Just a quick correction: Humans are not [absolutely] unique in this regard, however the extent to which [symbolism] is used by humans is unprecedented in earth's history
Saintbertholdt
JoinedPosts by Saintbertholdt
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168
Where to draw the line: how Platonism haunts our discourse and the search for exorcism
by slimboyfat inin the discussion about race i adopted a position i am not entirely comfortable with.
i think there is a sense in which it is useful to distinguish categories of description that can be fruitfully defended (apples and bananas) and those that cannot (caucasian or other racial descriptions for example).
but there is a more fundamental sense in which i believe that everything is socially constructed, every single line you can think of.
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168
Where to draw the line: how Platonism haunts our discourse and the search for exorcism
by slimboyfat inin the discussion about race i adopted a position i am not entirely comfortable with.
i think there is a sense in which it is useful to distinguish categories of description that can be fruitfully defended (apples and bananas) and those that cannot (caucasian or other racial descriptions for example).
but there is a more fundamental sense in which i believe that everything is socially constructed, every single line you can think of.
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Saintbertholdt
Hello again you bunch of atheist polemicists,
Human beings are unique in their extensive use of symbolism (This thing represents that thing). Humans are not unique in this regard, however the extent to which it is used by humans is unprecedented in earth's history. Human beings are also self aware and are mostly concerned with their own experience (solipsism). The following section describes a number of symbolic definitions using some half baked symbolic language:
Mathematics and logic are languages that use symbolism in an absolutely consistent manner (well mostly).
Science as an overarching symbolic concept looks at things and observed processes and then tries to ascribe the mathematical and logical symbolism that most closely resembles the observed processes and things. This gives it predictive power.
Technology uses this predictive power and uses it on the physical things and processes humans observe to make new things so that it can make human lives more pleasant. So enters personal experience. Technology aims to improve human solipsism.
Religion on the other hand uses symbolism to construct a logic which is not absolutely consistent and tries to fit observed processes and things to its logic. This is/has been done to solve seemingly intractable solipsistic problems which makes life less pleasant. These include the end of the solipsistic experience and also the observed degrading of the personal experience over the course of time. Although not consistent, religion seems to have improved human solipsism to some extent by not having humans worry too much about these intractable problems.
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So what I'd personally like to see: That science and religion fuck to sire technology that will solve seemingly intractable problems to make my own solipsistic experience more pleasant.
To quote a lyric by Johnny Cash: "They say they want the Kingdom, but they don't want God in it."
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If JWs were to change their name what would they change it to?
by slimboyfat inwas it 1931 when they adopted jehovah's witnesses?
(at the time with lower case w) isn't it about time now they changed name again?
i mean everything else is changing why not the name!
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Saintbertholdt
People who read the rumors about a terrible desert god Yahweh and are now willing to peddle propaganda just in case he can save their asses Incorporated. -
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What Was The Silliest "Offense" That You Were Counseled For?
by minimus inwhen i was a teenager, i was told by an elder that because i smiled a lot and was known for my good sense of humor, that i should come across as "more serious".
so before i was appointed a ms, while in my late teens, i transformed myself into a much more "serious" brother.. were you ever told that you needed to work on something that you knew was stoopid?.
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Saintbertholdt
Loud laughing. -
168
Where to draw the line: how Platonism haunts our discourse and the search for exorcism
by slimboyfat inin the discussion about race i adopted a position i am not entirely comfortable with.
i think there is a sense in which it is useful to distinguish categories of description that can be fruitfully defended (apples and bananas) and those that cannot (caucasian or other racial descriptions for example).
but there is a more fundamental sense in which i believe that everything is socially constructed, every single line you can think of.
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Saintbertholdt
I drew a graph.
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28
Christian Family Gets 5 Children Taken Away by Gov't for Teaching God Punishes Sin
by GodZoo inchild welfare services in norway have reportedly removed five christian children from their parents' home and placed them into foster care after the parents were accused of radicalizing and indoctrinating their children with christianity.. according to the british-based christian institute, norway's child protection services, known as the barnevernet, seized the three sons and two daughters of ruth and marius bodnariu in mid-november.. .
although the family wasn't quite sure at the time why their children were being taken away from them, their lawyer discovered that the parents were being charged with christian indoctrination.http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-family-gets-5-children-taken-away-by-govt-for-teaching-god-punishes-sin-151693/.
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Saintbertholdt
Hi there kaik,
It seems the case may have something to do with corporal punishment. That could explain Barnevernet heavy handedness, but it doesn't justify them taking away all 5 children though. Couldn't they just have sent the parents on a parenting course? But your point is that "Barnevernet is a big business, well funded organization without any oversight." This sort of reminds me of whats happening in the USA with the private prison system. The fact is businesses need customers, and if you have an oversupply of a product (prisons) you need to generate a demand (prisoners) to stay in business.
Well is child welfare all that important to Norwegians? I wonder. Anders Breivik received a sentence of 21 years (which means he could be out in 10) for killing 76 people. Of those 60+ were children whose physical and emotional growth have been permanently stinted. At one point I believe Breivik complained that he only had a Sony Playstation 2 in his cell and could not play the latest titles.
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Christian Family Gets 5 Children Taken Away by Gov't for Teaching God Punishes Sin
by GodZoo inchild welfare services in norway have reportedly removed five christian children from their parents' home and placed them into foster care after the parents were accused of radicalizing and indoctrinating their children with christianity.. according to the british-based christian institute, norway's child protection services, known as the barnevernet, seized the three sons and two daughters of ruth and marius bodnariu in mid-november.. .
although the family wasn't quite sure at the time why their children were being taken away from them, their lawyer discovered that the parents were being charged with christian indoctrination.http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-family-gets-5-children-taken-away-by-govt-for-teaching-god-punishes-sin-151693/.
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Saintbertholdt
I didn't know the Norwegian government was retarded. I can only hope that there is some real valid reason (like neglect) why the children were taken away from their parents.
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Saintbertholdt
One should correct (which includes to punish) bad behavior. Then ridicule and expose bad ideas that led to that behavior. You can't kill a set of amalgamated ideas as found in the tenets of a specific religion with forced coercion (which at it worst leads to bullets and guns). You kill ideas with better ideas, truer ideas, because the search for truth leads to things like science, which in turn leads to tangible results. Something which bad (false) ideas cannot achieve.
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Questions for Serena Williams
by Esse quam videri inbeing as serena williams shows outstanding abilities and skills at that which she exerts herself in, such as tennis, it would seems reasonable that serena williams has the same high level of abilities in all of her worthwhile endeavors.
perhaps she has this level of abilities in her journey as one of jehovah's witnesses.
would it not be reasonable that those who need greater clarification and understanding of certain bible subjects, to make contact with serena and ask her such questions?.
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Saintbertholdt
Dear Serena,
Why do you prefer the Wilson Blade 104 to something comparable like the Head radical microgel series? As a Jehovah's Witness I mean.
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The really cool feeling of community within JWs
by Phaedra ini remember going out with other jws after the memorial.. small gatherings.. picnics at some local landmark.. the feeling of closeness, camaraderie, friendship with like minded people you could trust.. haven't experienced it since i left.. really miss that..
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Saintbertholdt
The feeling of closeness, camaraderie, friendship with like minded people you could trust... Really miss that.
You can always become a Freemason.
I hear rib night is great fun.
