THE GLADIATOR

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Posts by THE GLADIATOR

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  90

  What it takes to become an atheist.

  by dontplaceliterature in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was pondering this today during lunch, and to me it seems that it comes down to whether or not you can accept that you will one day be permanantly gone and anyone you have lost in death will never be alive again.

  once a person becomes comfortable with these two ideas, there isn't really any incentive to believe.

  maybe it's an over simplification, but it seems to me that this is the heart of the matter.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  "Just take away faith, hope and love."

  La speranza è l'ultima a morire

  Hope is last to die.
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  9

  Have you seen these three Italian teenaged tenors? IL Volo? Amazing.

  by FlyingHighNow in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  right now, at least in grand rapids, they are playing il volo's concert filmed at the detroit opera house.

  i am amazed.

  these teenagers are julian's age.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  Unbelievable talent. I’m trying to work out which is my favourite and I think the one with glasses is ahead. I hope I’m not on the turn! Thanks for posting FHN.
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  90

  What it takes to become an atheist.

  by dontplaceliterature in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was pondering this today during lunch, and to me it seems that it comes down to whether or not you can accept that you will one day be permanantly gone and anyone you have lost in death will never be alive again.

  once a person becomes comfortable with these two ideas, there isn't really any incentive to believe.

  maybe it's an over simplification, but it seems to me that this is the heart of the matter.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  There are hundreds of gods, though a few successful ones have the monopoly at present. Christians reject all other gods and only believe in their god. From this point of view they are only one god away from being atheists.

  First I stopped believing in the Hebrew desert god called Jehovah. I then spent some years examining Christian sects and visiting Churches. I failed to find evidence of a personal god. Next I examined the teachings of Joseph Smith; Mormonism. I then started looking into eastern religion. This made more sense and seemed less dogmatic. I still have some sympathy with the philosophy of Buddhism and Taoism. Much of modern western psychology is based on eastern wisdom. The often misunderstood Epicurean philosophy has much appeal, and is probably where I am right now.

  I don’t like to be identified or labelled as an atheist or anything else. I am simply a seeker of truth. At present it seems the truth is that death is the end for us as individuals. I have accepted this and made peace with myself.

  If Jesus wants to email me, write, phone, text, or visit me in the night, I shall be most cordial and listen to his sales pitch.
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  52

  How many here smoke?

  by cantleave in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i don't and am very unlikely to after seeing my father dying of a smoking related lung disease (even though i would like to try a high quality cigar).. but i am curious to see how many people take up smoking after leaving the org.. .

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  THE GLADIATOR

  I once wanted to be a smoker and tried a few cigarettes but didn’t like the taste. I had to accept that I would never be a smoker and would have to die of something else. Many years later I tried a cigar which I loved. I now have 3 or 4 a year in the hot weather on special occasions.

  Such a small amount is not life threatening. I am more likely to die in the Roman arena.
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  31

  My email to my mother - sorry a bit long

  by darthweef in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello - i am new here .. just joined a couple of days ago, and have enjoyed the bit of lurking that i have done.

  a breif history, i was raised as a jw, was active until i was 36, and was a regular pioneer for 7 years and a ministerial servant for 5 years, and was one when i left.

  my reasons for leaving are not important at this point, but i have spent the last year or so researching the flood and more extensively the theory of evolution.. i have finally decided to broach the topic with my mother since after all this time, the last of my jw friends and my brother and sister have all decided that they should shun me now, and i want to make a last ditch effort to convey to my mother that i didn't leave the organization so i could do lines of coke off a cheap hooker, but because i actually believe that this is not the truth.. i'd love some feedback on the email and what you think the possibility of it actually breaking through the "permafrost" created by the society.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  darthweef Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear you are being shunned by your family. This is a painful punishment as it is intended to be. Shunning is not to be underestimated. It can cause the victim to lose his or her self esteem and sense of worth.

  Hope things work out for you. There are many people here, including myself who have, and continue to cope with shunning. You will get good advice and empathy.
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  10

  Sexual depravity' of penguins that Antarctic scientist dared not reveal

  by cantleave in

  1. social
  2. current

  i wonder when these penguins partook of the fruit, or did adam and eve force feed it to them?.

  http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/09/sex-depravity-penguins-scott-antarctic?fb=native&cmp=fbcnettxt9038.

  landmark polar research about the adelie penguin's sex life by captain scott's expedition, deemed too shocking for the public 100 years ago, is unearthed at the natural history museum.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  mrsjones5 They have Lady boys in Amsterdam but it's safer pass the time with magic mushrooms.
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  36

  The real truth is that you know you've recovered when you stop caring about JW's

  by gubberningbody in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it's perhaps sad, but perhaps a bit of wisdom to come to realize how insignificant jws really are.. .

  you finally get to the point where you don't even care what happens to the borg one way or another.. .

  this said after almost four years..

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  THE GLADIATOR

  What are JWs?
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  26

  Just wanted to say hello

  by Suraj Khan in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i've only very recently discovered this site and have been reading many compelling personal accounts and testimonials.

  i'd like to share my own as well.. i was born into 'the truth' in the early 1970s.

  along with my several (fleshly) brothers and sisters, i went through the usual travails of a witness boy - not celebrating birthdays, not pledging allegiance to the flag, not singing christmas carols in the class chorus.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  Suraj Khan It's a shame that you are estranged from your family. Sometimes it’s a price we have to pay, unless we want to follow like sheep.

  By the way Pams girl is that sheep following you. I popped over the border to visit South Wales last week, stayed in Ludlow. Good to see you are still on this forum.
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  10

  Sexual depravity' of penguins that Antarctic scientist dared not reveal

  by cantleave in

  1. social
  2. current

  i wonder when these penguins partook of the fruit, or did adam and eve force feed it to them?.

  http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/09/sex-depravity-penguins-scott-antarctic?fb=native&cmp=fbcnettxt9038.

  landmark polar research about the adelie penguin's sex life by captain scott's expedition, deemed too shocking for the public 100 years ago, is unearthed at the natural history museum.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  “For example, a dead penguin, lying with its eyes half-open, is very similar in appearance to a compliant female."

  This can be a problem with females. I keep a mirror handy, so I can carry out a breath test.

  Penguins don't have mirrors so it's understandable that they make mistakes.

  Perhaps looking for breath vaporising could help, or waiting for an oral response.
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  94

  If you got apostate vids on Youtube take em off now!!! Legal Dept to Sue!

  by smithmandy1 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i've posted this on the wrong section so i'm posting it on here cos its sort of to topic as i know many of you have vids on youtube.

  legal department are beginning legal action against google and its uploaders regards to apostate vids that slander the watchtower and/or contain copyrighted material!!!

  my hubby knows people who know so heres my warning lol.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  Ten years ago I wrote a book called Opening the Door to Jehovah's Witnesses, by Trevor Willis. It sold well. I even sent copies to the London Bethel.

  Not a squeak or acknowledgement from the Tower. Mind you, my spies reported that many congregations made announcements warning the sheep not to read the book.

  Well everyone knows that sheep can't read but the announcement helped my sales. Bah!