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Bosslady
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Username: Bosslady

Post Number: 19
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2011 - 10:42 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I'm reading the book "Sybil Exposed." I did not know that the girl written about was an Adventist. This is a must read. I can so relate to her conflicts as a kid in a small town and the restrictions of the church. Spectrum Magazine has an article about the book and the responding blogs are very interesting.
Nowisee
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Username: Nowisee

Post Number: 967
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2011 - 10:04 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I haven't heard of "Sybil Exposed", but years ago when I read "Sybil" I thought she was SDA...interesting!

Now I have another book to read...
Chris
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Username: Chris

Post Number: 1621
Registered: 7-2003


Posted on Monday, October 24, 2011 - 10:09 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Like nowisee, I read the book "Sybil" many years ago (when I was an Adventist) and thought, this family absolutely has to be Adventist. I have never heard it officially confirmed, but their beliefs and practices sure made them sound like Adventists or something else very close to it. For those who might be too young to remember the book or the movie, both (but especially the book) depict unfathomably evil abuse that ends up splitting a little girl up into multiple personalities that deal with the trauma in different ways.
Colleentinker
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Username: Colleentinker

Post Number: 13079
Registered: 12-2003


Posted on Monday, October 24, 2011 - 4:04 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have also heard that Sybil was raised Adventist. And from what I know of Adventism and of people whom I have known within that system...I have absolutely no trouble believing it is true.

Colleen
Bosslady
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Username: Bosslady

Post Number: 20
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Monday, October 24, 2011 - 6:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I think the book is more than informative about the SDA church. I think it is damning as it has nothing good to say and the investigative author Debbie Nathan really did her homework and portrays Adventism as the cult it is. The church has no choice but to respond. I heard the book talked about on talk radio and references about the church were not flattering. Spectrum was very quick to write a critique of the book. As a "former" I couldn't stop reading it and I'm loaning it out already.
Bosslady
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Username: Bosslady

Post Number: 21
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Monday, October 24, 2011 - 6:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I think I assumed the title of the book made the content obvious. But for clarification - the book reveals the true story of Shirley Mason. Shirley, her psychiatrist and writer made up the story of Sybil to make money. It was an elaborate fraud!
Nowisee
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Username: Nowisee

Post Number: 972
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - 8:30 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

What?! Since I haven't read the second book--was Shirley Mason an adventist? Someone involved knew of adventism.
Thegoldenway
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Username: Thegoldenway

Post Number: 192
Registered: 5-2011
Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2011 - 8:08 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ya, Shirley Mason was a SDA from Minnesota. I have just started reading 'Sybil Exposed'. That poor girl! The author does a halfway decent job in depicting what it is like to grow up in a SDA home.
lynn
Butterfly_poette
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Username: Butterfly_poette

Post Number: 91
Registered: 5-2011
Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2011 - 1:27 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I knew Shirley Mason was raised SDA. I noticed that the film showed young Sibyl saying she would have to confess in front of the church if she danced.
I do remember that one of her personalities was someone afraid of the End Times.
Skeeter
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Username: Skeeter

Post Number: 1679
Registered: 12-2007


Posted on Saturday, October 29, 2011 - 9:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I downloaded "Sybil exposed" to my Nook e reader a few days ago. Before I actually purchased the book, I read the "free sample" on the Barnes and Noble site. When it started getting into the part where it talked about Adventism..... I did something that might be considered just a little...... "sneaky".... I called my SDA Mother in law (who no longer discusses religion with me,, I think.. no.... I KNOW she is afraid I will want to give her information she does not want to hear) but I know that she has an interest in things like this, so I called her the other day and asked her if she remembered the book and movie about "Sybil" she said yes, and that she had probably read the book 3 or 4 times (years ago) so I asked her if she knew "Sybil" was from an Adventist family, and she said she thought she had heard that somewhere not too long ago. I told her about there being a book "Sybil exposed" and that apparently a LOT of the original story was fabricated and that I was going to order the book and asked if she would like me to order one for her also. She said YES, that she would really like to read it. Of course I am sure she is thinking that it will clear "Sybil's" SDA parents of any wrongdoing.... and I read enough of the preview to know that is not the case. I bought my copy as a e reader so I have it and have gotten far enough to know it does NOT put Adventism in a good light at all. I am HOPING that when she gets the book, it will somehow make something "click" and awaken a desire to really dig in and learn the truth about Adventism. Since she was apparently fascinated by the original story (to have read it multiple times) I hope this book exposing the lies of the first one and also exposing a lot of really crazy stuff about Adventism will speak to her where I cannot. Figured it was worth taking a chance on anyway :-)
Francie
Skeeter
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Username: Skeeter

Post Number: 1680
Registered: 12-2007


Posted on Saturday, October 29, 2011 - 9:47 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I didnt tell her I already got my "book" so she assumes we will be getting our books at the same time and will be learning what is said at the same time. I think it is best to let her think that otherwise she will realize I set her up to read it knowing what it says about Adventism..... sneaky I will admit, but I have been at a loss to find a way to get information to her without her getting defensive and am hoping this will put a crack in her armor. I have thought about sending her books by Dale Ratzlaff, etc. anonymously hoping she would read them, but I keep thinking she needs to read something by someone whose name she does not recognize as a "former" SDA first and then maybe she would be willing to read something by "formers" after that.
Colleentinker
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Username: Colleentinker

Post Number: 13095
Registered: 12-2003


Posted on Sunday, October 30, 2011 - 12:25 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Good idea, Francie!

Colleen

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