THE GLADIATOR

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Posts by THE GLADIATOR

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  21

  do you own a 4wd vehicle?

  by Glander in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if so, and it's the type that requires you to switch to 4wd, how often do you use that capability?

  i know more than a few people with 4wd capability but never use it.

  a couple of these folks don't even know what it's for.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  No - in the UK we have roads to drive on.
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  81

  How Did You Become An Atheist?

  by NewChapter in

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  since there seem to be a number of threads in this spirit, i'd like to ask how others became atheists.

  for myself, i learned some things that made me understand the bible wasn't true.

  i looked deeper, and it became even more unlikely.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  It has been said before, but being automatically labelled an atheist for a lack of belief in a god seems absurd. If people positively believe in Christ, they are Christians; but to not believe in one of the many gods on offer through various church leaders, is a not a position, it is a negative. We can’t all wear a label for everything we do not believe in. I don’t believe in Satan either, but that does not make me an Asatanist.

  I live my life and interact with other humans, enjoy the experience of living on the most beautiful planet known to humans. Short as life is, it is awesome to be a part of this evolving planet. I am perhaps, happy to be called a humanist because that infers a positive position towards my own kind.

  We should be labelled for what we do believe in and what actions we take. Perhaps I am prepared to accept being labelled a humanist but I know nothing about gods, goddesses, demons or devils and don’t wish to wear a badge that indicates I am against things that do not exist. I have not taken a stand against gods; I simply view the concept as the stuff of fairy tales.

  If you have read this far, thank you for letting me share. Now I can enjoy my godless weekend, exploring the pleasures of the flesh.
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  81

  How Did You Become An Atheist?

  by NewChapter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  since there seem to be a number of threads in this spirit, i'd like to ask how others became atheists.

  for myself, i learned some things that made me understand the bible wasn't true.

  i looked deeper, and it became even more unlikely.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  Considering the damage that religious faith has caused humans throughout history, ‘mind-rot’ seems an inadequately mild term.
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  81

  How Did You Become An Atheist?

  by NewChapter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  since there seem to be a number of threads in this spirit, i'd like to ask how others became atheists.

  for myself, i learned some things that made me understand the bible wasn't true.

  i looked deeper, and it became even more unlikely.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  I enjoyed the youtube clip posted by botchtowersociety.

  Also the comments by thinking_1 Both on page 2.

  Also enjoyed the link posted by leavingwt and many other contributions from others.

  As for the opening question: How Did You Become An Atheist? I too prefer not to wear a label and be suddenly viewed as belonging to an organisation. I realised that God, as promoted by major religions, does not exist, 9 years before I left Jehovah's Witnesses at the age of 30.

  I examine Christianity but realized that without belief in God I would make a poor candidate. An examination of Eastern religion and philosophy was more promising. I have some respect for Zen Buddhism and Tao. In the end though, I do not see a shred of evidence that an Abrahamic God exists or any other personal God. God is AWOL. It’s the no-show factor that convinced me.
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  473

  How do I hear/feel God?

  by doinmypart in

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  this is a serious question.. i know people that hear/feel god (and see postings about people's experiences), but i have not experienced this.

  i have never heard anything audibly (or otherwise) nor "felt" anything inwardly.. i've prayed, read, quieted my thoughts, etc...but still nothing..

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  THE GLADIATOR

  poppers So good to see you still posting. A voice of reason and calm in stormy seas.
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  81

  What does faith mean to you?

  by exwhyzee in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we all memorized the definition of faith... faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for...yadda yadda.. it seems like more and more as time goes by and our scientific knowledge base grows, we need less and less faith and fewer things can be attributed to god.. do you think we need faith or is faith just a word we use to feel ok about being too lazy to keep looking for the answers ?.

  what does faith mean to you now?.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  cofty " Is faith a dirty word ?"

  Tarnished and misunderstood perhaps, but faith has enabled humankind to reach for the stars.

  Scientifically speaking and in an, as yet, inconclusive spiritual way.
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  473

  How do I hear/feel God?

  by doinmypart in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is a serious question.. i know people that hear/feel god (and see postings about people's experiences), but i have not experienced this.

  i have never heard anything audibly (or otherwise) nor "felt" anything inwardly.. i've prayed, read, quieted my thoughts, etc...but still nothing..

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  THE GLADIATOR

  doinmypart Like many here, I have great empathy for your quandary.

  Our sarcasm reflects our own disappointment. The difficulty I have is that we are expected to speak on God’s behalf in his, her, its absence.

  We are not qualified to do so. Why does the being you are trying to talk, ignore you?

  Absent, not bothered, too unreachably high, or non-existent? Take your pick!
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  45

  Can Atheists Be "Religious"?

  by AGuest in

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  2. friends

  it appears so (may you all have peace!):.

  http://firstchurchofatheism.com/.

  http://www.factschurch.com/.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  Re: Can Atheists Be "Religious"?

  In as much a religious can mean - e xtremely scrupulous or conscientious .

  Sometimes atheists pursue their abhorrence of religion in a religious way. Attacking religion or faith can become an obsession.
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  473

  How do I hear/feel God?

  by doinmypart in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is a serious question.. i know people that hear/feel god (and see postings about people's experiences), but i have not experienced this.

  i have never heard anything audibly (or otherwise) nor "felt" anything inwardly.. i've prayed, read, quieted my thoughts, etc...but still nothing..

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  THE GLADIATOR

  Hasn't he replied to you post yet?

  Probably on a coffee break.
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  81

  What does faith mean to you?

  by exwhyzee in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we all memorized the definition of faith... faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for...yadda yadda.. it seems like more and more as time goes by and our scientific knowledge base grows, we need less and less faith and fewer things can be attributed to god.. do you think we need faith or is faith just a word we use to feel ok about being too lazy to keep looking for the answers ?.

  what does faith mean to you now?.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  NewChapter “I think that accepting something because one has testable evidence, does not take faith. Religious faith is not the same as the acceptance that some have in the scientific

  method. Having confidence in the scientific method does not require blind faith, because the method itself demands skeptism and accepting the possibility that we could be wrong. ”

  This is true. In my life I have come to doubt religion, relatives, and people generally, including myself.

  What is - is. Faith is a luxury I can no longer afford.