thanks for your reply. It's pretty amazing that your Lord talks to you directly. I was a Christian for thirty years, and God didn't talk to me once. I guess he chooses who to talk to, and for some reason decided that he doesn't like me as much as you. Of course you can understand how I am skeptical that God talks to you, if you have no proof. You can easily prove that God talks to you, by asking him what my bank card pin code is, and then you can type it on this forum...

Of course the things you mentioned as proofs could easily just have been things which were made up by the writer of the first of the first four books of the New Testament (probably Mark), and then copied by the other three writers when they wrote their version of the story.

God does many things to eliminate proof of his existence:

- He is invisible

- He only talks to people through dreams

- He made a rule that we are not allowed to put him to the test

- The only prayers he ever answers are those which might have happened anyway: cures colds, helps people to travel safely, makes people give other people money when they desperately need it, etc... he never fills up an empty petrol tank, heals amputees, etc.

- He made the world appear to be 5 billion years old, and the universe 13 billion years old, when they are in fact only 6000 years old. He also made the stars appear to be billions of years old, by making the light travel to Earth a million times faster than the speed of light.

- He no longer does huge miracles, like making animals talk, parting the sea, sending plagues

- He no longer allows people to be possessed by demons

- He put mistakes in the bible, as well as many things which appear to be illogical

This is why one needs faith, because God made sure that there would be no proof.

67

Is it possible to define faith in a simple, logical, unambiguous way?

by losthobbit in

i was wondering if it's actually possible to define what faith is in a simple, logical, unambiguous way.. .

i have a theory that words which cannot be defined in a simple, logical, unambiguous way do not really mean anything specific, and therefore should probably be avoided.. .

i know there have been books written on this subject, but i think that anyone who has to write an entire book to define a simple word like faith, does not really understand what it means.. .

losthobbit

LilyPie, faith and trust may be the same thing in the Christian context, but then you have to define trust.

How about this definition?

"Faith is a decision making process in the mind, in which various pieces of evidence are accepted or rejected, leading to a degree of certainty."

67

Is it possible to define faith in a simple, logical, unambiguous way?

by losthobbit in

i was wondering if it's actually possible to define what faith is in a simple, logical, unambiguous way.. .

i have a theory that words which cannot be defined in a simple, logical, unambiguous way do not really mean anything specific, and therefore should probably be avoided.. .

i know there have been books written on this subject, but i think that anyone who has to write an entire book to define a simple word like faith, does not really understand what it means.. .

losthobbit

Perhaps I should explain why it's so important to me that this word is well defined...

I once asked religious people a question like this:

If the most open minded, and intelligent people in the world spent their lives researching all the world's religions, evaluating all the evidence for and against each religion, and used statistics to determine the most likely true religion, do you think you would join the religion that they chose, or would you stick to what your own mind tells you?

The most common answer was something like "Religion is a personal choice, and I would stay in my religion, because of my faith."

Of course the problem with this answer is that it does not matter how much evidence you show these people that they're in the wrong religion, they're in their religion because of their "faith". No amount of rational thinking, logic, or evidence will change their mind, and it's pointless trying to debate with them.

If they're able to define what faith means, I could attempt to debate whether or not their faith is accurate.

67

Is it possible to define faith in a simple, logical, unambiguous way?

by losthobbit in

i was wondering if it's actually possible to define what faith is in a simple, logical, unambiguous way.. .

i have a theory that words which cannot be defined in a simple, logical, unambiguous way do not really mean anything specific, and therefore should probably be avoided.. .

i know there have been books written on this subject, but i think that anyone who has to write an entire book to define a simple word like faith, does not really understand what it means.. .

losthobbit

Tammy, I don't believe you can understand something if you can't define it.

In other words, I see understanding and defining as being the same thing.

67

Is it possible to define faith in a simple, logical, unambiguous way?

by losthobbit in

i was wondering if it's actually possible to define what faith is in a simple, logical, unambiguous way.. .

i have a theory that words which cannot be defined in a simple, logical, unambiguous way do not really mean anything specific, and therefore should probably be avoided.. .

i know there have been books written on this subject, but i think that anyone who has to write an entire book to define a simple word like faith, does not really understand what it means.. .

losthobbit

Ding, your definition could be scientific, e.g.

Hypothesis: If I test move steering wheel, wheels turn.

Theory tested 1000 times in the past, each time test passed.

I can therefore conclude that there is 100% chance (proof) that steering wheel turns wheels.

Now you have proof... but therefore no faith, right?

Alternatively

If you conclude that there is approximately a 99.9% chance, you then know that there is only a 99.9% that it will work, however you decide to risk it anyway... is that faith, even though you aren't 100% sure it will work?