fulltimestudent

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Posts by fulltimestudent

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  8

  Early Christianity and the Punishment of Back-sliders

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  from the writings of tertullian comes this picture of repentant sinners around the year 200 ce in north africa.. locate yourselves in the stream of time.

  accepting for the moment the conventional dating for christianity, this is a little more than 150 years after christian communities were first established.

  no one from the first century is still alive, but possibly there were grandsons and daughters of some of the original christians.. .

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  fulltimestudent

  Another text that illustrates how early Christianity dealt with dissenters (apostates? grin) are the letters of Ignatius.

  If you've heard little about this early Christian, here's a brief bio:

  His life dates are not quite clear, and could be in a range of CE  35 to 50 for a birthdate and a death date between CE 98 to 117, which puts him in a position to have been a young man as the Apostolic age came to a close. Church tradition claims that John ( the Apostle) personally studied with him and that he (Ignatius) became the third bishop of Antioch. It's reasonably certain that he died a martyr's death in Rome.

  

  as illustrated by a church artist around 1000CE.

  So now you know a little about the man, what did he say that reflects on the treatment of backsliders?

  Two things:

  First, believers must stick close to the congregation. In his letter to the Ephesians (Ch5 vs 2), he argues:

  "Make no mistake about it. If anyone is not inside the sanctuary, he lacks God's bread (i.e. spiritual food)".

  Vs 3 continues:

  "He who fails to join in your worship shows his arrogance by the very fact of becoming a schismatic ( apostate, grin) ... Let us, then, heartily avoid resisting the bishop so that we may be subject to god."

  and in 6:1:

  "It is clear, then, that we should regard the bishop as the Lord himself."

  The second point is made in his letter to the Smyrneans, part of the same series of letters that he wrote while on the journer to Rome, where he was looking forward to being eaten by wild beasts.

  In ch.6, vs 1 Ignatius discusses a current apostacy, and then advises (vs.2)

  "The right thing to do then is to avoid such people and to talk about them neither in private nor in public."

  That's not very different to the actions of our ever-loving, former brothers and sisters, is it?

  Which is why I keep saying that its not just the JWs that are the problem, its the whole deal of Christianity, which is riddled with exclusivity.

  What the world needs is inclusivity, not exclusivity.
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  27

  What happy, wonderful thing happened to you since you left the "truth"?

  by Jeannette in

  1. social
  2. physical

  more than one thing for me, but i have learned to enjoy festivals, and just enjoying free time.

  it's not that the org wouldn't allow it, i just felt i shouldn't.

  there are others, of course, and i really have been happier and good things have come my way since i left.

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  fulltimestudent

  I discovered the old world, and have been so busy exploring it, that I no longer dream of an imaginery new world
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  33

  EBOLA -why should America take the lead in handling it?

  by hamsterbait in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  millions have died in africa from civil wars where the governments have squandered money on bombs guns and tanks, whilst allowing millions more to die of malaria, diarrhoea and other treatable diseases.

  thousands more have died in nigeria from religious killing than ebola.. and now big bad america is the one they all turn to (in mainly muslim countries) to save them, just like kuwait did in 1991.

  (condemned after for their interference).

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  fulltimestudent

  hamsterbait:

  Millions have died in Africa from civil wars where the governments have squandered money on bombs guns and tanks, whilst allowing millions more to die of malaria, diarrhoea and other treatable diseases. Thousands more have died in Nigeria from religious killing than Ebola.

  ... These countries have been shitting and pissing in their own drinking water for decades - let them stop fighting and sort themselves out. Americans are sick to death of being damned if you do damned of you dont.

  The truth of your statements are (mostly) undeniable, but I suggest that it is a very shallow analysis. You fail to ask the question, as to how conditions in Africa came to be as described?

  Important in understanding the answer, is the history of the region, so why not go a step further and attempt to understand why it is so?

  As a first step to get interested in the why, try reading Joseph Conrad's, Heart of Darkness.

  An overview in Wikipedia comments:

  "... The story is a complex exploration of the attitudes people hold on what constitutes a barbarian versus a civilized society and the attitudes on colonialism and racism that were part and parcel of European imperialism ."

