| Author | Message | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 622 Registered: 7-2003  |
I don't very often stop by CARM, but I browse through the SDA forum once in a while. I checked it today and was flabergasted to see an entire thread dealing with not taking the name of EGW in vain (my words). The thread was started by a SDA. Under the guise of asking for opinions he was essentially taking his fellow SDAs (and to a lesser degree formers) to task for calling EGW "Ellen". He stated he felt this was distrespectful and that "Ellen G. White", "EGW", or even "egw" would all be more respectful. I really think I've seen it all now. We joke about "Ellen worship" sometimes, but I think it may be something of a reality now. Evidently it's okay to simply refer to "Jesus" or "Paul", but not to "Ellen". For EGW we need something more distinguished and reverent than a one word name. My jaw is on the floor! Chris | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 330 Registered: 7-2004 |
Nothing surprises me anymore. My neighbor was telling me the other day about a friend of hers who lives here in Walla Walla (huge SDA population). She said this friend washes his car quite often (a bit of a neat freak is what she called him). One Saturday afternoon he was in his front yard washing away as usual when his neighbor came over to his yard and politely asked him to refrain from washing his car on Saturday as it was his Sabbath!! When my own neighbor told me this story, I felt nausated. We moved here to Walla Walla thinking we were coming to the SDA evangelic arena. We moved here to get away from a small town where the SDAs were so very legal you could not even scrape the ice off your windshield on Sabbath! I was berated by the church board for paying my kids piano teacher (out of my own pocket, mind you) to come and accompany the small church choir. It is everywhere. It is not going away anytime soon. It is inscidious! It reminds me of the Israelites and how far they wandered away from God. I always marveled at the stories. God was living in their very presence and they still had their idols! The idols of SDAs may not be made of silver and gold but they are "alive and well" in the forms of ELLEN and Sabbath! | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 623 Registered: 7-2003 |
Wow! I'm not quite sure what I would say if someone came over in MY yard and asked me to quite washing MY car because it was THEIR Sabbath. That doesn't even make any sense! CriV | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1352 Registered: 12-2003  |
Oh, my goodness. So well said, Dd--their idols are ELLEN and Sabbath! I wonder if the person on the SDA forum, Chris, would like it better if people called her "EG White"? I've definitely heard her called that--and by Adventists, too! But I really do think that would be disrespectful of their beliefs. Great point: we can refer to Jesus and Paul; how can "Ellen" be disrespectful? I do think "Ellen" demystifies her--and that's a good thing! She was just another sinful human being in need of a Savior! Colleen | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 109 Registered: 7-2004 |
There is another way of referring to her: I have a friend who simply calls her Egg White, or Egg for short. I think this should be supported, personally. This is truly the worship that was cautioned against when God said, "Thou shalt have NO other gods before me." As a former, I know how often I cancelled out the strong teaching of scripture by looking up what EGW had to say about that particular text. I now know that when I'm reading scripture and I feel a little spin inside my head it's because the true Word of God has come up against a "Thus sayeth EGW," and I study what was said in scripture all the more. Give me Jesus. Belva | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 998 Registered: 3-2004  |
If a neighbor came up to me and asked me not to wash my car on THEIR sabbath, I would just say thanks for asking, but it is not my sabbath. And the further I get from SDAism, the more legalistic, cultic, deceitful they are. Just my opinion since I found out how awesome God really is. Diana | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 322 Registered: 10-2004  |
Yes, I have said it before and I will say it again: The Sabbath is their chief god of many gods and EGW is their chief goddess! Remember, she did claim to be a "physician of souls"! You may have noticed that I recently have not been referring to EGW as "Ellen" usally--I thought it was too respectful/friendly! So I started referring to her as EGW--I thought that takes any friendliness out of it. How about Ellen Black instead of White? The name White seems to indicate light/truth but she was all darkness/demonic/devil!!! The name White did not fit! Jeremy | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1452 Registered: 11-2002 |
That neighbor woud not have liked me at all. When I get irritated at various SDA's I know I tell them to go say 20 Hail Ellens and get over it. At the local SDA churh on the cover of their churc directory is a pretty picture of a lovely nature scene. Under the picture is a lovely quote about nature. And under the quote it simply says, "Ellen". I thought that was sort-of weird because if a non-SDA were to visit that church and see that cover on the directory the person would have no clue who Ellen is. Isn't there a church in Denver that has EGW picture in their stained glass wndows? Isn't there an EGW amusement park somewhere back east where people can go through the history of SDA'ism? I think the White Estate even gives tours of the various homes she lived in. My advice is to just keep Jim Jones in mind when thinking about how much people can and do lft up another person. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1001 Registered: 3-2004 |
