You may have heard of the terrible tradegy and loss of life to 150 Australians on the Indoneasian Island of Bali on the 12/10/2002. The media here has been doing overtime on these terrorists and the Muslim religion. We are used to seeing this sort of thing in other parts of the world, but so close to Australian shores, our prime minister Mr Howard has said we will never look at the world in such a free and carefree way again and talking to people I think he is right. Anyway after meeting with Kelpie this morning I decided to go to the Mosque and chat to anyone there who would listen. Canberra is very multicultural but finding the Mosque was a bit hard . What symble would they use on the map and what about there customs there? I remembered a Mosque in a suburb in Yarralumla. Once I got to Yarralumla I soon found the place everyone was outside and it seemed they had finished whatever they do at Mosques, Anyway I jumped the low fence and walked over to a group of dark skinned people. There were five in the group one walked off as I approached two were in ordinary clothes,one had a guards uniform on and the other was in a type of robe and a funny white hat. They all smiled and I introduced myself as I shook there hands. I started out by talking about the terrible tragedy in Bali and how these events would effect the cohesiveness of our society. My new friends all informed me they were Indonesians themselves and they didnt like what was happening in their country.Before this event these Indonesians were planning a holiday to Bali themselves. We talked about the political system in Indonesia and I asked them if they thought their government had the will to see this through and bring the fanatical Islamic fundamentalists to justice. My new friends assured me that they now beleived there government would have the will to see this thing through. Everyone was now leaving the grounds and my friends excused themselves. As we walked across to our vehicles I commented on the design of the Mosque and if they allways put an ICBM aimed at america in their grounds. 'Oh thats a mineret', Yea Im not really that ignorant, I would like to recommend that we meet with these people express our concerns and build friendship before the bullets start flying. Barry
Posts by barry
-
4I went to the Mosque today
by barry inyou may have heard of the terrible tradegy and loss of life to 150 australians on the indoneasian island of bali on the 12/10/2002.
the media here has been doing overtime on these terrorists and the muslim religion.
we are used to seeing this sort of thing in other parts of the world, but so close to australian shores, our prime minister mr howard has said we will never look at the world in such a free and carefree way again and talking to people i think he is right.
-
-
-
94
Christmas Aint Jesus's Birthday
by comforter injesus was not born on december 25. that is not his birthday.
why is this day observed as jesus's birthday?
because some christians thought it was fine to mingle christianity with paganism.
-
-
barry
I once saw a film at church the Baptists made about they got the message of the gospel across to the primative natives of New Guinney by using the local traditions of the people there. Isnt that what the Christian church has done with christmas no more or no less. Barry
-
2
criticize religion
by happy man ini find this very intresting remark in an old wt , from 1957,, it qestiond follows, is it cristian to criticise other religions ?.
well the answer is very intresting, .
if the religius peopel in the cristianity is spititul whellthy, they have nothing against chritisism, .
-
-
barry
Dear happy man, Thats a very positive outlook but may I add christians can dissagree without being dissagreeable. Barry
-
12
SALVATION?? What is it really?
by mamashel injust wondering what some of your thoughts were on this topic of salvation.
i've heard alot about it and really want to believe it, but i am having such a hard time understanding about god and jesus christ since leaving the org.
i am fed up with organized religion and am afraid to go to chuch.
-
-
barry
Dear Mamashel, The protestant doctrine of salvation was relearned in the 16 century and is the beleif that God declaired the sinner righteous and includes justification only. It is a judicial act of God whereby He declares sinners to be just on the basis of Christs own righteousness. Our standing before God rests in the imputed righteousness of Christ, which we receive through faith alone. Sanctification is the accompanying fruit and not the root of salvation. Thats why we can say we are saved because of what Jesus has already done. But we are not saying we are perfect because sanctification is the work of a lifetimeand is imperfect. Barry
-
36
Who Really Has The Truth(tm) Anyway?
by SpannerintheWorks intalk to any jw and they are convinced that not only do they posses the truth, but it is the only truth and nothing but the truth.
talk to born-again christians and they are convinced that god hears their prayers, they've got it right and jw's are wrong for not believing in the trinity.
then we have the mormons.
-
-
barry
Dear DJ , Right day wrong day to worship different churches have their our idears just as some sprinkle others immerse alll do what they beleive is right. The truth is nothing we do can earn our salvation its a free gift from what Jesus has already done and anything we do is only a response to what he has done as you put it . Barry
-
36
Who Really Has The Truth(tm) Anyway?
by SpannerintheWorks intalk to any jw and they are convinced that not only do they posses the truth, but it is the only truth and nothing but the truth.
talk to born-again christians and they are convinced that god hears their prayers, they've got it right and jw's are wrong for not believing in the trinity.
then we have the mormons.
-
-
barry
ITs been a long Adventist tradition that God will give everyone in some way a chance at salvation regardless of religion and those also who have never heard the name of Jesus. Barry
-
36
Who Really Has The Truth(tm) Anyway?
by SpannerintheWorks intalk to any jw and they are convinced that not only do they posses the truth, but it is the only truth and nothing but the truth.
talk to born-again christians and they are convinced that god hears their prayers, they've got it right and jw's are wrong for not believing in the trinity.
then we have the mormons.
-
-
barry
DJ, You said 7th Day Adventists and worldwide church of god teach you can be saved by their rules. Im a 7th Day Adventist I can comment about the WW Church of God for the most part has accepted the gospel in a recent reformation.While many Adventists beleive as you claim and have their own factions they are loyal to such as Brinsmeadism and the Concerned Bretherine or CBs as we call them the vast majority beleive in the gospel. The same gospel taught by Martin Luther of the righteousness that is by faith alone Barry
-
83
CULT CULT CULT
by minimus ini have read many opinions about jw's being a cult.a dictionary describes cult as a system of religious beliefs and ritual .. some have viewed even major religions as a cult, such as the roman catholic church.based upon webster almost anybody or anything that is viewed as ritualistic could be said to be cultic.when someone tries to negate jehovah's witnesses by using.
the "cult" word, i believe they are not seeing that many others could legitimately be regarded as a cult or at least "cultic".therefore the word loses alot of meaning.
some have said that the watchtower is a cult because of the control factor.
-
-
barry
I think Cult is open to interpretation among christians it is widly known if you dont call our religion cultic then we wont call youre religion cultic. The witnesses are better described as a high control group other christians also fall into this category. Barry
-
22
Should I "ex JW" SHUN my JW family??
by curiouschristy ini haven't posted in a while... been very busy lately.
i am glad to be back though, i started reading the posts right away, and immediately felt comfort for how you guys are feeling, knowing i feel the same way.
not many of you know my story.... but for a quick run down... i'm a disf'd jw, for about 11 yrs now, i'm 28, disf'd at the tender age of 17... my mother and sister are still in the org... they only talk to me when they want to, it doesn't have to be an important event, life or death or anything.
-
-
barry
The Jehovahs Witness religion doesnt shun former members, point that out to youre parents and add that if they also use double talk for another point of view thats the religions fault Barry
-
4
WTS puts foot in mouth and downplays sacrifices
by stichione inin a watchtower magazine article of september 1, 1951 entitled "hated for his name", an era of 10 persecution of christians is discussed.
but just to show how little insight the writer of this article shows, it goes on stating:.
-it is said that in the year 95 alone some 40,000 suffered martyrdom.
-
-
barry
My father an elder told me about a minister who beleived only 144000 would be saved, one day his son pointed out to him about all the christians there were since the 1st century and said to his father he was only ruining his own chances to be saved because of the limited number. The minister soon changed his thinking. True story Barry