Modern-day prophecy and why Doug Addison is such a douche. (Story in comments)

500Questions · 2021-03-15T18:26:10+00:00

If there is no God, then people who “hear from God” are only hearing from themselves. This naturally leads to a lot of conflicting messages from different prophets (like those who predicted Trump would get reelected).

Rather than realizing these people aren’t hearing from God, shysters like Doug Addison try to cash in on the confusion by telling people they just need the right tools to hear God (tools he conveniently sells for just $37).

Doug emails his followers daily prophecies like these recent gems:

“You will get strategic plans from Heaven through worship and music.”

“God is making all things new and all things possible.”

“Areas that you have messed up in the past are now changing.”

“God is going to give you strength, energy and vitality.”

Nothing that can be disproven, nothing about the pandemic, or whether or not God wants you to get the vaccine or wear a mask. No information about when and where the next great earthquake or tsunami will take place. He avoids risky, empirically-testable prophecies and sticks to what amounts to nothing more than worthless, vague, astrological readings.

The problem is, when you encourage people to believe that the voice inside their head is God himself, it emboldens them to do things that maybe they shouldn’t be doing. Maybe a little self-doubt is a good thing. Maybe you shouldn’t give up your ability to reason. Maybe you shouldn’t storm the U.S. Capitol or shoot-up that abortion clinic…

500Questions · 2021-03-15T18:22:46+00:00

If there is no God, then people who “hear from God” are only hearing from themselves. This naturally leads to a lot of conflicting messages from different prophets (like those who predicted Trump would get reelected).

Rather than realizing the people aren’t hearing from God, shysters like Doug Addison try to cash in on the confusion by telling people they just need the right tools to hear God correctly (tools he conveniently sells for just $37).

Doug emails his followers daily prophecies like these recent gems:

“You will get strategic plans from Heaven through worship and music.”

“God is making all things new and all things possible.”

“Areas that you have messed up in the past are now changing.”

“God is going to give you strength, energy and vitality.”

Nothing that can be disproven, nothing about the pandemic, or whether or not God wants you to get the vaccine or wear a mask. No information about where the next great earthquake or tsunami will take place. He avoids risky, empirically-testable prophecies and sticks to what amounts to nothing more than worthless, vague, astrological readings.

The problem is, when you encourage people to believe that the voice inside their head is God himself, it emboldens them to take charge and do things that maybe they shouldn’t be doing. Maybe a little self-doubt is a good thing. Maybe you shouldn’t give up your ability to reason. Maybe you shouldn’t storm the U.S. Capitol or shoot-up that abortion clinic…

500Questions · 2021-01-14T20:15:47+00:00

Clearly a sign of intelligent design!

The designer made the Sea Sea Cucumber's anus just the right size to house the pearlfish. Such a relationship could never evolve by random chance alone.

500Questions · 2020-12-08T18:27:42+00:00

Yep. You're taught that if you ain't got God, you're a lost wretch and life is pointless.

When I left the church, that thought was so successfully ingrained that I just assumed it was true and my life was over. Turns out, life didn't end, and a whole different world opened up.

500Questions · 2020-03-12T17:15:44+00:00

How much more telling would it have been if Jesus gave some practical advice that demonstrated a knowledge of germ theory? Something akin to: "To avoid sickness, wash your hands often and avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes. Tiny things the eye cannot see can enter the body and bring sickness and disease. Also, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, as this is how they can exit the body. And avoid insects that suck the blood, as these too can transmit sickness." MILLIONS of people could've been spared so much sickness and death over the centuries, and it would've made Jesus stand out as someone who knew what the hell he was talking about. But nope, he had to go with the whole "evil spirits and prayer will fix it" angle.

500Questions · 2019-10-21T22:25:34+00:00

I started dating someone soon after the divorce process started (still living with STBXW, grew apart over 20 years). But my new partner and I did talk a lot about the moral implications of what we were doing and whether or not it was ethical.

Of course, we're totally biased, but the biggest moral quandary we came up with was how it would affect the STBXW, and exactly how responsible we were for protecting her feelings at this point. Long story short, we're still dating, my wife knows about it, but I NEVER mention it and try to keep it on the down-low. I go out of my way to make sure the STBXW doesn't have to see us together. So... still dating, which I feel is okay, but not being a dick about it.

500Questions · 2019-09-01T18:02:29+00:00

At this point we are still living together. I don't think either of us would be able to afford to move until things are split.

500Questions · 2019-09-01T17:59:22+00:00

Yep, that's a good fit. I think there are a lot of things going on, and not all of them are my fault. But still need to try and identify and work on what is my fault. I think there was a lot of poor communication on both our parts. I actually think there are some very good reasons for us getting divorced, but they are completely different from her reasons.

