| Author | Message | ||
| Weimarred Registered user Username: Weimarred Post Number: 7 Registered: 1-2005 |
Growing up, I used to wonder why people thought SDA was so strange. After all, I reasoned, weíre a relatively mainstream Protestant Church. Sure, we donít like the Catholic Church, but then, anyone, by simply being a Protestant, is implying that something is wrong with Catholicism. And doctrinal differences? Well, Methodists and Baptists disagree, so what is it so unique about SDA doctrinal differences? Now I have a deeper understanding about the isolationistic doctrine of the SDA, especially after seeing how ìothersî believe. And another point strikes me. I have NEVER heard more quack quack about conspiracy theories or fringe beliefs from any other group of people (at least, that was/is my experience). Not that we as SDA ever actually believed these theories, but we sure liked to talk about them! As I stroll down memory lane, here are some of my personal favorites: 1> Something to do with merchants, red and blue were color codes for evil, and the big Safeway ìSî stands for Satan. 2> The mark of the beast might actually involve computer chips under the skin. 3> W.A.S.P. of course, stood for ìWe Are Satanís Peopleî, and WHAM stood for ìWe Homosexuals Are Misunderstoodî. 4> 1983 was the final year before Big Brother would take over (at the instigation of the Papacy Beast? Were Orwell and White somehow related?). 5> When one of Weimarís missionaries fell in China and suffered a fatal head injury, I actually heard one woman say that it was the Devilís work, and that human agents might also have been involved. 6> Ah, the ever elusive Illuminati. 7> There was actually a supposedly ex-Jesuit who converted to SDA, and was preaching that Jesuits have a ìhit listî of heretical churches that they need to especially focus on. And who heads the list? Do you have to ask? 8> Sunday Blue Laws are conclusive proof of things to come. 9> Pyramid logy might give us a deeper understanding of spiritual matters. 10> The Dead Sea Scrolls absolutely confirm all Biblical (and hence, SDA) doctrine. 11> Angels ìknewî Eve, and she bore their children. Hence, SDA can avoid any hint of incest in the Genesis story. 12> Catholics are somehow behind the theory of Evolution, all in an effort to confuse and numb Protestants spiritually. 13> The Ark of the Covenant was taken up to heaven. 14> And how many people do you know, considered to be ìevilî now, such as Ozzie Osbourne, that supposedly grew up as SDA? (The point here, I guess, is that the closer you have been to the truth, i.e. SDA, the further you fall when you leave the church!) And my all-time favorite: 15> Pigs are a mixed breed of man and sheep! I donít know if this is the origin of the man/sheep/pig speculation, but on the internet I recently came across the following quote attributed to EGW: ìÖif there was one sin above another which called for the destruction of the race by the flood, it was the base crime of amalgamation of man and beast . . . (which produced) the confused species which God did not createÖî Anyone have any further enlightenment on this one? Interestingly, we never discussed conspiracy theories that might contradict the church. We never talked about how somebody might have found Jesusí body, or how the Holy Grail might be Mary Magdalene and her descendants, or how EGW might have eaten unclean meat (MORE THAN A THEORY), or how some sect that had left SDA (much as WE had left the mainstream) might actually have inherited our remnant status away from us. No, no, any theory, no matter how far-fetched, could be discussed as long as it didnít contradict us, per se. I know that itís fun to speculate about the unexplained, but why is it that SDA seems to be such a magnet for so much of this tripe? - Tom | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 570 Registered: 7-2003 |
Tom, in regards to the EGW amalgamation quote, I don't think she was talking about pigs. It's most likely that she was refering to a pseudo-scientific myth that was rather popular in some circles in her day. Some people of her day, promulgated a repugnant theory that people of African heritage were an amalgamation of man and monkey. There are other racist quotes made by EGW that tend to support the idea that she had a very low view of people of color. Just another reason why we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, she was a false prophet. Chris | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 264 Registered: 10-2004 |
Tom, Here are a few links for further study of the amalgamation issue: http://www.ellenwhite.org/guests.htm http://www.ellenwhite.org/secrets1.htm http://www.ellenwhite.org/critica.htm Ellen White's "Inspired" Bigotry, Racism, and Discrimination! (especially the bottom of that page--that's my webpage) Jeremy | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1352 Registered: 11-2002 |
Is it true Ozzy was raised SDA? I really like him. He just seems too human to not like him and his family. They remind me so much of so many people I know-real people with real problems and real heartfelt joys. As I was reading your list it came to me how the SDA church sure has it's share of offshotts that really have gone off the deep end. Of course we all know about the Branch Davidians. But, there are many others. There's the Shepherd's Rods and I am currently at a loss of anymore formal names of the semi-official groups but there are a lot of them. I think it is on Dirk's site where he has the article of EGW saying the man and beast union produced the Bushmen of Africa race. It is very sick-o to say the least. Scrool down and you will find a heading, "SDA in black and white". It has a lot about that issue on there. | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 284 Registered: 4-2000 |
Jeremy, A special thanks for the links you provided above. The third link (nine pages) about Ellen White's "inspired" bigotry and racism is a "must read" type of information. Her false view of Old Covenant tithing is clearly revealed as well. I have often wondered why any person of color would even remotely entertain the idea of becoming an Adventist or a Mormon--considering their racist historical background. The truth is that people are willing to believe in almost anything. Human beings are hopelessly religious, and they will worship anything except the true God in countless cases. Dennis J. Fischer | ||
