You have been a huge and positive influence on me over many years. My thanks to you.
Happy Birthday Terry
THE GLADIATOR
JoinedPosts by THE GLADIATOR
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43
How Important is knowing the Truth, Really?
by cameo-d inis the quest of finding the real truth even attainable?
is the quest of trying to find out worth the risk and the sacrifice of losing the love of friends and family?
oh, i know many of you will say the "love" is fake or not true if it can't hold up to scrutinty.
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THE GLADIATOR
PSacramento I appreciate your reply.
We have to be careful inmaking truth subjective, because then we make truth "fluid and flexable" which means it can be anything to anyone.
Your statement sums up the whole human endeavour for truth. The search for truth has occupied man’s thoughts, shaped his dreams, and been the cause of many struggles throughout history. Without a God to set the benchmark, truth will remain "fluid and flexible." Perhaps this is where the divide occurs.
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43
How Important is knowing the Truth, Really?
by cameo-d inis the quest of finding the real truth even attainable?
is the quest of trying to find out worth the risk and the sacrifice of losing the love of friends and family?
oh, i know many of you will say the "love" is fake or not true if it can't hold up to scrutinty.
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THE GLADIATOR
PSacramento
Well, if there is NO truth then ANYTHING we say means NOTHING.
Your statement could very well be one of the most profound you have made.
That is how I see things. It is what we do that defines us and shapes the world around us. If we start from the premise that someone who is invisible and unaccountable is in charge and IS absolute truth, then we we will seek an absolute truth.
On the other hand, truth could be a subjective thing: the set of rules or ambition that is accepted as appropriate or expedient for the civilisation we live in to reach its highest potential. Accepted standards of behaviour have aways been in flux because truth is often subjective and a reflection of the values we live by.
If society as a whole lives by the same values, truth is established. If society holds different values, then each group will claim to have the truth. At the end of the day we can only be true to ourselves and hope that our truth is close enough to the truth that others live by for harmony to exist.
May your gods go with you - unless you are content to be alone or compromise for the sake of peace.
PS - Terry & On The Way Out
I have read your last posts with care and agree with your well considered comments on the subject of truth.
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People can be so mean, nasty and insulting on internet forums!
by RULES & REGULATIONS ini asked a simple question on the internet site yelp.
anyone can post a review and rating of local travel,food,entertainment,events and what's on your mind.
i asked a simple question on the forum and the responses were pretty mean and nasty.
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THE GLADIATOR
When posting on a website, there is sometimes a tendency to forget that behind the avatars are real people with real feelings. I have made this mistake myself and felt regret. Taking a swipe at someone in an attempt to release our own frustrations, seldom works. Treating others as we want to be treated, is always a good aim.
I used to post on this site under my real name and found myself more sensitive to the slings and arrows of abusive posters. Hiding behind a gladiator avatar is more comfortable but has its downside.
Shamus - pee on your straw. That's what it's for!
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195
Is Forgiveness Overrated?
by leavingwt in.
is forgiveness overrated?.
if i'm being completely honest with myself, there is a short list of folks who i haven't forgiven.
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THE GLADIATOR
What the conscious mind dwells on becomes habitual thought. Once this is accepted into the subconscious mind a value is attached. Emotion is produced and a desire to satisfy a perceived need follows.
The mind then organises the body to carry out the desire in motor action. An act is then carried out in the real world.
Who rattled my cage? :)
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Tyrant of a wife!
by whatistruth inif i divulged just a few things she had done to me, you would never believe it.
i don't believe in this utter nonsense at all!
it is make belief brainwashing fear and guilt.
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THE GLADIATOR
whatistruth You have my sympathy. Perhaps you should wait until she is out and you are alone in your bedroom. Take off your trousers and carefully examine your legs. See the strong muscles and bone structure. The marvelous way they connect to your feet. They are there for a purpose. They enable you to walk away from danger!
