An ornithologist studying seagulls observes them for weeks, day after day, learning all about their behavior and nature, he watches them do seagull things, fly in patterns, feed on small fish and reproduce. Then one day the flock flies out over the ocean, he watches them get smaller as they move away, he uses his binoculars to watch them until they slip over the horizon beyond his ability to see. Would a reasonable ornithologist believe the seagulls are still seagulls doing seagull things? Or would a reasonable ornithologist assume that when they became invisible to him, their very nature changed and they became angels?
peacefulpete
JoinedPosts by peacefulpete
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92
Chance or intelligent design?
by ExBethelitenowPIMA incofty could you answer how the single cell came about by chance?.
i know the argument for complexity in nature says natural selection over billions of years but this could not explain the complexity of the single cell the building blocks of life?.
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Giving hope for all truth-loving people
by Person init it not easy for me but i would like to share with you my story and my take on what happend and is happening in jw.
for some my view can be unacceptable for others can be useful.
in fact it can be answer to the question: why am i still even bother what's is going on in this obviously corrupt organization?
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peacefulpete
Guy 1 "Hey John haven't seen you in a long time, have you lost weight? Didn't you used to have brown hair? You seem shorter as well".
Guy 2 "My name isn't John, it's Harry."
Guy 1 "You changed you name too!"
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1975 on the back burner
by Fisherman in“1975” still marks 6000 years from the creation of adam in wt calendar.
according to “all scriptures inspired” book, there is a gap between the creation of adam and the creation of eve and her marriage to adam.
it was at that point in time when eve was created that marked the end of the 6th creative day and the beginning of god’s rest, the 7th day as recorded in genesis.
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peacefulpete
Genesis 1 says man and woman were made at the same time. So which creation story is more authoritative?
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Mass Shooting at Kingdom Hall in Hamburg, Germany
by EdenOne inmass shooting at a kingdom hall in hamburg, germany this evening.
at least 6 or 7 killed, dozens injured.
single shooter on the run, police doesn't rule out more shooters.
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peacefulpete
Is there a way to know if he posted on forums? We have had many mentally compromised posters here. It seems he was functional and charismatic and may not have revealed the darkness brewing in his mind. Makes me think about my comments.
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Dreading the memorial
by Isambard Crater inhey.
does anyone else dread attending (in person or on zoom) the memorial months in advance?.
literally as soon as new year hits, i feel sick and super anxious, and i've realised it's because of the memorial, which i only attend because of family, who kinda tell me the reason they have bad health is cuz i left the jw sevel years ago..
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peacefulpete
When posters mention 'triggers', feeling sick and such, it is more like a post traumatic abuse situation. No, you should not return, and you should make it clear to your family you will not be returning. You need to take care of your mental health. I also have aging parents (almost lost them both this last year) who wish for us to return but know I am not. I can render assistance to them without having to lie about who I am.
It is no different in my mind than pretending to not be gay to not offend the religious views of family. Or for that matter, hiding a marriage or girlfriend of a different race from prejudiced family. Family is important but not all important.
I will add, some exJWs at some point will be able to look back at the experience without the psychological baggage. I feel it is more likely for those who empowered themselves to separate cleanly, than those who fear reprisals and keep pretending. Really are you an ExJW until you can do that?
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Physically in mentally agnostic ie sitting on the fence
by ExBethelitenowPIMA inhi everyone i’m not pimi or pimo i’m pima.. i don’t think the gb have everything right but i’m sitting on the fence that maybe they do some things.. if the great trib starts i will jump that side of the fence.. this is a definite little sneaky advantage dodging but even by their own doctrine last min some could come in.. i suspect many are like me.. i spent years in bethel and am very disappointed and disillusioned by it all.. but at the end of the day i love the bible and think it is the word of god and i don’t see any other religion that comes as close to what jesus describes his true followers or who are fulfilling mat 24:14..
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peacefulpete
ExBethelite....you have lots of big questions, just a reminder to be patient with yourself in pursuit of answers. I also immediately leapt to the ultimate questions of 'how did it all begin', when what I should have asked is; have I really investigated manageable topics like Bible history and science or have I accepted the conclusions handed me? Unconsciously we leap to the unanswerable questions as a way to avoid dealing with questions we can answer.
