Not many Christians hold such an extreme view. They accept that phycical life in a body with feeling can bring both pleasure and pain.
I thought that BTS explained his position well om page one. I was touched by his comments.
THE GLADIATOR
JoinedPosts by THE GLADIATOR
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126
This Made Me So Thankful I am No Longer A Christian
by cofty ini was following some links researching something to do with my condition when i came across this article by the well known christian author john piper called "don't waste your cancer".. if i had still been a christian when i got my diagnosis i would have been subjected to these sort of pious platitudes.
here are a few gems, read the full article if you wish but not on a full stomach.. .
cancer is not wasted when it is healed by god.
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How can girls guard against temptation in this sex-crazy world?
by nicolaou injust about the funniest thing i've read in ages!
*** w61 12/15 pp.
767-768 questions from readers ***.
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THE GLADIATOR
As Time Goes By
You must remember this
A kiss is still a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by
And when two lovers woo
They still say, "I love you"
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by
Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date
Hearts full of passion
Jealousy and hate
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate
That no one can deny
it's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by -
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I don't believe the Bible is Inspired of god - Why do you / don't you?
by cantleave inmany of you may know that i was brought up a witness and stayed in until the age of 42, even reaching the dizzy heights of being a congregation elder.
i was unusual in that, even as a witness i studied to degree level, on a part time basis, sponsored by my employer.
my first was in chemistry and my masters is in business administration.
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THE GLADIATOR
Some Bible writers claimed that they were inspired or spoke from God as they were born along by holy spirit. Alas, self praise is no man’s recommendation. Many Christians now reject the notion that the Bible is God’s word.
Trying to make sense of our present world by reading an ancient book will not work. Books such as the Bible will only help us understand ancient civilizations. They attributed all unknown phenomenon to mystical spirits and gods.
The Bible has value as a snapshot of their time. They tell us how people thousands of years ago thought, lived and how they made sense of their existence with the limited knowledge they had.
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81
The sheep to everlasting life, the goats to destruction
by N.drew ini have only ever heard this scripture described as the finish.
the interpretation that i was taught is that everlasing life would be granted from then and on to eternity.
and i was taught that the destruction meant the execution of the goats.. .
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THE GLADIATOR
Hey! Take a look at what it says in my Bible.
Matthew 25
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to all gladiators, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For you have fought with lions and been victorious. Enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
Amen
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Do you remember this?
by AK - Jeff ini used to go in service with a prominent elder in our area who would announce, regarding the 'truth' book in the 70's:.
"would you like to know the truth and gain everlasting life in just one day?
this book is divided into 24 chapters that can be studied in just an hour each.
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THE GLADIATOR
I sat transfixed in the London assembly at Twickenham Stadium, as the speaker explained the reason for the book’s release. This small book had been designed so that a weekly study of just one hour covering one chapter a week would complete the book in six months.
All other Society books used in Bible studies with interested people were to be put aside. This was now the book to use. If those we studied with did not show definite signs of getting baptised after six months we were to forget them and move on. Why? Because time was running out - so many people to save and so little time!
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Why is it that serious /important topics seem to be overlooked and fluffy inconsequential topics get all the attention
by smiddy injust curious .
smiddy.
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THE GLADIATOR
DaCheech " gladiator that why I'm eventually not gonna post anymore, seems like everyone is so touchy and then goes for my jugular."
Everyone here has a unique set of circumstances which influences their responses.
No need to stop posting just get the right outfit.
Why do think I prefer to post a gladiator?
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41
Why is it that serious /important topics seem to be overlooked and fluffy inconsequential topics get all the attention
by smiddy injust curious .
smiddy.
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THE GLADIATOR
Oh Talesin my heart goes out to you. My comment was subjective and not meant to judge others.
There is so much we don’t know and so much that we keep from others on a public forum.
Sorry if I touched a nerve.
Take care…Trevor
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GAME OVER argument
by johnnyc in[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng /> </o:officedocumentsettings> </xml><!
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THE GLADIATOR
Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 C.E. passes away.
Awake! Magazine - Part of masthead 1982 – 1995
Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure new world that is about to replace the present wicked, and lawless system of things.
Awake! Magazine - Part of masthead from 1995
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The Two Forces
by N.drew inthe ark pictures the response to one kind.. it means the customs of the people can cause catastrophe.. and most people did not stop the destructive behavior , but some used it to be redeemed.. .
sodom pictures the other kind.. it means the people respond badly to the intuitive recognition that doom is ahead.. .
in one case what the people are doing causes something bad.
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THE GLADIATOR
Sodom - that's what I say!
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The prognosis is 'terminal'
by AK - Jeff init always has been.
we are all going to die.. .
how did it affect you though, when that reality set in after leaving the lies of religion?.
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THE GLADIATOR
Take from some notes I made just before I left the Jehovah's Witness set up:
All my life I had been promised that I would never grow old and die but would live forever on earth, when it was turned into a paradise. Now I began to realize that I was going to grow old and die like everyone else. After so many wasted years believing I was chosen, coming to terms with the reality that I was just like every other human, was a humbling experience.
I was no longer chosen for a special purpose but just a fool whom reality had caught up with. Standing on the platform in my smart suit, lecturing people older than me had been pretentious. Believing that I knew the answers to all life’s questions while the rest of the world stumbled in the dark had been arrogant. Waiting for the end of the world to come and the slaughter of millions of people, now seemed bizarre.
Looking on the bright side, my experience had taught me to value people. I reflected on all the decent people I had known who were not in my religion. Despite their kindness towards me, I had still selfishly expected them to be slaughtered without a trace of regret on my part. Now I was able to see their worth and understand the courage they showed as they quietly lived their lives without condemnation of others or hope of a reward.
Living in a closed world for so long had taught me the value of life lived in freedom. Even so, how could I possibly leave the closed world that I was so familiar with and walk away into an uncertain future without the hope of living forever? Having always believed that old age and death were a punishment, the prospect of living the rest of my life with nothing to look forward to, except old age and death, seemed a pointless exercise. Would I find in myself the courage, that I saw in others, to face such an outcome?