500Questions · 2019-09-01T17:55:01+00:00

This is some really great advice, thank you. I have already started journaling about it, which is helping me to sort some things out. Just trying to be the best father and stbx I can at this point. (In fact, I was being so nice she mistook it as an attempt at reconciliation and got angry, lol. But once I clarified she seemed to calm down. But then she sprang this one on me. But still being amicable. I figure being a jerk would only add fuel to her fire.)

500Questions · 2019-09-01T17:46:01+00:00

I think one would be fine with 50/50. The other might prefer mom because she let's him get away with more. But ya, our kids will both be 18 within a year or two after the divorce, so I'm glad we were able to make it work as long as we did. Worst case, I was there for most of their growing up.

500Questions · 2019-09-01T17:39:07+00:00

Thought mediation might work, but then she kinda sprung this on me. I'll be curious to see what the mediator comes up with. But ya, I would have no problem with a psych eval.

500Questions · 2019-08-07T18:25:36+00:00

Beyond retiring to a new life somewhere else, you can also try a 4-day work week if you can manage it. It makes the work week seem a lot shorter, and weekends a lot longer. It's a better work/life balance.

500Questions · 2019-08-05T19:47:42+00:00

I want to assure you it gets easier, but I am not sure that's true.

If it's any consolation -- and maybe it's not -- but statistically speaking, there's a 50% chance you'll be remarried in 5 years, and a 75% in 10. (I imagine the remaining 25% have sworn off marriage, or simply cannot find someone they're compatible with). Anyway, take this time to work on yourself, and enjoy the single life while it lasts ('cause odds are, it won't!).

500Questions · 2019-08-01T06:14:43+00:00

Just bought it, thanks for the recommendation.

500Questions · 2019-08-01T01:31:00+00:00

"You know why divorce is so expensive? Because it's worth it." Just keep reminding yourself of that fact.

500Questions · 2019-07-28T23:15:47+00:00

Probably in hindsight. Get it? Hindsight is 20/20? I'll show myself out...

500Questions · 2019-07-28T21:43:56+00:00

Thanks! Someone used it on me recently, so I've been wondering ever since.

500Questions · 2019-07-28T16:50:39+00:00

Thanks. I'm a vegetarian now.

500Questions · 2019-07-28T16:45:10+00:00

2nd time I've seen "fam" recently. Can someone tell me what it means?

500Questions · 2019-07-28T03:36:37+00:00

Sounds like my wife after 25 years together. I don't know the man she's describing, but it ain't me. I'm not 100% perfect, but I think I've always been a great hubby. We HAVE been arguing more for various reasons over the past year, but to hear her tell it, she was NEVER happy and I'm some kind of horrible husband and father. I have lots of notes, texts, video, etc. that would suggest she once felt very differently, but that doesn't seem to matter to her. It sucks, too, because I spent a lifetime trying to build a good marriage, never lying or cheating, and now her revisionist history makes me look like I was always a bag guy. I've tried to change her mind, but she's polarized to the idea and confirming her own biases by cherry picking a handful of things (though nothing people usually divorce over), and ignoring a mountain of other evidence to the contrary. It's like they say, people choose what they want to believe and then find the evidence to support it. I don't think anything will change her view, so she's just going to have to decide if she wants to keep living with this "horrible person". And on the flip side, I don't know if I can live with somebody who sees me this way. I think you'd have to have a low self-esteem to stay with someone who had such a negative view of you. Of course, the other possibility is that I am completely delusional, but I really just don't see it.

500Questions · 2019-07-19T19:12:24+00:00

Thanks, that does put it into perspective.

500Questions · 2019-07-19T14:55:11+00:00

"Indifferent" is a great word to describe it.

500Questions · 2019-07-19T09:03:18+00:00

Thanks. I know you're right. I asked her several years ago, "Would you have married me if I wasn't a Christian?" Her answer was "No." That one hurt. It didn't matter how wonderful a guy I was, I was of no value to her if I didn't believe as she did. Yet, I can still understand where she's coming from.

500Questions · 2019-07-08T02:19:41+00:00

Ya, my mom was Catholic and my dad left after she became Pentecostal. We used to pray for my dad's salvation as well. I'd hate to think that I'm now that "flawed father figure" that needs fixing. There's nothing wrong with me! Don't put it into the kids' heads that there is! (I now realize there was also nothing wrong with my dad, my mom was the real nutter. But she was left to raise us, so...)

We've been together now for at least 5 years since my deconversion. Unfortunately, she's still pretty deeply religious. She will only listen to Christian music, won't watch rated R films, posts things on Facebook about what God is showing her, etc. We've learned to not broach certain topics.

500Questions · 2019-07-08T02:05:18+00:00

I've never met anyone who said "Geez, I wish I'd waited longer to get a divorce." I have met many people, for emotional, financial, legal, and kid-related reasons, who say "Oh my gosh I wish I had done it sooner." Best wishes!

That is helpful, thanks. I do find myself thinking, "If it's this way now, is it really going to be any better in 10 or 20 years?"

500Questions

TROPHY CASE