Susan_2, You can come up with some good ones. LOL I like that about telling an SDA to go say 20 Hail Ellens and get over it. I think the stained glass window with EGW is in Nebraska. If I remember correctly, Dennis Fisher told us about it. Diana | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 197 Registered: 7-2004  |
Brings to mind another conversation I have had on CARM. Several of the SDAs are concerned that it is disrespectful to call her "Ellen" and are careful to always put a capital "S" in Sabbath, but never place a capital in either the word Bible or Scripture. I brought this up on CARM with our old friend Truthseeker. He didn't see why that was a problem, nor apparantly did any other SDAs. I think these "little" issues are very telling about the priorities of SDAs. | ||
| Pw Registered user Username: Pw Post Number: 297 Registered: 6-2004 |
I would have "accidently" sprayed that neighbor with the hose. | ||
| Praisegod Registered user Username: Praisegod Post Number: 232 Registered: 3-2004  |
What is it about Adventists and forums? Do they believe they can argue people into keeping Sabbath and the law? Here's a private message I got yesterday from a moderator at Christianity.com. I was unaware there were THAT many SDAs. There are some really far out people there, though. The difference formers are making is for evangelicals to finally grasp the cultic nature of Adventism. I just am not able to be too regular so I have to thank pw, Loneviking and a few others of you for that. ...... Thank you for your support. All I can tell you is that we need your posts and insight. We have a large number of SDA's on here and we have VERY little brethren that were former SDA. Thank you and God bless you! -earthless ........ Praise God... | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 324 Registered: 10-2004 |
There is a forum called AIO Digital which is a ("non-SDA") forum, but which is operated by an SDA. There is a thread on there discussing SDAism. One person on there is ready to leave SDAism. The guy who runs the forum said that he will not delete the thread. If anyone wants to help on that forum, you can post there without even registering. Here is the link: http://www.multimedia-tech.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=D.B.;action=display;num=1106610795 Jeremy | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 299 Registered: 4-2000  |
Susan, Ellen White is depicted in the stained-glass windows of the College View SDA church here in Lincoln, Nebraska. The designer of the $100,000.00 stained-glass windows was a Catholic lady in Phoenix, Arizona. Also, the pulpit that EGW preached from in the old, wood-framed College View SDA church is carefully preserved and brought out on special occasions. Wow, imagine the soaring excitement of an Adventist simply touching a pulpit that EGW preached from! :>) On special occasions, this nostalgic pulpit replaces the contemporary one. The Adventists also have spent millions of dollars in preserving SDA pioneer homes in Battle Creek, Michigan--including the home of Ellen and James White. Truly, Adventists should no longer make fun of Catholic relics. One or two of Dale Ratzlaff's books are locked up in various SDA college libraries. I was told that SDA parents might get offended by pilgrimage literature in their children's college library. Thank God for cyberspace that empowers lives with information. I was refused entrance into the Heritage Room at Union College. The librarian at that time, Cloe Foutz, told me, "We are very sneaky about things in there." This was really an interesting, truthful comment from a SDA college librarian that I have been acquainted with since the 1960s. Oh yes, remember the big, heavy Bible that Ellen supposedly held out with one hand during a vision? I recall when Elder D. A. Delafield, from the White Estate, would carry that Bible in the trunk of his car to various academies to impress teenagers about EGW. Later I saw this big Bible at the White Estate in 1970. It has since been determined that the whole story was an intentional hoax. Actually, these special feats of Ellen come across as very cultic to even SDA audiences. Therefore, the big Bible is resting peacefully at the White Estate these days. Ellen White is indeed the apple of the Adventist eye. It is a veneration akin to Mariology. Dennis J. Fischer | ||
| Tealeaves Registered user Username: Tealeaves Post Number: 197 Registered: 5-2004 |
DD, I was not SDA, and never had met and SDA, when I decided to go to WallaWalla College. (I though SDAs were just another denom. I didnt even really know about the Saturday deal.) So I showed up and Walla Walla College with not even one clue what I was in for. I walked unknowingly into the most spiritually oppressive place I have ever been. (And a cafeteria that served "wham and cheese" sandwiches. I didn't know what the heck that was! I found out quick.) Anything I said that was "too spiritual" was quickly quashed. I was told within the first week, by someone I had just met, that I was going to be condemned for Sunday worship. i was asked to wear something different to Friday night vespers. (I guess they objected to leather jacket, jeans and earrings.) That whole area is, i believe, spiritually oppressed. The administration had a hissy fit about us holding "prayer warriors", which was a spontaneous student led and student attended prayer group on the lawn in front to fthe admin building. We never did quite figure out what exactly their objection was. (too spiritual, again, I guess.) I don't envy you your time there. A picture I feel aptly describes so many people on that campus is that they have a lump of grey ash in the middle of their being where a fire should absolutely blaze for God. And they seemed so scared that someone would see their true selves, their lack of perfection. I felt that people were cold, distant, lost, straining to quench a thirst, but drinking sand, not water. Ouch, until I wrote this, i didnt remember just exactly how bad i felt about and for the people there. Imagine my shock when i found out that Walla Walla College was the supposedly "evangelical" and "liberal SDA college. -tanya- | ||
