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Clintonc
Registered user
Username: Clintonc

Post Number: 60
Registered: 10-2007


Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 12:06 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey everybody!

I haven't dropped in here for some time. Lots of changes going on with life, but that always seems to be case, at least for me!

Anyways, I got this strange email today from AdventistReality.com. It was a survey on why former Adventists are leaving the church. So, I answered honestly on why I left. Of course, the survey is skewed in such a way that it is implying that most people leave for reasons other than doctrines and teachings.

Apparently it is being run by a church in Collegedale, TN, which of course is headquarters for Southern Adv. Univ.

The link is http://www.adventistreality.com/

Did anybody else receive this survey too? I wonder how they found me?
Seekr777
Registered user
Username: Seekr777

Post Number: 880
Registered: 1-2003


Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 12:30 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yes I received it as well.
Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady

Post Number: 8203
Registered: 3-2004


Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 12:31 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I went to the link and got a message that I have already taken the survey. I do not remember doing it. Ohhh, well!!!!!
Diana L
Jdpascal
Registered user
Username: Jdpascal

Post Number: 215
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 12:55 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I tried the link from the faf facebook page and got a 'taken it already' message as well....

The only survey like this that I can remmeber taking is one that the Spokane churchs sponsored last year. Maybe it is the same and they have retained participant records in some way..... I know a few of the FAF posters from here did fill out that one.

Might have guessed that the questions would be skewed.
Freeatlast
Registered user
Username: Freeatlast

Post Number: 656
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 1:14 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I got the same error message but do not recall completing any such survey. I would have expected something like:

Q: Why did you leave the Seventh-day Adventist Church? (Select all that apply)

A. I did not really understand Adventism.
B. I want to go out and sin.
C. I want to eat bacon, drink beer, smoke cigars, and drink coffee.
D. I am bitter.
E. I want to do whatever I want with the 10% of my income and 1/7th of my time that really belongs to God.
F. I want to give my allegiance to the Pope.
G. All of the above.
Pnoga
Registered user
Username: Pnoga

Post Number: 364
Registered: 1-2007


Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 1:48 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

My answer...

G.

;)
Philharris
Registered user
Username: Philharris

Post Number: 2131
Registered: 5-2007


Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 3:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well, I logged on, attempted to take the survey and recieved the same message. So, I went to their church website, found their email address and sent them a pitty message. Time will tell if they bother to respond to me.

Fearless Phil
Hec
Registered user
Username: Hec

Post Number: 1046
Registered: 3-2009
Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 3:53 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There has to be something bogus about this survey. I have never, ever taken any survey related to SDA, except the ones they do in their schools when I worked for them. When I tried to take this survey, I also received the message, "We're sorry. You have already taken this survey."
Dennis
Registered user
Username: Dennis

Post Number: 1993
Registered: 4-2000


Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 4:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I found it interesting in regard to their website claiming that "some experts estimate that half of all Seventh-day Adventist churches will close in less than 15 years." I also received the message that I had already taken the survey. Moreover, I found the website deceptive in several ways (i.e., claiming to be a Protestant church stemming from the Protestant Reformation, renaming the Collegedale SDA Church as "Collegedale Community Church," etc.). This reminds me of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints now calling themselves the "Community of Christ." All in all, their hiring a public relations firm to do surveys for them denotes desperation.

Dennis Fischer
Philharris
Registered user
Username: Philharris

Post Number: 2132
Registered: 5-2007


Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 5:12 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Around here, the closest SDA church is about the size of a latte stand. I keep getting the urge to stop in and order a 'blended mocha'. They were renting larger facilities but clearly have 'down sized'.

Fearless Phil
Yenc
Registered user
Username: Yenc

Post Number: 56
Registered: 6-2008
Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 7:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I've never even heard of this survey, and they do have my current address, as I sent my letter requesting to be dropped from the rolls in the past year. Maybe they are not all that interested in the real reasons we have left--or maybe they got tired of reading the responses: "It's based on a pack of bald-faced lies"; "EGW was a fraud"; "Heresy is not my cup of (caffeinated) tea"; "KFC beat rubbery fake 'mystery meat' in my personal taste test"; "Legalism is as worthless as a $3 bill"; "; "I got tired of trying to work my way to heaven"; "I peeked and found the smoke and mirrors"; "One day a week is not as good as resting in Jesus 24/7".
Skeeter
Registered user
Username: Skeeter

Post Number: 754
Registered: 12-2007
Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 7:35 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I wonder if I can take it since I havent sent in my resignation letter yet....
I will go try.
Skeeter
Registered user
Username: Skeeter

Post Number: 755
Registered: 12-2007
Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 7:42 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I got the same message and I know I have not taken it.
River
Registered user
Username: River

Post Number: 6258
Registered: 9-2006


Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 8:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I got the same message and I'm a never been.
I'll bet they have every name on this forum.

