A challenge to Atheists

[garbonzo]

That's not what I said.

That is what you would had to have said for it to had made any sense.

 

[Dywyddyr]

That is what you would had to have said for it to had made any sense.

As usual you fail to read.
Have you actually looked at any of the posts in response to you or do you just quote them and write whatever comes to mind?

 

[garbonzo]

As usual you fail to read.
Have you actually looked at any of the posts in response to you or do you just quote them and write whatever comes to mind?

Shotgunning. They didn't say WHAT would be significant.

Pick any date 50 days from now, and let's see if it turns out to be significant, shall we? You don't have to say what it is.

Do you stand by March 18th?

 

[Dywyddyr]

Do you stand by March 18th?

Absolutely.
Now let's get back on-topic.
You still haven't resolved your errors with regard to Adam and Eve, and (your claims of their) knowledge of good and evil.

 

[spidergoat]

Are you mentally challenged? I am sorry, I don't mean to flame or anything, but that is just illogical to think that something of the magnitude of WWI you equate happening "every year".

Oh yeah?

1915:

The Armenian Genocide
An Earthquake in Italy kills 29,000 people.
The first stop sign appears in Detroit, Michigan.
Muddy Waters was born.
Orson Wells was born.

 

[garbonzo]

Significant how? Actually they thought it would be the start of Armageddon, and it wasn't. Religious people have been making dire predictions from the Bible even since it was written. 30, 60, 90, 365, 500, 968, 992, 1000, 1033, 1147, 1179, 1205, 1284, 1496, 1524, 1533, 1669, 1689, 1736, 1792, 1794, 1830, 1832, 1843, 1844, 1850, 1881, 1914, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1941, 1975, 1994, 2000... Do you get the picture? They were bound to hit on some event sooner or later by chance.

The average in between all those numbers are 82.2, which is even more than the 50 years that I predicted (if you get what I mean).

So according to that, a new prediction is made every 82.2 years. Is even that classified as shotgunning? 1 in 82.2 chances are still minimal.

I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 82, what is it?

 

[garbonzo]

Oh yeah?

1915:

The Armenian Genocide
An Earthquake in Italy kills 29,000 people.
The first stop sign appears in Detroit, Michigan.
Muddy Waters was born.
Orson Wells was born.

Oh yeah?

1914:

The total number of casualties in World War I, both military and civilian, was about 37 million: 16 million deaths and 21 million wounded. The total number of deaths includes 9.7 million military personnel and about 6.8 million civilians.

If they had predicted any other year than 1914, (with the exception of 1939) I would not be here right now debating with you guys

 

[Dywyddyr]

If they had predicted any other year than 1914, (with the exception of 1939) I would not be here right now debating with you guys

But they DID predict other dates.
Explain those.

 

[spidergoat]

The average in between all those numbers are 82.2, which is even more than the 50 years that I predicted (if you get what I mean).

So according to that, a new prediction is made every 82.2 years. Is even that classified as shotgunning? 1 in 82.2 chances are still minimal.

I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 82, what is it?

1 in 82 is still very high. If we had 100 people guess, someone is almost sure to guess right. Predictions have to be specific and detailed in order to have any legitimacy.

 

[garbonzo]

1 in 82 is still very high. If we had 100 people guess, someone is almost sure to guess right. Predictions have to be specific and detailed in order to have any legitimacy.

But we don't have 100 people. We have 1. If there were predictions for 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, and finally, 1970 (82 years), THEN I wouldn't be here debating this with you.

 

[garbonzo]

But they DID predict other dates.
Explain those.

They explain it as "the light getting brighter" Prov 4:18. Meaning knowledge will expand the closer we get to the end.

I also find it interesting to note here, that they have actually risked their whole operations on their current prediction. If it doesn't come true, then they are done with. What is it?

Holy spirit is at work in bringing Bible truths to light. (Prov. 4:18) This magazine has long been used by “the faithful and discreet slave” as the primary channel for dispensing increased light. (Matt. 24:45) For example, consider our understanding of those who make up “this generation” mentioned by Jesus. (Read Matthew 24:32-34.) To what generation did Jesus refer? The article “Christ’s Presence—What Does It Mean to You?” explained that Jesus was referring, not to the wicked, but to his disciples, who were soon to be anointed with holy spirit. Jesus’ anointed followers, both in the first century and in our day, would be the ones who would not only see the sign but also discern its meaning—that Jesus “is near at the doors.”

What does this explanation mean to us? Although we cannot measure the exact length of “this generation,” we do well to keep in mind several things about the word “generation”: It usually refers to people of varying ages whose lives overlap during a particular time period; it is not excessively long; and it has an end. (Ex. 1:6) How, then, are we to understand Jesus’ words about “this generation”? He evidently meant that the lives of the anointed who were on hand when the sign began to become evident in 1914 would overlap with the lives of other anointed ones who would see the start of the great tribulation. That generation had a beginning, and it surely will have an end. The fulfillment of the various features of the sign clearly indicate that the tribulation must be near. By maintaining your sense of urgency and keeping on the watch, you show that you are keeping up with advancing light and following the leadings of holy spirit.—Mark 13:37.

