Captain Obvious

Joined

• started 17 topics
• posted 886 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by Captain Obvious

• 
  69

  Atheism and the delusion of meaning

  by Laika in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in the movie annie hall, written by woody allen, as a young boy, alvy's mother, takes him to see a doctor as he appears to be dealing with some kind of depression.

  when the doctor asks alvy what's up, alvy explains that he just found out the universe is expanding, everything will spread out and go cold and die, therefore nothing he does matters, so he is not going to do anything anymore.

  most people might see this as a joke, but i think woody is trying to make a serious point.. the point here is about meaning.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Captain Obvious

  Well said Billy!
• 
  261

  Evolution is Crap, there I said it!

  by Crazyguy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok i started another thread and every one jumped on me because i was trying to take the theory of evolution out of the mix and most here seem to believe in it so i will just say it.

  the theory of major evolution is crap!

  the theory is falling apart.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Captain Obvious

  A good example of Macro Evolution in your lifetime would be new viruses popping up. No, they're not a sign of the last days, they're a product of evolution. Bacteria have such a short lifespan that their evolution happens very quickly. We make medicines and treatments for these viruses, and they evolve resistance to these viruses. This is quite scary, but a product of evolution.
• 
  261

  Evolution is Crap, there I said it!

  by Crazyguy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok i started another thread and every one jumped on me because i was trying to take the theory of evolution out of the mix and most here seem to believe in it so i will just say it.

  the theory of major evolution is crap!

  the theory is falling apart.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Captain Obvious

  Here again you demonstrate your lack of understanding. A tiger mating with another cat, etc..... Again that's not how it works! If it were, then of course you silly creationists could be looking for Fronkeys and Crocoducks. Unfortunately that's just not how it works. Why would that have to be a crucial component to evolution?

  Every creature carries DNA. DNA can mutate. If that mutation, however small benefits that creature in its present situation and surroundings, then it's more likely that he will get the opportunity to mate and have offspring. His offspring will be more likely to carry that mutation. Fast forward a few hundred generations. Assuming their situation (ecosystem, food, temperature, etc) hasn't changed, the majority of these creatures are more likely to carry this mutation. Sometimes these mutations and their specific carriers will pass on other traits too. These will be carried along. This is continually happening. You accept this, yes? It's is micro evolution. "Major" evolution as you call it is known as Macro Evolution, or Speciation. Speciation simply occurs when enough of these changes has happened to render the creature to be of another species. It may not even be recognizable. It's gene pool may be too far separated from its ancestors to even successfully mate! As all creatures are evolving together at their own pace, this is even more likely.

  If you were to look at a tiger's history, it would likely share ancestors with many other cats. The cats in between the ancestor and the tiger may look exactly like that ancestor cat, or may look more like a tiger. The end goal was not the tiger, but a cat better suited to its environment. We just happen to call it a tiger, and it happens to live at the same time as we do. It's ancestors may have been called something different if it were to be alive today. Does that make sense?

  Speciation occurs when a species has changed enough from its previous form that it is recognizably different. You cannot.. CANNOT have micro evolution without macro evolution. If you accept one, you have to accept the other. Just because you don't see it in front of your eyes doesn't mean it doesn't happen. You just don't happen to live long enough to see most species change like that. The fossil record documents this well with some species.

  Pall of the points you have brought up have been poor. They are all easily explained. Your ignorance is frustrating, but if you are willing to have an open mind many of us are willing to continue this debate. Go ahead and comb your favourite creationist books (no WT please, they are just stupid) and bring out your best arguments. Many will hurl insults at you because your ignorance is frustrating, but remember we all once believed this crap as good little Dubbies too. Your demeanour could change a bit, too though.