  In the plot summary this description is given:

  Plot summary

  Aboard the Nellie, anchored in the River Thames near Gravesend, England, Charles Marlow tells his fellow sailors about the events that led to his appointment as captain of a river-steamboat for an ivory trading company. He describes his passage on ships into the wilderness to the Company's station, which strikes Marlow as a scene of devastation: disorganized, machinery parts here and there, periodic demolition explosions, weakened native black men who have been demoralized, in chains, literally being worked to death, and strolling beside them an African guard in a uniform carrying a rifle.

  At this station Marlow meets the Company's chief accountant who tells him of a Mr. Kurtz, and explains that Kurtz is a first-class agent. Marlow leaves with a caravan to travel on foot some two hundred miles deeper into the wilderness to the Central Station, where the steamboat that he is to captain is based. Marlow is shocked to learn that his steamboat had been wrecked two days before his arrival. The manager explains that they needed to take the steamboat up-river because of rumours that an important station was in jeopardy and that its chief, Mr. Kurtz, was ill.

  Marlow describes the Company men at this station as lazy back-biting "pilgrims", fraught with envy and jealousy, all trying to gain a higher status within the Company, which, in turn, would provide more personal profit; however, they sought these goals in a meaningless, ineffective and lazy manner, mixed with a sense that they were all merely waiting, while trying to stay out of harm's way.

  In regard to your further comment-

  What is the rest of the world doing? How much has Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Emirates, Malaysia, India, China, japan, Pakistan or Dubai given ?

  May I refer to this news item in the China Daily:

  China sends mobile laboratory testing team to Sierra Leone

  By Feng Hui

  Updated: 2014-09-16

  To further support Sierra Leone in its fight against the Ebola hemorrhagic fever epidemic, as well as to respond to the appeal of the UN and WHO to support Africa in controlling Ebola, China, at the request of the Sierra Leone government, will send a mobile laboratory testing team to Sierra Leone on September 16. The team, equipped with 59 medical experts who specialize in laboratory testing, epidemiology, clinical medicine and nursing, will help Sierra Leone in testing the Ebola virus.

  The testing team will work at the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital aided by China, assisting Sierra Leone to do laboratory screening and observe suspected cases.

  Since three West African countries broke out with Ebola, China has dispatched 115 medical experts to support the fight against Ebola in these countries. The long-term medical team is equipped with 88 medical staff, and the short-term team is equipped with 27 experts. At present, 33 medical staffers are working in the Ebola-hit areas.

  Together with 59 medical experts dispatched this time, Chinese medical staff in West African countries will reach 174 in total.

  Source: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/chinahealth/2014-09/16/content_18606138.htm
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  1

  1500 y.o.Buddhist Scripture texts found in China

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. social
  2. current

  in gansu province, a part of china that the ancient trading network known as the silk road traversed, ancient sutras have been found in the gansu bingling temple.

  there were some 1,000 fragments of buddhist sutras stored in a grotto in the temple.

  the fragments were seriously eroded as a result of weathering.

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  fulltimestudent

  In Gansu Province, a part of China that the ancient trading network known as the Silk Road traversed, ancient Sutras have been found in the Gansu Bingling Temple. There were some 1,000 fragments of Buddhist sutras stored in a grotto in the temple. The fragments were seriously eroded as a result of weathering.

  Bingling temple, founded in 420 A.D., is home to 183 grottos, 693 stone carving, 82 clay sculptures and 900 square meters wall paintings. The grottos of Bingling temple have been included on the World Heritage List.

  

  

  

  

  Reported in: http://english.people.com.cn/n/2014/0911/c90000-8780974-5.html
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  17

  Russia and China to Build a Huge New Port south of Vladivostock

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. social
  2. current

  from: business insider, australia.

  beijing (afp) china and russia will build one of the largest ports in northeast asia on russias sea of japan coast, reports said, in a further sign of the powerhouses growing alliance.. the seaport is expected to be able to handle some 60 million tonnes of cargo a year, chinas state-run peoples daily online reported late wednesday comparable to britains busiest port immingham or le havre in france, according to european commission statistics.. the new facility will be located in far eastern russia, just 18 kilometres (11 miles) away from the chinese border.

  the region is also close to north korea.. chinese and russian leaders inked a deal on the port at mays conference on interaction and confidence building measures in asia (cica) in shanghai, the report said.. the move represents the latest step by beijing and moscow to boost their energy and infrastructure ties.. resource-hungry china is seeking to diversify its sources of energy amid booming domestic consumption, while russia at odds with the west over its annexation of ukraines crimea peninsula is seeking to refocus its gas and oil exports towards asia.. the same report spoke of the commencement of construction of the gas pipeline from yakutsk to china.