| Weimarred Registered user Username: Weimarred Post Number: 9 Registered: 1-2005 |
Susan_2, I doubt seriously that the Oz-Man grew up SDA. But as SDA teens we were always talking about so-and-so being ex-SDA. I don't know, maybe it was a Weimar thing. Speaking of the Ozzes, I dearly loved the appearance the kids did on MAD TV. They were invited to a Christian home, for Thanksgiving dinner, I think. The assumptions the Christian family made about the kids, and the whole inter-play were absolutely hilarious! It had me rolling on the floor! | ||
| Weimarred Registered user Username: Weimarred Post Number: 10 Registered: 1-2005 |
Jeremy, those were some pretty wild sites! They really expose the foible and follies of EGW. It sure looks like her "divine inspiration" was nothing more than pseudo-scientific plagarism! | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 935 Registered: 3-2004 |
Jeremy, Thanks for the links. I logged on to them and read them. I was disgusted that anyone could write things like she did. How could anyone believe that stuff??? Again I thank God that He brought me out of Adventism. Diana | ||
| Pw Registered user Username: Pw Post Number: 266 Registered: 6-2004 |
Jeremy. Your imput is really an eye opening experience. I was only involved in the SDA for 1 year, but reading certain things you've posted are mind blowing. The idea of how the black race began is also the same theory that the Mormons held, yet they are too ashamed of this issue nowadays. It's a taboo topic that is never even brought up or dismissed when confronted. So much for loving your neighbor as yourself. | ||
| Pheeki Registered user Username: Pheeki Post Number: 462 Registered: 1-2003 |
I saw Ozzie's biography and it said nothing about him ever being SDA. I think that is a urban legend probably tied into the title of his first band "Black Sabbath". | ||
| Pw Registered user Username: Pw Post Number: 269 Registered: 6-2004 |
That was the first time I ever heard about Ozzy being an SDA. I doubt that's true. However, isn't the actor Mark Wahlberg now an SDA? It's ironic how they condemn going to to the movies, but here's someone who actually acts in movies and makes a living from it. Is that a double standard or what? | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 571 Registered: 7-2003 |
The Ozzy thing is most definately an SDA urban legend that has been around at least since I was a kid. I've done a little bit of research on Mark Wahlberg and it appears that too is an SDA urban legend. One of the other very common SDA urban legends is the one where someone's friend went to a rock concert only to have [insert name of rock group here] come on stage and command the SDAs in the crowd to leave the auditorium. Any theories on why SDA circles are so fraught with urban legends where Adventism plays a central role? Chris | ||
| Goldenbear Registered user Username: Goldenbear Post Number: 39 Registered: 12-2004 |
I was looking at a google search and came across these famous adherents. I particularly like the fact that Sybil, the woman with multiple personalities, is associated with the sda church. Check it out: http://www.adherents.com/largecom/fam_sda.html | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 177 Registered: 7-2004 |
Chris, I have my own theory. Paranoid delusions (at a corporate level). People are so desperate in their need to feel like they have a special place with God that few others have, that they are willing to accept the wildest things just to maintain this delusion. | ||
| Weimarred Registered user Username: Weimarred Post Number: 12 Registered: 1-2005 |
Goldenbear, I also like the fact that Prince (or whatever his name is nowadays) was raised as an SDA. Somehow, that makes sense in a grand cosmic sort of poetic justice way! -Tom | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 572 Registered: 7-2003 |
Goldenbear, it's interesting that you mentioned Sybil. I read the book as a kid and wondered if they might be SDA based on somethings that were said about her mother, the mother's beliefs, and how she raised Sybil. However, that's not an association I would think any SDA would really want to make. I don't know if anyone else here has read the book, but the movie can't begin to touch the horrors described in the book. To this day the images of sexual torture that were inflicted on that poor girl are burned in my mind. P.S. Don't let your kids read this book......what were my parents thinking? Chris | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 270 Registered: 10-2004 |
Wow, as quoted at the link Goldenbear posted regarding "Sybil":
How terrible and sad that she never was able to get out from under the hold of Adventism.  And her estate even went to SDAism! Jeremy | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1265 Registered: 12-2003 |
How sad. My experience has suggested to me (based on several people I know personally from various associations including teaching) that Sybil's situation, while perhaps more severe than many, is nonetheless not necessarily rare in Adventism. There's nothing like a healthy vegan diet to purge one's conscience from hidden sins. Sigh. Colleen | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1362 Registered: 11-2002 |
Prince is JW. However, Little Richard is SDA. He actually pastors a SDA church in LA. I have heard he can really get that church rockin! I took a child abuse class in college. For the most extreme example of child abuse our teacher had us read the book, Syble. We were told in our class that the more "enclosed" or "self-isolated" a group is within the larger society the more likly it is that the children will suffer abuse, as well as the spouses, physical, sexual and emotional abuses. I once knew a psychologist who was SDA. She told me a greater percentage of SDA's are on anti-depression medications than the general public at large. I don't know if her statement was based on any study or was an educated guess on her part but I tend to believe it. | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 273 Registered: 10-2004 |
According to that adherents.com link that Goldenbear posted, Prince was raised SDA but is now a convert to JW. Jeremy |
