Posts by THE GLADIATOR

150

Is it unacceptable to stand up for Jehovah's Witnesses on a site called Jehovah's-Witness.net?

by THE GLADIATOR in

jw
friends

i fail to see why people such as alice in wonderland, bane and others, are regularly singled out as tolls.

demands are repeatedly made that they are shunned and thrown off the forum; while people like perry, who rant on with pages of controversial drivel, are considered acceptable?.

i personaly don't view any of them as trolls, just people who feel a need to stand up for what they believe.

THE GLADIATOR

There seems to be a concensus that it is OK to support the views of JWs provided it is done in a reasonable and polite way. Sensitive subjects and people who are emotionally damaged should approached with empathy.

Some are genuine others are just seeking attention, but we can never know with absolute certainty how genuine anyone is, including the people who come here looking for sympathy.

Why do we not show this consideration to all emotionally damaged people, regardless of the bizarre beliefs they hold?

150

Is it unacceptable to stand up for Jehovah's Witnesses on a site called Jehovah's-Witness.net?

by THE GLADIATOR in

jw
friends

i fail to see why people such as alice in wonderland, bane and others, are regularly singled out as tolls.

demands are repeatedly made that they are shunned and thrown off the forum; while people like perry, who rant on with pages of controversial drivel, are considered acceptable?.

i personaly don't view any of them as trolls, just people who feel a need to stand up for what they believe.

THE GLADIATOR

cyberjesus

Your long post above sums up what prompted me to start this thread. I agree with your take on the reasons we should be prepared to debate with people whatever their beliefs.

It is through reasoned debate that opinions change.

33

The Amish

by James_Slash in

i watched an interesting programme last night on the amish religion.

i remember watching the film "witness" many years ago with harrison ford so i already had an insight into what sort of people they were.. they seem a peaceful, family/community orientated group who stick to the teachings in the bible like glue.

when jesus spoke about 'being separate from the world' surely no-one could have followed this more than the amish.

THE GLADIATOR

AK - Jeff Hi Tiger! I can understand why animals being well fed would be important to you.

100

For Perry: There was no global flood, so stop looking for Noah's Ark

by BurnTheShips in

forget about noahs ark; there was no worldwide flood.

many people have contacted me about the recent claims by a group called noahs ark ministries international.1 the evangelical organization claims to have discovered noahs ark.2 i have responded on several occasions to these dubious claims on my blog.3 and still, this group has stood behind their claim,4 insisting that what they have found is real based largely on the belief that because the bible says the flood and the ark are historical, it must be so.

so, instead of addressing their spurious claims yet again, i thought i would approach the issue from a different angle: forget about noahs ark; there was no world-wide flood.. the worldwide flood described in genesis 6-9 is not historical, but rather a combination of at least two flood stories, both of which descended from earlier mesopotamian flood narratives.

THE GLADIATOR

BTS - tread carefully.

My earliest doubts about the bible started with the implausibility of the Flood & Noah and the ark. Next the story of Adam & Eve. Finally I saw through the idea of a Jewish carpenter being God on earth.

One by one I Burnt Every Ship until there was no where to go. I accepted that was an earth bound human.

235

For Terry - So That it Will "Make Sense"

by Perry in

terry, since you have long proclaimed your inability to comprehend the greatest expression of love in the universe, substitutionary atonement; perhaps this scene from the last of the mohicans will help you to understand.. the chief has just handed down a death sentence to the brunette daughter of the captured english general.

the english officer in this scene can speak both english and french.

since daniel day lewis can only speak mohican and english, and the cheif can only speak huron and french, the captured english officer must translate to the chief in french.

THE GLADIATOR

Since we have already established that the Supreme cannot be judged, else he is not Supreme, he must be revealed.

Perry, you have not yet established that a supreme being exists - just that you can type.

150

Is it unacceptable to stand up for Jehovah's Witnesses on a site called Jehovah's-Witness.net?

by THE GLADIATOR in

jw
friends

i fail to see why people such as alice in wonderland, bane and others, are regularly singled out as tolls.

demands are repeatedly made that they are shunned and thrown off the forum; while people like perry, who rant on with pages of controversial drivel, are considered acceptable?.

i personaly don't view any of them as trolls, just people who feel a need to stand up for what they believe.

THE GLADIATOR

Violia

I came here still a JW , mostly in my head.

I do understand. When I first came here posting as myself, I had left the JWS but I was still looking at the merits of Christianity and other major religions. After much debating, I dismissed the whole concept of holy books and organized religion. I reinvented myself as a gladiator in order to enjoy the freedom of anonymity and have a light hearted approach. That does wear thin after a while and something more meaningful is needed to continue posting. This forum has been of great help mentally and emotionally.

Aussie Oz

I too have no problem with those who search for answers and question,

but hypocrites who only wish to debate and accuse get what they sow as far as i am concerned.