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  fulltimestudent

  Malaysia also joins hands with the Chinese economy:

  China, Malaysia join hands in port partnership

  (Xinhua) Updated: 2014-09-15 16:26

  NANNING -- China has signed an agreement with Malaysia to establish a sister port partnership between two major shipping cities as the two countries seeks to rejuvenate the ancient maritime Silk Road.

  The Qinzhou Port in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has become a sisterport of Kuantan, a port city in Malaysia, following an agreement sig-ned in Nanning city, capital of Guangxi on Monday.

  Taking immediate effect, the two ports will cooperate in various fields including sharedshipping lanes, logistics, information exchange and talent training, said Li Xinyuan, mayor of Qinzhou city.

  The sister partnership between the two ports is part of a plan to establish a network of cooperation among port cities in ASEAN members, Li said.

  The two port cities have close economic and trade relationships. China and Malaysia have been constructing sister industrial parks in Qinzhou and Kuantan respectively since 2011.

  Building sister industrial parks is regarded as an innovative experiment by China andMalaysia in rebuilding the maritime Silk Road.

  Source: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2014-09/15/content_18601147.htm
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  17

  Russia and China to Build a Huge New Port south of Vladivostock

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. social
  2. current

  from: business insider, australia.

  beijing (afp) china and russia will build one of the largest ports in northeast asia on russias sea of japan coast, reports said, in a further sign of the powerhouses growing alliance.. the seaport is expected to be able to handle some 60 million tonnes of cargo a year, chinas state-run peoples daily online reported late wednesday comparable to britains busiest port immingham or le havre in france, according to european commission statistics.. the new facility will be located in far eastern russia, just 18 kilometres (11 miles) away from the chinese border.

  the region is also close to north korea.. chinese and russian leaders inked a deal on the port at mays conference on interaction and confidence building measures in asia (cica) in shanghai, the report said.. the move represents the latest step by beijing and moscow to boost their energy and infrastructure ties.. resource-hungry china is seeking to diversify its sources of energy amid booming domestic consumption, while russia at odds with the west over its annexation of ukraines crimea peninsula is seeking to refocus its gas and oil exports towards asia.. the same report spoke of the commencement of construction of the gas pipeline from yakutsk to china.

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  fulltimestudent

  Neither contemporary Russia or China can be described as 'communist and atheist.' To say that they are is quite simplistic.

  And, to describe China as 'northern,' in relation to Palestine is a sign of a geographically disoriented mind.
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  17

  Russia and China to Build a Huge New Port south of Vladivostock

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. social
  2. current

  from: business insider, australia.

  beijing (afp) china and russia will build one of the largest ports in northeast asia on russias sea of japan coast, reports said, in a further sign of the powerhouses growing alliance.. the seaport is expected to be able to handle some 60 million tonnes of cargo a year, chinas state-run peoples daily online reported late wednesday comparable to britains busiest port immingham or le havre in france, according to european commission statistics.. the new facility will be located in far eastern russia, just 18 kilometres (11 miles) away from the chinese border.

  the region is also close to north korea.. chinese and russian leaders inked a deal on the port at mays conference on interaction and confidence building measures in asia (cica) in shanghai, the report said.. the move represents the latest step by beijing and moscow to boost their energy and infrastructure ties.. resource-hungry china is seeking to diversify its sources of energy amid booming domestic consumption, while russia at odds with the west over its annexation of ukraines crimea peninsula is seeking to refocus its gas and oil exports towards asia.. the same report spoke of the commencement of construction of the gas pipeline from yakutsk to china.

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  fulltimestudent

  The economist attempted to overview China's maritime in this map:

  

  Read the full report to understand the extent of Chinese interests. The link is in the previous post.

  The Economist concluded:

  Experiences elsewhere offer no clear-cut guide. After political tensions in the South China Sea, China Merchants has withdrawn from a port project in Vietnam. But Cosco’s Piraeus investment, once controversial, is a success, with profits rising and the firm winning plaudits for investing and creating jobs for Greeks.

