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Answer: Most major religions have believed in the existence of a supernatural realm, a realm beyond the natural world of physical objects and bodies governed by causal laws, the world we perceive with our senses and can study by rational methods. Some religions posit a personal god (or gods); others believe in imperson... |
The dominant forms of religion in our culture posit a personal god, a Supreme Being, who created the world, is omnipotent and omniscient, imposes moral duties on man, and expects worship. Those who accept this idea have the burden of showing why such a hypothesis is necessary. In this regard, Objectivists are atheists ... |
• It is said that we need to posit God as a creator in order to explain the existence of the natural world. But there is no reason to think that the existence of this world requires an explanation by anything outside itself. While individual things in the natural world come and go, as a result of specific causes with... |
• It is said that we need to posit God as a designer in order to explain the complex order within the natural world, including the adaptation of living things to their environments. But the existence of order as such does not require an explanation. Any existing thing must have some identity and obey causal laws. It ... |
Of course these brief summaries cannot do justice to the arguments, which have been discussed by philosophers for centuries. For further discussion and references, see George Smith, Atheism: The Case Against God. |
There is a profound difference, then, between Objectivism and traditional religions in their respective views of the world. But this is not the primary conflict. The primary conflict is reason versus faith as methods of adopting one's worldview in the first place. |
Objectivism regards reason as an absolute. It holds that all knowledge is based on the evidence of the senses. It holds that all beliefs, conclusions, and convictions must be established by logical methods of inquiry and tested by logical methods of verification. In short, it holds that the scientific approach applies ... |
If we accept reason as a method, then the substantive issues that differentiate Objectivism from most religions can be debated openly and rationally, and Objectivists can respect those who differ about what the evidence proves. But there can be no compromise about reason itself as a method. |
For some people, religion is not primarily a belief about the world but rather a belief in spiritual values: a belief that a meaningful human life requires more than material possessions and achievements. Objectivism holds that "spiritual values" can be defined in secular terms, and on that basis agrees that they are o... |
Objectivism is an idealistic philosophy that affirms and celebrates the grandeur of the human capacity for achievement and heroism. In this respect, as Ayn Rand noted, it provides a secular meaning for such religious concepts as exaltation, worship, reverence, and the sacred. "Such concepts do name actual emotions, eve... |
David Kelley |
About The Author: |
Author: David Kelley |
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Heather Dodd |
Owner and Senior Copywriter at Cuttlefish Copywriting |
Cuttlefish Copywriting recently sat down with Heather Dodd, owner and head writer, for an interview. Not everyone gets Heather’s sense of humor, but at Cuttlefish Copywriting, she keeps everyone smiling. |
Cuttlefish Copywriting: Why do you like writing copy? |
Heather Dodd: Writing copy means I get reach into to the readers’ brains and nudge them to think or act a particular way. It’s like Jedi mind control. I won’t lie. I like the power. |
CC: What’s the hardest thing about writing copy? |
Heather: First, I need to get the attention of the reader. People are busy and flooded with other distractions. Bland content doesn't get noticed. Businesses that show they understand the problems of their readers on an emotional and practical level will have an easier time converting readers into customers. Of course,... |
CC: What gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling? |
Heather: I love helping clients share their passion with the right people. Plus, I love hearing the joy and relief in a client’s voice when they get their writing on time and it attracts new business. It turns out not everyone loves writing. It’s hard for me to believe, but some people like writing about as much as I l... |
CC: Who are your favorite clients? |
Heather: I have a special place in my heart for organizations that improve the lives of children. |
CC: How did you pay the bills before you started writing copy? |
Heather: I taught elementary school for ten years. Most of my students spoke Spanish as a first language. I learned how to communicate clearly. I still use many of the communication techniques for writing copy that I did for teaching children. That's one reason I love writing content for Mathnasium. |
CC: How should people contact you for more information? |
Heather: It’s usually best to email me and then we can set up a time to talk. My email is info@cuttlefishcopywriting.com |
You can also send me a message by carrier pigeon, but I might take longer to respond. |
Like Cuttlefish Copywriting on Facebook |
Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn |
Wednesday, January 20, 2016 |
To Click or Not To Click |
Whenever the discussion turns to click tracks, drummers like to cry foul (usually accompanied by a sour face). For many drummers, the use of a click track is unnatural, cheating, insulting, or all three. I'm afraid I can't agree. |
A drummer's prime responsibility is to keep time. Unfortunately, keeping steady, unwavering time is hard to do. My own journey required countless hours working out with metronome and bass tracks. Unless you were born with a perfect sense of time (which is about as common as perfect pitch) you probably need to work on y... |
So is using a click track ‘unnatural’? Yes, but only if you consider good time to be unnatural. I agree that, in a live setting, music can benefit from being allowed to breathe. But even that assumes that you and your fellow musicians can keep time once you've settled into a tempo. |
Insulting? If your time is not that good, then a click track should be humbling, and a pretty loud wake-up call. If whoever is in charge simply doesn't trust you (or others) to play in time, then a click track is the best solution. There is also a tendency for musicians to push up the tempo once they become familiar wi... |
