Posts by THE GLADIATOR

41

Why is JW Net so hostile? Is it just me?

by Brother Mike in

jw
friends

why can't i say something without someone immature trying to be a smart ass or trying to fight everything i say and use it against me?

comments welcome.

.

THE GLADIATOR

Brother Mike, hostility is part of life. Just take a look at the old-testament - or Hebrew scriptures if you prefer. The most hostile character is called Jehovah. He makes the Devil look cuddly.

Fortunately I don’t believe such an invisible monster ever existed. If you are worried about Armageddon - don’t be. If there is an Armageddon it will be man’s doing. Please don’t let invisible bogey men keep you awake at night or cause you to waste your life in a discredited organization such as the Watchtower Society. You are worth more than that.

80

Is RIDICULE acceptable in online debating?

by nicolaou in

this topic was inspired by one of fhn's comments on the 'warzone' thread, so i'll just restate my post there .

.. "i've been wondering for a while now if ridicule really is an unacceptable feature in debate - it certainly isn't a valid form of argumentation.

the thing is, some individuals really do come out with the most laughable nonsense and parade it as a serious proposition that merits attention.

THE GLADIATOR

Ave Caesar , morituri te salutant.

Hail Caesar, those about to die salute you.

288

Is it just me or has this site become a Believer/Atheist warzone?

by BU2B in

jw
friends

i enjoy the odd thread about evoloution vs creation, etc but lately it seems that a large percentage of threads here devolve into fighting between atheists and theists and distract from what most of us here see eye to eye on, the wt and related things.

i wish things could be more civil here and fr people to realize that people will never see eye to eye on the topic.

it gets so tiring to see the contstant bickring and fighting on those threads.. they seem to go on page after page but very little of substance is discussed seeing as the existence or non existence of a god can be proven by anyone.

THE GLADIATOR

mrhhome Please tell me what you are on - I want some!

169

Challenge to Athiests - is Religion a Pox on Mankind?

by jgnat in

i've spent the last few years examining my core beliefs to test what still stands.

i've let go of an inviolate bible, demoted jesus to a failed prophet, and god as unable to act against injustice.

our universe made itself.

THE GLADIATOR

jgnat I don't think the pastor is attributed superior spirituality…

It is true that more modern church-goers view the vicar, or pastor, as just another congregation member. Some churches in England are more traditional and the vicar is elevated to a higher status. The vicar I know has a ceremonial robe. When we part company after sharing a beverage, he always insists on fumbling with my hand and bestowing a blessing. He means well so I don't cause a fuss - bless him.

169

Challenge to Athiests - is Religion a Pox on Mankind?

by jgnat in

i've spent the last few years examining my core beliefs to test what still stands.

i've let go of an inviolate bible, demoted jesus to a failed prophet, and god as unable to act against injustice.

our universe made itself.

THE GLADIATOR

LisaRose

Yours is a well thought out and uplifting post. I have some sympathy with your view of the social service that many churches provide. Although an atheist, I have visited many Italian churches and also UK churches as I live in southern England.

What sometimes concerns me, is that vicars earn a living claiming to have a special relationship with someone that I can find no evidence of existing. In any other profession it would be considered fraud, but for the fact that many people, often in high positions, do believe in God.

It’s not my business, so it doesn’t keep me awake at night. I even have a friend who is a vicar and we often share a drink or two.

28

What date in 1914 did Satan get chucked out?

by usualusername in

jw
friends

i remember learning at some wt school that world war 1 occured before satan was chucked out of heaven.. .

did anyone else on jwn learn anything similar?.

usualusername .

THE GLADIATOR

I would like to throw my helmet into the ring.

Satan was not cast out in one God-almighty heave. He was cast out in an overlapping way, spanning several generations. If you are referring to the contemporary generation, then you are missing the spiritual event and focusing too much on the physical, which can lead to weakness of the flesh.

To complicate matters, there was both a typical and an antitypical fulfilment of this prophecy; a lesser and greater application. I suggest you wait patiently until a flash of light, via the faithful and indiscreet slave, illuminates the way forward.

Hope this helps.

20

How about a museum/gallery trip sometime?

by snare&racket in

jw
friends

london baby!.

natural history museum, british museum, science museum, art museums a weekend of cheap hotels and eating out... maybe a show!.

wouldn't that be a great weekend?

THE GLADIATOR

As it happens I visited the British Museum in London a month ago. The grand new foyer was littered with Jehovah's Witnesses. Some were casually dressed but the elders and ministerial servants wore smart suits. They hovered around, each clasping a New World Translation in the hope that members of the public would be impressed. They wore badges to show they were on a Bible Tour.