In other words, the anointed (part of 144,000 that will go to heaven) alive when the 1914 anointed were alive (currently all dead), can't die.

 

[spidergoat]

WWI was not the end times, just like all the other failed predictions of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

 

[gmilam]

They explain it as "the light getting brighter" Prov 4:18. Meaning knowledge will expand the closer we get to the end.

It's amazing the lengths people will go to in order to avoid admitting they're wrong.

 

[Dywyddyr]

They explain it as "the light getting brighter" Prov 4:18. Meaning knowledge will expand the closer we get to the end.

Wrong again.
That's ONE "prediction". You still haven't covered the others.

You've selected a single prediction that appears to have been correct (but actually failed abysmally) and decided to ignore all the other predictions.
This is, if not intellectual dishonesty, arrant stupidity.

 

[gmilam]

Well, they use Proverbs 4:18 as "the light getting brighter", as the end draws nearer. That's why I'm ignoring the things they got wrong.

What flavor was the kool-aid?

 

[Dywyddyr]

But we don't have 100 people. We have 1.

Just 1? :shrug:

If there were predictions for 1888, blah blah blah 1969, and finally, 1970 (82 years)

Apart from displaying a gross ignorance of statistics (and what's under discussion) you're also ignoring the list previously given in Post #111 (and the other one linked to in Post #120).

THEN I wouldn't be here debating this with you.

And you've moved the goalposts again.

If they had predicted any other year than 1914, (with the exception of 1939) I would not be here right now debating with you guys

That one failed miserably so now you're at full retreat.

Can you say "futile rearguard action"?
Do you recognise the term "panicked flailing"?

 

[Thoreau]

 

[garbonzo]

I cracked up laughing xD


Since I edited this post earlier and people might not have seen:
I also find it interesting to note here, that they have actually risked their whole operations on their current prediction. If it doesn't come true, then they are done with. What is it?

Holy spirit is at work in bringing Bible truths to light. (Prov. 4:18) This magazine has long been used by “the faithful and discreet slave” as the primary channel for dispensing increased light. (Matt. 24:45) For example, consider our understanding of those who make up “this generation” mentioned by Jesus. (Read Matthew 24:32-34.) To what generation did Jesus refer? The article “Christ’s Presence—What Does It Mean to You?” explained that Jesus was referring, not to the wicked, but to his disciples, who were soon to be anointed with holy spirit. Jesus’ anointed followers, both in the first century and in our day, would be the ones who would not only see the sign but also discern its meaning—that Jesus “is near at the doors.”

What does this explanation mean to us? Although we cannot measure the exact length of “this generation,” we do well to keep in mind several things about the word “generation”: It usually refers to people of varying ages whose lives overlap during a particular time period; it is not excessively long; and it has an end. (Ex. 1:6) How, then, are we to understand Jesus’ words about “this generation”? He evidently meant that the lives of the anointed who were on hand when the sign began to become evident in 1914 would overlap with the lives of other anointed ones who would see the start of the great tribulation. That generation had a beginning, and it surely will have an end. The fulfillment of the various features of the sign clearly indicate that the tribulation must be near. By maintaining your sense of urgency and keeping on the watch, you show that you are keeping up with advancing light and following the leadings of holy spirit.—Mark 13:37.

In other words, the anointed (part of 144,000 that will go to heaven) alive when the 1914 anointed were alive (currently all dead), can't die.

 

[Thoreau]

In other words, the anointed (part of 144,000 that will go to heaven) alive when the 1914 anointed were alive (currently all dead), can't die.

Question: Where in the hell do people get these numbers? 144,000? I've read the bible and I sure don't remember ever reading anywhere that places an exact figure on who get to go.... :shrug:

 

[Dywyddyr]

I also find it interesting to note here, that they have actually risked their whole operations on their current prediction. If it doesn't come true, then they are done with.

Sheer nonsense.
The Jehovah's Witnesses have a history of making "infallible" predictions. Only to revise their history when these predictions don't come true.

In 1938, Armaggedon was too close for marriage or child bearing.

Well that came true didn't it? Didn't it? Must have, the JWs are still going.

1969: Human existence would not last long enough for young people to grow old; the world system would end "in a few years." Young Witnesses were told not to bother pursuing tertiary education for this reason.

And that one. (Although "education" and "Jehovah's Witnesses" are two terms that don't sit comfortably in the same sentence. Unless it also includes the words "lack of").

In other words, the anointed (part of 144,000 that will go to heaven) alive when the 1914 anointed were alive (currently all dead), can't die.

Absolutely.
The same way that Jesus returned to Earth in 1874. As an adult.