| Tealeaves Registered user Username: Tealeaves Post Number: 198 Registered: 5-2004 |
My husband's devout SDA uncle designed and built an EGW memorial nature walk of some sort, at some SDA memorial site. It has stones engraved with her sayings, or the steps to Christ, or something like that, along the floor of the path. He told me about that, and their annual visit to her hometown, or Battle Creek, or something... and it gave me the creeps. At the time he told me that, he was still SDA. But I talked to him the other day, and he agrees that it gives him the creeps now too, thinking back on it. | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 333 Registered: 7-2004 |
Tanya, When were you a student at WWC? Did you meet your husband here? I am an alumnus myself - graduated 83 in nursing. Of course, as a born and raised "pure-breed", I thought WWC was a notch below heaven. I was a RA and dated a guy who was the big spiritual leader on campus. WOW! What brainwashing! I am so deeply humbled and awed that God chose ME to come out of such bondage and experience His love and grace! | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1455 Registered: 11-2002 |
Dennis J., You have a wonderful wry sense of humor. I like the "soaring excitement" phrase. I honestly don't think most SDA's even realize how entrenched their religion is with EGW. I will use my elderly mother as an example but I know numerous SDA's that are the same as her. I doubt if she has even read an entire EGW book in her entire life. There are no EGW books to be found in her house. In fact, on her bookshelves are The White Lie and old issues of Spectrurm. She reads at least one chapter per evening from her NIV Bible. Somehow reading the Bible lines up exactially with the doctrines of the SDA chch. She does get the Sabbath School quarterly, the Review, The Amazing Facts, The Recorder, The Quiet Hour Magazine and other magazines. I just think those people do not realize just how much EGW they are getting from the SDA magazines. Tanya, You must have been really overwhelmed with the environment you found yourself in. And, Tealeaves, I sometimes walk the prayer labyrinth. It's a wonderful experience. I like to do the steps to the Our Father. Or, the Prayer of St. Patrick or the prayer of St. Francis of Asassi. | ||
| Lindylou Registered user Username: Lindylou Post Number: 16 Registered: 1-2005 |
Goodness! this thread has been an eye-opener for me! I was laughing one minute and gasping the next as I read all the EGW/Sabbath stories. I love that "EggWhite" reference!  "Dd" - Your neighbor story astounded me - And what's more - I found my own sense of surprise a bit unnerving. I think that I have had the idea that most SDA's have been white-washing some of their controversial beliefs - a sort of sweeping under the rug phenomonom (sp?). But I can see that I have had blinders on myself in regards to the deeply entrenched "works" based views of the SDA church and its members. There seems to be a real "cognitive dissonance" among the current generation of SDA's. "Tealeaves" - your experience at WWC really hit me. I, too, live in the WW valley not far from "Dd". I haven't involved myself much in the SDA college circle - but I have felt a real spiritual oppression in this valley. I did not link it to SDA's specifically - because I have had a few of my nonSDA coworkers mention to me that they felt the same thing. It's a strange thing -in my job in the public schools, I have felt more free to express my Christianity than I would have thought possible. But there has always been this sense of some kind of oppressive spirit here. Returning to the valley from a trip away - does not bring a sense of peace. I have usually attributed that to the gray weather we have - (or the fact that our area is the nation's leader in methanphetamin production in the country!) But the retelling of your experience here produced an "Ah-Ha" moment in me. Thanks for sharing your stories everyone. Linda . | ||
| Schasc Registered user Username: Schasc Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2004 |
It has been interesting to read these posts since I am presently living in Walla Walla. I never went to the college, but do know lots of people that work there now as well as students from both the college and academy. It is hard to compare what this college is like compared to other evangelical colleges since I only attended Adventist schools all my life. As I watch the adventist people around me (young and old) it seems that more of them are open about a relationship with Christ than I ever found while I was a student at another sDA College. It seemed that everyone back 20 years ago was much more concerned about "rules" than having an authentic relationship with Christ. Has anyone else found that to be true? |