There are situations where keeping everyone in line is vital to a successful project. A record producer may be adding different tracks with different people at different times and different places. This process would be nearly impossible without a click track. |
The best attitude is to simply look at the click track as a tool. It's there to help. It's a consistent and reliable guide. So rather than fight it, why not treat the click as just another member of the band. If you play well with the click, you'll find that it will virtually disappear. And if it doesn't, well maybe it... |
Wednesday, January 6, 2016 |
Fear of Trying |
The evening started out rather rough. I'd had a tough day; the venue wasn't ready with the loading help they'd promised (3 flights of stairs!); the singer and keyboard player were having a turf war about how to approach a new song; and the bass player was understandably unhappy with it all. |
So our first set, while apparently just fine from the audience's point of view, was a bit of a slug for us, and I had to work extra hard to get the crew working as a team. |
Now I firmly believe that a drummer best serves the band by pulling the parts together. In fact a lot of musicians call us the ‘glue’ that holds things together. I find it a rewarding role, and not especially difficult … usually. |
So, when something is off, it's still my job to make it all work as seamlessly as possible. But, frankly, I'd rather not have to do a speck more hard labour than is necessary. You see, I can't play well if I'm loaded down with extra work. This is not the same as working hard -- that's a rewarding part of the process. T... |
“If things don’t go well with the drummer I’m left with an incredibly sore lower back by the end of the gig, the product I suppose of trying to force the music into a smooth, relaxed flow” - Steve Swallow |
Jazz bassist Steve Swallow knows the pain of working too hard. It's not the bass player's job to carry the drummer, nor vice versa. It's just too much work, and the music will always suffer. Plus it can affect all the players -- physically as well as emotionally. |
The best playing situation for me is when I can just relax and do my job. My head is more in the game, I'm free to let out my creativity, and I'm not afraid to step outside from time to time since I know the band will be there when I get back. It doesn't mean I'm not working hard, but my best effort can go toward makin... |
So working hard? Go for it. But hard work? Once I hear that count-in, I’ve got better things to do. |
The Message |
From BelieveTheSign |
Revision as of 14:58, 12 February 2017 by Admin (talk | contribs) |
This article is one in a series on the Message of William Branham - you are currently in the article that is in bold: |
The Message or the Message of the Hour is how followers of William Branham refer to his teachings. It is also how they refer to themselves generally as a movement. If you are "in the message" then you consider yourself a true follower of William Branham and a true follower of God. |
What the message actually is |
Do you want to understand the Message? Here are a list of important terms. |
Urban Legends |
Everyone loves stories that are vague on facts. Here are a few popular Message stories. |
Is the Message a Cult? |
Its a hard question if you are in the cult. |
Many people ask us the question - how do I identify someone that follows William Branham? It is interesting to witness the diversity of doctrines among the groups that claim to follow the message of William Branham. Many of the groups vehemently oppose other groups that also claim to follow William Branham. Yet, they a... |
These are the visible hallmarks of a message believer: |
1. They are convinced that denominations believe in THREE GODS. This is based on William branham's straw man argument against the doctrine of the Trinity. |
2. They baptise in the name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. This is a strange doctrine given that no one in scripture was ever baptized using this formula. |
3. They believe William Branham was the end time prophet according to Malachi 4:5-6, Luke 17:30, Revelation 3:14 and Revelation 10:7. (see details below) |
4. They believe the Serpent had sexual intercourse with Eve in the Garden of Eden, and that act caused the fall of mankind. This is a doctrine that has been repeatedly rejected by the church starting with Iranaeus. |
5. They believe hell is not eternal but everlasting. |
6. They believe William Branham was the seventh church age messenger according to Revelation 3:14 and Revelation 10:7. |
7. They believe Jesus is the Father. |
8. They believe if you do not accept William Branham's message you are not part of the Bride of Christ. |
9. They believe William Branham is waiting beyond the curtain of time for all his followers who he will present to Jesus. |
10. They believe William Branham's interpretation of the Bible as the Word of God for today. |
Plagiarized doctrines |
Included in the set of doctrines that constitute the message are a large number of teachings that were plagiarized from Clarence Larkin. These plagiarized beliefs include William Branham's teachings on the seven church ages, the seven seals, the gates to the soul and the token. He also plagiarized from Billy Graham (th... |
Doctrines or interpretations based on William Branham pointing to himself |
The message is a collection of doctrines promoted by William Branham that largely involve William Branham pointing to himself as a prophet. Some of the specific doctrines whereby William Branham pointed to himself are as follows: |
There are a group of other doctrines that are largely unscriptural which William Branham promoted as part of his "message": |
1. Some Christians were required to believe Satanic doctrine to be saved. |
2. If a wife cuts her hair, her husband can divorce her. |
3. A man can remarry after divorce but a woman can't. |
4. The three holy words of the Bible. |
5. No 2 major prophets were ever on the scene at the same time. |
6. God left Jesus Christ when He was on the cross. |
7. God has THREE Bibles |
8. Women were designed by Satan. |
9. Can you lose your healing? |
10. Christian are amateur gods. |
11. Jesus Christ is Michael the Archangel. |
12. Noah started building the ark after he saw Enoch go in a Rapture |
13. Enoch was a type of the wise virgin, and Noah a type of the foolish virgin. |
14. Illegitimate children cannot be part of the rapture. |
15. Christians should "cast down reasoning". |
16. The Holy Spirit can abandon you. |
17. Long hair mean uncut (i.e. no trimming of split ends) for women. |
18. Does God hear the prayer of a woman that has cut her hair? |
19. The midwives in Egypt were actually witches. |
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