On one of the benches sat an elder and his wife with Bible in full motion. They were taking turns to hard-sell an elderly man who sat clutching a leaflet with picture of girl stroking a lion. I sat down next to the man and listened in. They were trying to convince him that the world is getting worse and worse, so bad that it can’t go on much longer without help from on high. Wickedness is abundant. Apparently the Devil is responsible.

I butted in and explained that I thought the world was getting better. I pointed out that their negative view of the world was not the truth. Attempting to recruit new members in such a way was dishonest. The elder told me they were having a private conversation. I pointed out that we were in a public building, and that making negative, unfounded statements, audible to members of the public, could cause offence. He told me he thought I was very rude. I told him, all that is needed for elders to succeed, is that good men do nothing. He was smart enough to grasp that I opposed his views and hurried his wife back to the safety of the flock.

The old man took it all in. Though slightly mauled, there were no signs of permanent damage. He explained that they had approached him and he didn’t know how to get away without appearing rude. He now knew what to do next time a Jehovah's Witness cornered him. He thanked me. We had a brief chat about the museum before my wife discovered my hiding place and dragged me off to the amazing Egyptian section.

26

How Long Will ARMAGEDDON Last?

by Cold Steel in

according to the jw doctrine, can armageddon happen any day now?

is it possible that it could happen tomorrow?.

will it last minutes, hours, days?

THE GLADIATOR

The Watchtower Society's have a history of moving the goalpost. The faithful men of old did not physically return in 1925 as promised. The promised return of Jesus to earth was explained away as an invisible return that they had failed to notice.

It was claimed that many of the promises regarding Israel had been fulfilled on the Witnesses in a spiritual or pictorial way. The promised paradise was, for now, a spiritual paradise.

It would have only been one step more for the Society to declare that Armageddon was to be fought in a spiritual realm and would be one more invisible fulfilment not seen by the membership.

The Watchtower Society will one day declare that Armageddon has already taken place, invisibly, but they missed this event too, but will explain it all, using that wonderful tool of hindsight. Perhaps giving the due apology for having encouraged some of the older members to spend their lives speculating about how many days or years make up a generation.

They will once again claim that many of their promises regarding Israel have been fulfilled in a spiritual or pictorial way. The New World will be the joyous association of Jehovah's Witnesses in their spiritual paradise. Other churches offer an invisible reward after death. It is unverifiable. The WT will adopt the same tactics as their competitors.

It has happened before and it will happen again. History does and will repeat itself.

288

Is it just me or has this site become a Believer/Atheist warzone?

by BU2B in

jw
friends

i enjoy the odd thread about evoloution vs creation, etc but lately it seems that a large percentage of threads here devolve into fighting between atheists and theists and distract from what most of us here see eye to eye on, the wt and related things.

i wish things could be more civil here and fr people to realize that people will never see eye to eye on the topic.

it gets so tiring to see the contstant bickring and fighting on those threads.. they seem to go on page after page but very little of substance is discussed seeing as the existence or non existence of a god can be proven by anyone.

THE GLADIATOR

jgnat I'd rather let this discussion die of exhaustion, however, than lock it.

Some things should run their course.

288

Is it just me or has this site become a Believer/Atheist warzone?

by BU2B in

jw
friends

i enjoy the odd thread about evoloution vs creation, etc but lately it seems that a large percentage of threads here devolve into fighting between atheists and theists and distract from what most of us here see eye to eye on, the wt and related things.

i wish things could be more civil here and fr people to realize that people will never see eye to eye on the topic.

it gets so tiring to see the contstant bickring and fighting on those threads.. they seem to go on page after page but very little of substance is discussed seeing as the existence or non existence of a god can be proven by anyone.

THE GLADIATOR

LisaRose Why do you Athiests get so upset about Tammy posts?

Well as it happens - I don't, nor do a number of other Atheists, many of whom have now left this forum. It is my opinion that Tammy has an overactive imagination, combined with a need to believe that there is more to existence than that which is immediately obvious. She also places great emphasis on love and kindness which is often lacking in the world. Her belief in Christ offers hope and fulfils an expectation that all will be perfect one day.

Many on this forum were Jehovah's Witnesses and looked forward to a new world in which righteousness was to dwell. We believed we had the truth, but alas we were duped. I sometimes wonder how Tammy would cope if she found that she too had been duped. That may never happen, so all is well for now.

Tolerance is essential, though that does not rule out robust debate. We are all volunteers here and, as has been said earlier, we can avoid threads that we object to or leave the forum. At the end of the day, debates are entertaining and help to adjust our views, expectations, and beliefs. Onwards and upwards!