  I hope that answers some of your questions. If not, please draw out what doesn't make sense and we will try to explain better. It would be easier for you to go read a damn book, but that doesn't seem likely.
• 
  69

  Atheism and the delusion of meaning

  by Laika in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in the movie annie hall, written by woody allen, as a young boy, alvy's mother, takes him to see a doctor as he appears to be dealing with some kind of depression.

  when the doctor asks alvy what's up, alvy explains that he just found out the universe is expanding, everything will spread out and go cold and die, therefore nothing he does matters, so he is not going to do anything anymore.

  most people might see this as a joke, but i think woody is trying to make a serious point.. the point here is about meaning.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Captain Obvious

  Laika you have your debate, just as you wished. The problem is your premise is flawed. I will not attack you or a straw man. I will attack your halfway thought out statements.

  As has been mentioned here several times already, an Atheist's life has whatever meaning he or she makes it to have. If I want to spend my life collecting smurf dolls, I can do so. If I want to spend it feeding hungry people on the other side of the world, I can. Do you know why? It's because I've never even wondered if I can do something that can affect the universe. I don't care! Why should I? Can you, the believer do something that can have an effect on th universe? No. As I said before, even if there is a creator, what can you do for him? Listen to his chosen men who interpret his riddle book? Even if you could talk to god directly and everyday he had instructions for you. You followed those to a tee EVERY day of your life. You still haven't done anything to affect the universe. I don't know why you keep talking about that... Am I missing something?

  I can add something to your flawed world view, it may help. A "good" Atheist's goals in life should and will likely be BETTERMENT. Be that betterment of himself, betterment of his family, betterment of humanity.. Whatever. He is not trying to please a sky daddy who won't return his calls, or waiting for him to solve man's problems.

  You must agree that today, man's situation is better than ever. There's significantly less crime, less violence, less wars, we have ways to fight disease... The list goes on. While we to have new challenges to face, we are more prepared to take them on than ever. List today's great thinkers. The men and women who are working to cure diseases, help solve hunger, and making the decisions that will determine humanity's near and distant future. If you were to ask each person on that list about their beliefs, you WOULD find that the great majority of them are Atheists. That's not Satans work, that's being informed winning over ignorance. Hopefully every generation after this one is a little bit less religious, and more reasonable.
• 
  9

  Blood, what is the spirit behind the law?

  by CookieMonster in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  during the years when i was an active jw i never questioned the ban on blood transfusion.

  i have been inactive now for a number of years and even during those early years i reasoned i will never accept a blood transfusion.

  however, thinking about it with an open mind, i question the current teaching of jw's on banning blood transfusion on any account even if it means saving a life.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Captain Obvious

  However, thinking about it with an open mind, I question the current teaching of JW's on banning blood transfusion on any account even if it means saving a life.

  There you go! Keep going with this reasoning. Use that open mind to figure out whether a worldwide flood actually happened 4600 years ago.
• 
  371

  Design or Non-Design, finally we know, Darwin's Doubt

  by QC in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if you want to read the definitive explanation on fossils and how life arrived its covered in darwins doubt, by s.c. meyer.

  this is a game changer.

  the bomb!.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Captain Obvious

  QC:

  Beliefs have nothing to do with facts. Do you believe in the gravitational theory? Why? Because that's where the facts lead. Just because you don't understand something, that doesn't mean it's true. Universe, POOF into existence? No. You know better than that. Even a god would have to do better than that. It started suddenly, yes. But a universe SPRANG into existence? It took a lot longer than that. Do you know how long 13.72 BILLION years is?
• 
  7

  Prayer of Renunciation

  by TOTH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so, i have stated here that i am in the midst of what has so far been a fairly painless "fade".

  i have over time decided that i am still a person of faith and am on the move in search of a good, christian, grace focused church to go to.

  while discussing this with my cousin pete, (a lay minister with the assemblies of god church), he suggested that since i was involved with the wt that i should seriously consider offering up a prayer of renunciation.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Captain Obvious

  Yep I agree. Why not research the bibles history? Why not study ancient mythology and notice the similarities? Why not look into the impossibility of a global flood and an all knowing omnipotent creator?

  MUCH more fulfilling.

