THE GLADIATOR

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Posts by THE GLADIATOR

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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

  AGuest, I am touched by your post. Peace to you also.
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  36

  Is there a Jehovah's Witness gestalt?

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  there is a german word: gestalt which means that.......... something is more than the sum of its parts.. .

  a diamond seems to be an excellent example of this principle, doesn't it?.

  carbon (as in: carbon dioxide) is everywhere and it is "cheap".. but, diamonds are prized as very valuable and expensive.. a diamond, however, consists of almost entirely of : carbon.. .

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  THE GLADIATOR

  Terry "I guess the most significant event in my life was discovering I was not living in the same world as everybody else!

  In effect, the Watchtower had hijacked the world and left me with a fake one.

  I lived inside the fake one for almost 20 years."

  This is a touching reflection on your life which I can empathise with. The difficulty is that there is no one real world, most of them are fake, that is man-made. The natural world is real but as humans we have a huge choice as to which human constructed world we will live in. A business man or a film star lives on the same earth as a tramp but does not live in the same world.

  The choices we make in life will determine which world we live in. Leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses was a good move but the game goes on until we are no more.
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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

  Having followed this most interesting debate, it seems that non-believers are not able to accept that decent Christian people can believe in a personal God of love who is prepared to allow suffering. Their conclusion is that God either does not exist or is an impersonal being who takes no responsibility for the state of the world.

  For non-believers this a hypothetical debate whereas believers have a vested interest in defending a personal God of love who allows suffering. The Christians have explained how they are able to reconcile a God of love allowing suffering. Their answers have not satisfied those without faith. The debate has moved to a point where Christians are now being blamed for the suffering because they endorse this God. It is for this reason that the debate has become personal.

  I do not believe in a personal God but accept that decent loving people can believe in a personal God who allows suffering. Although the logic of a personal God does not add up for me, it would be a mistake to become angry with loving people who view the big picture and still find room for belief in a personal God. Many of us once accepted the idea of Armageddon and showed our love by going from door-to-door warning others. We are still the same people.

  Who knows how our views may change in the years ahead? The experience of those who have walked a path before us should not be seized upon as belief, or a shortcut to understanding. At the same time it would be unwise to disregard their sincere testimony or judge them because we have not arrived at the same place.
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  81

  How did plants survive the Flood?

  by dgp in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  noah is not said to have carried plants in his ark.

  supposedly the flood was severe enough to cover "even the tallest mountains", which would mean that mount everest was covered.

  and this for forty days.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  Noah carefully collected samples of every plant on earth and stored them in the ark along with the animals and a sample of every insect on earth. The worldwide flood also caused fresh and salt-water to mix making life impossible for fish so he collected a sample of every fish, both male and female he collected them and stored them in tanks in the ark.

  He also stored enough fresh water and food for his Zoo. And he saw that it was good. God couldn’t help as it was his day of rest but he did seal the door for Noah. Its all in the Bible so it must be true.
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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

  PSacramento We are all driven by emotion and sometimes act out of stress but you are being too hard on yourself. I read your comments last Friday and thought they were spot on. Everyone else has been expressing their opinion and you have the right to as well - though your humility is touching.

  Hope you are having a better week now.
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  42

  WHY I'M GLAD THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES DIDN'T GIVE UP ON ME

  by wasblind in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  last week i had a visit from two sisters from the old hall i used to attend.

  and i showed them acts 1:8 where jesus tells the apostles to be witnesses of him (jesus).

  they showed me isaiah 43:10 where isaiah qoutes jehovah saying "you are my witnesses".

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  THE GLADIATOR

  " WHY I'M GLAD..."

  Sorry but my names Glad -You have chosen to called Wasblind
• 
  53

  I found it!

  by N.drew in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  this is an illustration that best describes in human terms what i believe eve did.. picture the litle pieces of paper that contain an alcohol prep swab.. sometimes i come accross one that is old*, and it's been hanging around for a while.. so what comes to mind is; "i wonder if it is still damp?".

  i could open it to check (that is what our mother did).. or i could throw it away (that is what god did not do).. or i could leave it alone.. if i open it, then i will either pretend i need it and use it, then throw it away.. or i should throw it away.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  N.drew Yeah but to hate the Lord I would have to believe in him first. So I pass the test.

  Your friends are trying to help me but I'm a slow learner - I eat too many swabs when my bottle runs dry!
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  53

  I found it!

  by N.drew in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  this is an illustration that best describes in human terms what i believe eve did.. picture the litle pieces of paper that contain an alcohol prep swab.. sometimes i come accross one that is old*, and it's been hanging around for a while.. so what comes to mind is; "i wonder if it is still damp?".

  i could open it to check (that is what our mother did).. or i could throw it away (that is what god did not do).. or i could leave it alone.. if i open it, then i will either pretend i need it and use it, then throw it away.. or i should throw it away.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  N.drew "Do not open the paper, the alcohol is there for an emergency (when needed) Do I have to say tree of life?"

  I keep alcohol in a bottle for an emergency - those swaps make me thirsty.

  As for this Eve thing, she was bound to come unstuck cos her only friend was the devil.
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  6

  Well, there goes another of "that generation"

  by serenitynow! in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  andy rooney just died.

  i liked him.

  he was a crotchety old dude.

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  THE GLADIATOR

  High Hopes Next time you're found, with your chin on the ground
  There a lot to be learned, so look around
  
  Just what makes that little old elder
  Think he'll move that generation

  Anyone knows an elder, can't
  Move a generation
  
  But he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes
  He's got high apple pie, in the sky hopes
  
  So any time you're gettin' low
  'stead of lettin' go
  Just remember that elder

  Oops there goes another generation

  When troubles call, and your back's to the wall
  There a lot to be learned, that wall could fall
  
  Once there was a silly old elder

  Thought he'd punch a hole in a date
  No one could make that elder, scram
  He kept buttin' that date
  
  but he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes
  He's got high apple pie, in the sky hopes
  
  
  
• 
  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

  AGuest – I have re-read you post in the light of this fresh Sunday morning. It seems that we arrive at the point where although I can contemplate an impersonal universal awareness that does not interfere the affairs of humans and is not responsible for our well being and does not have any need or interest in being worshiped - You believe in a personal God that communicates with humans and has rewards lined up for those that choose to put faith in, acknowledge and worship him.

  For me to believe in such a being, I would be faced with the dilemma this thread originaly posed. You have written many pages in an attempt to explain how a loving all powerful God can allow so much suffering. I have tried to follow your reasoning but find I am still missing some major pieces of the jig-saw. I shall continue to read your posts and see if I can put more of the picture together.

  I would feel more comfortable if you occasionally made some typing errors to reassure a mere mortal like me.

  Take it easy with that shoulder.