You raise an interesting point. Having dismissed the merits of religion, I have over the years done my fair share of Christian baiting. Mostly out of genuine frustration at their unfounded declarations and inconsistency. At other times purely for fun. After much soul searching, despite not having a soul, I have endeavoured to be kinder.

I ask, how is Christian baiting any different from people claiming to be JWs coming on here and winding up ex JWs just for the the hell of it?

150

Is it unacceptable to stand up for Jehovah's Witnesses on a site called Jehovah's-Witness.net?

by THE GLADIATOR in

jw
friends

i fail to see why people such as alice in wonderland, bane and others, are regularly singled out as tolls.

demands are repeatedly made that they are shunned and thrown off the forum; while people like perry, who rant on with pages of controversial drivel, are considered acceptable?.

i personaly don't view any of them as trolls, just people who feel a need to stand up for what they believe.

THE GLADIATOR

Thanks for all your comments. Good points TD & BluesBrother.

There will aways be people claiming to be JWs coming on the forum. Some will be genuine some will simply be here to gain attention by winding up vulnerable people.

Many more people read what we post without commenting. So the way we respond will make a difference to people who really do matter, regardless of how genuine the apologists are.

We will be most effective if we use our experience to show these visitors that we have moved on and are able to defend ourselves skillfully and effectively. Or that we simply know when not to respond. Many of the people who come here and attempt to cause upset are simply at a different stage of the journey we are on. It is a long road and can take many years to reach the place we have found.

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.

T.S. Eliot

100

What's Your Pet Peeve?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i've got a lot of them but i'll share one: drivers going well under the speed limit on a single road where you can't pass.. that drives me nuts!!!

!.

THE GLADIATOR

Where do I begin?
To tell the story of how great a peeve can be
The no love lost story that is older than the sea
The simple truth about the way we all should be
Where do I start?
Where do I begin?

Looking at these offerings, there seems to be a universal concensus that people who get in the way are a pain. They hog car lanes as they crawl along picking their noses. Block sidewalks, and asiles with their slow moving, smelly, sockless, overweight bodies, while they shout their opinions into cellphones. Sneeze into their hands and wipe them on restuarant seats. Eat garlic and chew loudly then silenty fart before belching and complaining about the service.

I said, Hey! You! Get off of my cloud
Hey! You! Get off of my cloud
Hey! You! Get off of my cloud
Don't hang around 'cause two's a crowd
On my cloud, baby

58

At the end of my rope :(

by tec in

jw
friends

but i guess this is my first big rant.. this last year has been the hardest year of my life.

my son tried to kill himself ( he did something pretty bad, got caught, and i guess that's the only way he thought to deal) i am also very close to actually hating my husband, and i do not hate people.

and every decision that i make lately seems to be the wrong one.

THE GLADIATOR

Tammy, I am sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time. You always come across as a very calm, pleasant and caring person who looks for the best in people. You are able to be friendly with people even though they have different views to you and sometimes criticize your faith.

You are facing a number of challenges all at once. This often happens when difficulties in a relationship that has been strained for a long time come to a head. Your husband doesn't share your faith. This may cause him to feel outside of something that is of great importance to you.

Though you need to see your part in where things are going wrong in your relationship, you must not blame yourself for all that is happening. I know you had a difficult childhood and left home very young. I don't know your husbands history. But often the powerful emotions that we experience growing up, can play themselves out in adult relationships.

I hope you find a way through this difficult phase in your life.

150

Is it unacceptable to stand up for Jehovah's Witnesses on a site called Jehovah's-Witness.net?

by THE GLADIATOR in

jw
friends

i fail to see why people such as alice in wonderland, bane and others, are regularly singled out as tolls.

demands are repeatedly made that they are shunned and thrown off the forum; while people like perry, who rant on with pages of controversial drivel, are considered acceptable?.

i personaly don't view any of them as trolls, just people who feel a need to stand up for what they believe.

THE GLADIATOR

wasblind: Gladiator can you explain BANE ?

BANE is easy to understand. He is confused, frustrated and wants attention, a reaction. We all do but we go about it in different ways. Like many of us I often post sensible and well thought out posts that get ignored. Then I will post a silly or provocative post, as I did to Alice recently. Wham! Immediate response. Attention. That kind of immediate gratification can become addictive.

BANE'S JW identity is a red herring, or should I say locust? He has found that baiting ex JWs gets him the attention he wants. Then again he could just as easily be female. We can never know whether people are what they say or genuine.

Part of the fun of this site is the anonymity it provides and the opportunity to step outside of being who we are in real life. Ultimately play acting gets boring and we leave or start to show our real selves on line. In time BANE will grow up and leave the forum or share more of his real self.

If he was in a religion before he became a JW then he is an apostate himself. It is more likely that he has a connection with JWs but has never fully joined because to do so requires sincerity and a desire to please. BANE is fun to have around once you see through the contradictory rhetoric.