  You'll probably just ignore most of us that are telling you this... But... Please. Look deeper. Use the same logic that led you out of the WT! Then you can let go of your fear of the boogeyman Satan and your feeling of need to please a being who by his very nature doesn't needed ANYTHING from you.
• 
  88

  Former Long Time Elder: Why I am still in

  by James Jackson in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a customer on my route with whom i have had some lively debates was his number 1 complaint is that "the witnesses have so many rules".

  last month i agreed with on this issue.

  he asked why the change, i told him that i have been doing some soul searching.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Captain Obvious

  James,

  What happens when he grows up to be the good little JW you raised, only to shun you for your difference in viewpoint? Why take that risk because you're not confident enough in your own sense of values? JWs have a sense of structure, yes, but it is on another level. Do you want your kid to be a grown adult who views non Dubs as bird food? Do you want him to be unable to plan his future because he believes the big A is coming "soon"?

  IMHO the risk far outweighs the benefit. There are lots of ways to raise a child. Your personal set of values may not be the right fit for your kid! He will find his own. All you can do is guide him along the best you know how.

  WHY risk him ending up a JW? You're in a unique position to help guide your family away from this cult, don't drive them in!
• 
  73

  The Watchtower Writers need to answer this question "Atheism, not religion, is the real force behind the mass murders of history!"

  by ÁrbolesdeArabia in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  how come the watchtower will not side with christendom and address a topic like the following?

  what if christendom had allowed islam to spread it's plunder into europe without a fight and great force?

  i direct your attention to islam spreading not as a distraction, but to ask the question most atheist have asked me when we talk of this subject.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Captain Obvious

  As mentioned above you need a causation, not just a correlation.

  Who, according to Christians is the biggest mass murderer of all?

  Wait for it... Wait for it...

  thats right! YHVH.

  It's hard to call him a 'god of love' when his very own book makes him out to be such a prick. Do you believe the bible is a true account of history? Then it follows that you believe all of the child rapings and genocides committed under the decree of YHVH himself actually happened. How can you make such a wild claim with all of that on your side?

  My world view brings me closer to humanity as a whole, not just closer to people who share the same beliefs. The men you mentioned and the things they did seem SO horrid BECAUSE they did what they did during the 20th century. In bible times they would have just been another ruler. Not excusing what they did, but your point needs to be made in context. If you limit your examples to JUST the 20th century, you intentionally take the heat off of the atrocities that have been committed in the name of The Lord or whoever the person believed in.

  Not only do you not have history on your side, you don't have facts. You hugely understate the numbers who have been killed in events like the inquisition. Face it, you CANNOT win this one.
• 
  19

  Ideas to wake up the JW 'Feelers'

  by Captain Obvious in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a great point was made by neverknew on another thread about certain doctrinal issues will cause a 'thinker' to wake up, but a 'feeler' will just shrug and carry on.

  the feeler jw is often not stupid, but intellectually lazy.

  they will often not bother to do research, whatever is said from the platform is fine.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Captain Obvious

  Thanks for the replies.

  I have read or listened to a few of Hassan's books. I never did finish the new one though.. I am willing to do anything to get her to wake up.

  A big part is that she doesn't want to learn that it isn't The Truth. She's afraid of what it means for us. She knows I'm not stupid, she knows I wouldn't risk everything based on a hunch or a half cocked idea. I think that's what scares her. She still holds out the hope that one day I'll hear what I need to hear at a meeting and turn around. I am willing to do that, if that were to happen, but I'm confident it won't.

  I've been playing the long game for a year and a half, with little progress. She still has the JW mindset that just BEING at the meetings will do good.

  Both of our upbringings were good, all things considered. Neither of us have had any bad JW experiences except for my mum being DF'ed twice. She doesn't see the problem with just hanging around. Until last week she honestly thought I was going to continue going to the occasional meeting forever! That HURT to hear her say. She says I'm ridiculous when I say the meetings are torture.

  She listens to what I say, most of it anyway. But NONE of it sinks in.