Currently on this forum there are a couple of basic threads on these type of topics. Take some time and take small bites. If you have questions dig a little deeper. Ask questions, there are people here of all stripes so you get a variety of perspectives.
Red Sea Stories Divided.
Mesquite Mountain
The Lost Qos
How tall was Goliath?
What I'm suggesting, is only that what you have believed to be true of everyone in other denominations, might just be true of yourself. They have been told they have the "truth" and have been told that the proof is inescapable. They have a community that shares those beliefs and that acts like a family in many respects.
Why are people confident the Catholic church is the "true" faith? They have preached the Gospel for 1800 years or so all over the world, sent missionaries who risked everything to" save" the indigenous people They are the reason billions of people are Christians. They claim to have an unbroken lineage right to the Apostles of the Gospel.
Why do Baptists believe they are the "true" faith. They use the Bible extensively and have experienced powerful proof of Holy Spirit. They send missionaries all over the world.
Why do Mormons believe they have the "true" faith? They have an international brotherhood preaching around the world, are persecuted, high 'moral standards' and a recent revelation from God.
Why do 7th Day Adventists believe they are the "true" faith? As a sister denomination to the International Bible students they, after all, share much of the WT theology and have been sending missionaries into the world for longer than JWs. When I was deep in the Amazon striking out to preach where no one had before, we found a small 7th Day Adventist church already there, as well as a tiny village with church established a hundred years earlier by Anglican missionaries.
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Why are people being born without wisdom teeth?
by Fisherman insometimes people are born with deformities but is the human body adapting to modern world with biological changes?.
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10
Why are people being born without wisdom teeth?
by Fisherman insometimes people are born with deformities but is the human body adapting to modern world with biological changes?.
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peacefulpete
Our jaws are shorter than archaic homo sapiens. Along with diminished prognathism came the issues of a third set of molars. We are genetically changing but not apparently in response to diet changes, at least not directly. It was thought that our surgical intervention might stimy the adaptive advantage and halt the process, but newer studies suggest the evolutionary process isn't driving a loss of the last set as much as the shape of the jaw which is triggering an inhibitory cascade result. Molars actually release a inhibitory enzyme to the next molar. IOW the shape of the jaw and the number of teeth are directly related. However the inhibitory action is not perfect and many of us still have the third set of molars emerge or worse they don't have room and grow forward crowding the teeth.
The shape of the jaw is the result of our brain size and the reduction in prognathism. That preference to not appear apelike might be in part driven by sexual selection. (better looking guys and gals get more action).
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Mesquite Mountain
by peacefulpete inok, the title may make more sense for those who enjoy grilling.
horeb (aka sinai).
most students of the ot are fully aware of the documentary hypothesis in some form, in short it is near universally recognized that the book of exodus, for example, is the composite work of a redactor who has collected the traditions of the judahite and israelite people.
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peacefulpete
EdenOne,..thanks for replying.
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neutrality
by enoughisenough ini had a thought about neutrality...how we were never to take sides on political issues, say by voting.
how does that square with the letters we were asked to write to various lawmakers in countries-not too many years ago we were ask to write to russian officials.
i wonder if there is to be a letter writing to norway.
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peacefulpete
Terry has said it well. I'll add 2 cents by reminding everyone that Jewish history is a nonstop record of war. War and Judaism go together like forks and knives as well. Christianity spawned in Jewish waters but was largely a 'Gentile" faith that eclipsed national identity. To the extent that some early Christians refused military service it was out of concern they might kill fellow Christians. Ask, what NT passage forbids enlisting in the military? None
Ironically it was Christians in the Roman Army that resulted in Constantine's conversion and the worldwide spread of the religion. Even as early as Marcus Aurelius (161-80) Tertullian says:
"But of all the emperors down to this present reign, who understood anything of religion or humanity, name me one who persecuted the Christians. On the contrary, we show you the excellent M. Aurelius for our protector and patron; for if you look into his letters, you will find him there testifying that his army in Germany being just upon perishing with thirst, some Christian soldiers which happened to be in his troops, did by the power of prayer fetch down a prodigious shower to the relief of the whole army; for which the grateful prince, though he could not publicly set aside the penal laws, yet he did as well, he publicly rendered them ineffectual another way, by discouraging our accusers with the last of punishments, viz. burning alive” (The Apology of Tertullian, tr. by Wm. Reeve, online facsimile of the 1709 text, p. 8,