  China’s port strategy is mainly motivated by commercial impulses. It is natural that a country of its clout has a global shipping and ports industry. But it could become a flashpoint for diplomatic tensions. That is the pessimistic view. The optimistic one is that the more it invests, the more incentive China has to rub along better with its trading partners. This, not deliberate expansionism, is what the locals are betting on in Colombo.
• 
  17

  Russia and China to Build a Huge New Port south of Vladivostock

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. social
  2. current

  from: business insider, australia.

  beijing (afp) china and russia will build one of the largest ports in northeast asia on russias sea of japan coast, reports said, in a further sign of the powerhouses growing alliance.. the seaport is expected to be able to handle some 60 million tonnes of cargo a year, chinas state-run peoples daily online reported late wednesday comparable to britains busiest port immingham or le havre in france, according to european commission statistics.. the new facility will be located in far eastern russia, just 18 kilometres (11 miles) away from the chinese border.

  the region is also close to north korea.. chinese and russian leaders inked a deal on the port at mays conference on interaction and confidence building measures in asia (cica) in shanghai, the report said.. the move represents the latest step by beijing and moscow to boost their energy and infrastructure ties.. resource-hungry china is seeking to diversify its sources of energy amid booming domestic consumption, while russia at odds with the west over its annexation of ukraines crimea peninsula is seeking to refocus its gas and oil exports towards asia.. the same report spoke of the commencement of construction of the gas pipeline from yakutsk to china.

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  fulltimestudent

  And then ... there's the port for Colombo in Sri Llanka.

  From the Economist:

  China’s foreign ports

  The new masters and commanders

  China’s growing empire of ports abroad is mainly about trade, not aggression

  Jun 8th 2013 | COLOMBO |

  Reference: http://www.economist.com/news/international/21579039-chinas-growing-empire-ports-abroad-mainly-about-trade-not-aggression-new-masters

  

  FROM the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. Those entering it are greeted by wire fences, walls dating back to colonial times and security posts. ...

  The old port is cramped and stuffed full of containers. To its left, a vast new breakwater curves into the ocean. Alongside it a Chinese ship has just delivered three giant Chinese cranes (see picture) to a new container terminal built by a Chinese company and run by an entity controlled by another Chinese firm. The terminal opens in July and will be complete in April 2014. The old port took centuries to reach its present capacity. China will have almost doubled it in under 30 months. Operated at full capacity, it would make Colombo one of the world’s 20 biggest container ports.
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  8

  Early Christianity and the Punishment of Back-sliders

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  from the writings of tertullian comes this picture of repentant sinners around the year 200 ce in north africa.. locate yourselves in the stream of time.

  accepting for the moment the conventional dating for christianity, this is a little more than 150 years after christian communities were first established.

  no one from the first century is still alive, but possibly there were grandsons and daughters of some of the original christians.. .

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  fulltimestudent

  All of which reminds us - its not just the witnesses that are a pain in the nether regions, but it is Christianity as a whole that offends.
• 
  8

  Early Christianity and the Punishment of Back-sliders

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  from the writings of tertullian comes this picture of repentant sinners around the year 200 ce in north africa.. locate yourselves in the stream of time.

  accepting for the moment the conventional dating for christianity, this is a little more than 150 years after christian communities were first established.

  no one from the first century is still alive, but possibly there were grandsons and daughters of some of the original christians.. .

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  fulltimestudent

  From the writings of Tertullian comes this picture of repentant sinners around the year 200 CE in North Africa.

  Locate yourselves in the stream of time. Accepting for the moment the conventional dating for Christianity, this is a little more than 150 years after Christian communities were first established. No one from the first century is still alive, but possibly there were grandsons and daughters of some of the original Christians.

  

  Tertullian

  Tertullian writes (and allow for a dash of hyperbole-smile):

  “Christian sinners spend the day sorrowing, and the night in vigils and tears, lying on the ground among clinging ashes, tossing in rough sackcloth and dirt, fasting and praying’

  The access of sinners to church meetings was controlled. Sometimes a penitent adulterer would be led,

  “into the midst of the brethren and prostrated, all in sackcloth and ashes … a compound of disgrace and horror, before the widows, the elders,suing for everyone’s tears, licking their footprints, clasping their knees … “

  The above quotations from Tertullian's De puditicia

  So if you ever thought of seeking reinstatement to the Christian congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, you may have thought you had it hard as the elders exercised their prerogatives over you … but think of being a second/third century Christian and licking their bloody feet. Haha !!!