They probably broke into Richards server, or they have identified the link as coming form his server.

River
Jeremy
Registered user
Username: Jeremy

Post Number: 3240
Registered: 10-2004


Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 10:25 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Nope, I only tried it through Google just now, and it says I already took it. Hmmm.

Jeremy
Surfy
Registered user
Username: Surfy

Post Number: 661
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 10:35 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Seen one ex-adventist...seen them all. They have no desire for us to really fill out a questionaire. They have no problem making things up anyway.

Surfy
Jdpascal
Registered user
Username: Jdpascal

Post Number: 216
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 10:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

message from the admin at the Sabbatismos facebook page....


quote:

I'm so sorry everyone! It seems to work sometimes and not others. I called the survey company, and the lady I spoke with thinks there is a bug in the program. The lady who runs this account won't be in the office until Tuesday, so I'll call then and update you. A couple of people have been able to take it, but many more have said they got the message that they had already taken the survey when they had not. Frustrating!!!


Asurprise
Registered user
Username: Asurprise

Post Number: 1265
Registered: 7-2007
Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 1:00 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

If the survey is honest, they would let people put down the Bible reasons why they left the SDA church. I doubt they'd do that, so the questions are probably true/false and multiple choice. There's no way they'd allow "essay answers."

It's like when I call my Adventist mother. She absolutely refuses to look up anything in the Bible. Once I begged one of my sisters to let me read something out of the Bible and she held the phone away from her ear and got really angry with me about trying to read it.

Some demonic spirit is suggesting to them that if they get out of their row of "proof texts" (taken out of context) and allow someone else to show them something from the Bible, they'll get "confused."
Jonvil
Registered user
Username: Jonvil

Post Number: 380
Registered: 4-2007
Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 4:52 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

From the Remnant Dictionary

IN CONTEXT: The Remnant Church started with doctrinal truths and, through the inspiration of the SoP, found texts and phrases that support these truths therefore the Remnant Doctrines are to be studied and verified only in the context of their original setting i.e., the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy (SoP).

Through Her interpretations and use of isolated verses and phrases, hidden truths unrelated to the original circumstances of the text have been brought to light, creating a framework that support our distinctives. By studying Her writings in context, it will be shown that most verses cannot be taken literally and/or in context of the scripture, as such use creates confusion to the understanding of their true meanings and leads to our Doctrines being questioned. Bear in mind that the important thing is not learning what scripture seems to say, the key is determining what the SoP is speaking to you in your unique personal circumstances.

The ‘in context’ of scripture is used as a ploy by those who also tout literalism and Sola Scriptura as the sole means to revealing God’s truth in an attempt to undermine the Remnant Truth.

Without the proper interpretation by the Spirit of Prophecy, scripture cannot be understood or trusted:

I am instructed to say ... we are not to receive the words of those (formers) who come with a message (scripture) that contradicts the special points (Sabbath, 1844, IJ… - our distinctives) of our faith. They (formers) gather together a mass of Scripture (taken literally and in context), and pile it as proof around their asserted (Sola Scriptura) theories. This has been done over and over again during the past fifty years. And while (some of) the Scriptures (are inspired and) are God's word (many are just the personal opinions of the writers, mainly Paul, and are to be disregarded), and are to be respected (but not taken literally), ignore) the application of them, if such application moves (contradicts the Spirit of Prophecy) one pillar (Sabbath, 1844, IJ… - our distinctives) from the foundation that God (the Spirit of Prophecy) has sustained these fifty years, is a great mistake (to study Sola Scriptura). He (formers) who makes such an application knows not the wonderful demonstration of the Holy Spirit (the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy) that gave power and force to the past messages that have come (by more than just a Prophet) to the (chosen) people of God (the Remnant Church).--Letter 329, 1905 (Selected Messages, Vol 1, page 160-161).
(see: SPIRIT of PROPHECY, SPIRITURALGESES, TEXTS, VEIL, ‘WHITE, ELLEN’, WHITE LIGHT)
Philharris
Registered user
Username: Philharris

Post Number: 2137
Registered: 5-2007


Posted on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 12:06 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well,

I logged on again, just now, and it let me take the survey. So, I did it. And, I asked for feed back. But, where it asked if I would consider attending an SDA church...I responded negatively.

Fearless Phil

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