THE GLADIATOR

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Posts by THE GLADIATOR

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  233

  Does the Issue of Universal Sovereignty make sense to you as an explanation for evil?

  by gubberningbody in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it used to for me, and now it doesn't.. i'm not sure how i was able to accept that argument now that i don't, but perhaps it was connected with my increasing compassion for people and their personal suffering as i've grown older.. now it seems like a sick excuse.

  more like a bar-bet with satan and all of creation suffers.. i read paul's words and he has no rejoiner except to say in effect "sucks to be a vessel of wrath...glad i'm not one, but who are you to complain anyway, huh?

  who's bigger, smarter and more powerful than you, you, you complaining vessel of wrath, you.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  When I hurt myself, I always say JESUS CHRIST!!! out loud.

  If The pain is bad I may throw in Yeshua, Joshua, Jaheshua just to make sure I cover all bases and the pain goes away.

  Miracle or what?
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  1495

  An Old Argument.... does it hold water?

  by AK - Jeff in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  estimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.

  that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.

  still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  I have read this thread with interest and enjoyed all your comments.

  AK-Jeff's opening post is very simple. It poses a question that is of fundamental importance to all humans. Whether we believe God to be the Jehovah or Yahweh of the Bible, Christ Jesus, Jaheshua or a nameless all powerful force the question remains the same. Arguing about the name of God is a red herring. The argument about free will and the right to self determination is also a red herring. This is because humans have much less free will than we are credited with.

  For example Let’s just look at the destruction and death caused so called ‘by acts of God.’ Earth quakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis. We now know that they are the result movement or ruptures in the earths crust. They are not the result of man’s greed, atheism or angry gods.

  This leaves just 2 possibilities:

  A) Is there a being or God powerful enough to stop these natural disasters? The answer for many is No. End of story.

  B) If your answer is YES and this being, cosmic intelligence or God that created us and put us on this planet but now just floats around in outer space in retirement, when it could stop these pointless disasters, then it does not deserve the worship of humans.

  There really is no alternative conclusion that we can come to without appearing as callous and cold hearted as the absent God. For me plan a works well and makes more sense.
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  1495

  An Old Argument.... does it hold water?

  by AK - Jeff in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  estimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.

  that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.

  still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  Qcmbr, I read all your posts and though I seldom comment, I have to say that your posts are well thought out, precise, accurate, and convey all I would like to say but hold back from out of a reluctance to get involved in arguments that lead nowhere.

  You have a grasp on reality that clarifies and distils with a conciseness that I admire. Never think your posts go unnoticed, they are an inspiration.
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  87

  Spong: "Why We Must Reclaim The Bible From Fundamentalists"

  by leavingwt in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  john shelby spong, the retired american bishop, has written a new book.

  his article, below, briefly explains the purpose of his new book.

  why we must reclaim the bible from fundamentalists.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  If the Bible doesn't make sense then the sensible thing to do is re-write it. God can be reinvented and fiction can become fact - well until the next revision.
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  11

  Is guilt a valuable tool to you ?

  by caliber in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  guilt is tied into our belief system of right and wrong... i see so often that people upon leaving the wt talk about the negatives.

  of instilled fear and guilt.

  does not proper guilt from internal source play a postive role ?

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  THE GLADIATOR

  Never felt bad about it.....
• 
  87

  Spong: "Why We Must Reclaim The Bible From Fundamentalists"

  by leavingwt in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  john shelby spong, the retired american bishop, has written a new book.

  his article, below, briefly explains the purpose of his new book.

  why we must reclaim the bible from fundamentalists.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  The Bishop is trying to give old company a make-over, rebadged it and sell it to a modern audience.
• 
  11

  Is guilt a valuable tool to you ?

  by caliber in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  guilt is tied into our belief system of right and wrong... i see so often that people upon leaving the wt talk about the negatives.

  of instilled fear and guilt.

  does not proper guilt from internal source play a postive role ?

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  THE GLADIATOR

  I must be a bit thick - could someone explain to me what guilt is?
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  15

  How did/do/will you answer the question..."What will you do in heaven?"

  by stillstuckcruz in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  we all know the jdubs boast about the earthly hope.

  they also love to boast about their conversations with those who feel they have a heavenly hope.

  they will mention how when they ask people this question: "what will you do in heaven?

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  THE GLADIATOR

  If I ever make it to heaven I will devote my time to sucking up to God.

  If you get on the wrong side of such a powerful person - it’s a long way to fall back to earth.
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  1495

  An Old Argument.... does it hold water?

  by AK - Jeff in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  estimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.

  that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.

  still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  THE GLADIATOR

  God allows evil because for free will to exist then one must be free to do good as well as evil, if one is NOT premitted to do evil then there is n o free will since choice has been eliminated.

  Or free will exists because we are free. There is no god controlling, organizing or intervening?

  All that has ever restricted humans is government, religion and people who have assumed power. Sometimes those restrictions have benefited us some times they have not. Nevertheless the rules we are expected to live by and enforced have always been man made.

  All the good that man has done and the quality of life that has become possible has been brought about by the endeavours of man, women include. God does seem to be absent, yet the party goes on without him/her.
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  9

  Almighty Jehovah and Little Jesus

  by JRK in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i remember my dad screaming at my mother and oldest sister that they were god almighty and little jesus.

  god, i hated being locked in a bedroom with my sisters and my my mother, just trying not to get beat.

  we always studied the watchtower, which just made me negative toward it later in life.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  "I was just the little shit that didn't matter... And apparantly still do not."

  Here's a hug JRK