My wife behaves because I'm a gladiator, but the other day she was trying to organise my life, so I started singing 'the girl that ruled the world.' She liked the idea and started humming the song to herself. I then pointed out that there was one difficulty with her plan - all women want to rule the world.
I hope my comments bring a little light relief, though hidden amongst the satire are some clues.
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How much positive reinforcement do you need to function on JWD?
by TMS insuffice to say most of us appreciate favorable comments when we initiate a thread.
even in our jw days, after an assembly part, student talk, public talk etc.
the kind words of our brothers and sisters contributed to our self-esteem.
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THE GLADIATOR
TMS You raise some interesting and valuable points. My own experience is that people in the real world are not a great deal different from JWs. The real world is just a bigger pond with different rules.
People like to have their ego massaged. They want to appear clever and witty and get favorable attention. If they fail to get the attention they crave, they will often resort to making a fuss just to get any kind of attention.
Over the year I have been guilty of all these ploys and childish maneuvers. Nothing wrong with that, if it fulfills a need and satisfies emotions that need to be spent. My motive for writing this, may well be to remind everyone that I exist and perhaps strike a cord with others. If that fails I may try sarcasm. I'm just being honest.
Many people who post here are not fully aware of their motivation for posting or their hidden agenda. Even so, the forum provides an outlet and helps people to grow and mature. Everyone's contribution is valuable and often entertaining. The nutters are hilarious! We pick the post we read and have total control over whether we comment or not.
If you want give me some positive reinforcement and to contributed to my self-esteem, it would help me to function better on JWD. Otherwise, I may have a hissy-fit!
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Have You Read This Ex-JW Book by Trevor Willis?
by mentallyfree31 ini just finished reading the book entitled "opening the door to jehovah's witnesses" by trevor willis.
it's a 205 page book, and it's very easy to read.
i found it to be an excellent book.
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THE GLADIATOR
Hi mentallyfree31. Apologies for taking so long to reply. I'm under p-p-p-pressure at the moment.
You asked if I have made any progress with family members since writing the book?
My entire family, with the exception of one brother, and my wife's clan, have not said a word to me or her for 10 years. Some have written but I informed them I will no longer reply to letters. To be fair, for many years we did maintain a fragile truce with most relatives after leaving the Borg.
On one occasion my elder brother and the presiding elder of his congregation, all came to stay with us, along with their wives and children. We regularly stayed with them too. Unheard of in JW land. Going ahead and publishing the book did not make their day. Driven by a fear of displeasing their god, they run for the hills.
Please don't feel sorry for me, I brought this on myself and my wife and I knew what the consequences would be. Silence is golden and I would not want to be involved with them again after so long. Life does move on.
I hope your life unfolds for you as you would wish it to.
Trevor
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Understanding Christ's Sacrifice
by tec ini haven't always understood how christ could have carried our sins for us, and had them forgiven.
i've sort of understood because that's what people say he did, but the ransom (in a legalistic adam/jesus way) never held weight for me.
but something recently happened that allowed me to understand.
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THE GLADIATOR
Tec, I firmly believe that you would be just as loving and compassionate even if you were agnostic.
Credit where it's due and so true.
People are often attracted to beliefs that uphold the heartfelt values that they want to live by.
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Have You Read This Ex-JW Book by Trevor Willis?
by mentallyfree31 ini just finished reading the book entitled "opening the door to jehovah's witnesses" by trevor willis.
it's a 205 page book, and it's very easy to read.
i found it to be an excellent book.
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THE GLADIATOR
mentallyfree31 Thank you for drawing attention to this.
A free download is available. If you are interested, go to Lulu.com and type or paste into the search box the number 5456415
You will be able to read the about the book before downloading it. The book was first published in 2002. This edition is still available from Amazom.co.uk but not shipped abroad. It was a success and has long since covered its costs. In 2006 it was updated and offered as a print to order book on Lulu.com.
The free download has been made available as part of an awareness campaign. You are allowed to send the download on to whomever you want or direct them to the Lulu site. It is already quite well know that I am the author.