| Author | Message | ||
| Jerry Registered user Username: Jerry Post Number: 447 Registered: 6-2002 |
So, today, there is a magazine placed on my doorknob about a new LDS Temple open house in the city where I live. In the magazine is an article listing the ìCore Beliefs and Doctrinesî. Compare the LDS Creed found here to the SDA Creed found here. is not a creed, is so, is not, is so . . . Scary, Huh!! Well, Iíll give the Mormons this much: at least they come right out and call the writings of J. Smith Scripture and specifically call him a ìprophetî. | ||
| Loneviking Registered user Username: Loneviking Post Number: 336 Registered: 7-2000 |
Jerry, if you have a chance take a tour of that new temple. The furnishings and symbology are really interesting! | ||
| Jerry Registered user Username: Jerry Post Number: 448 Registered: 6-2002 |
Not likely to want to see it. It has been many years, but I grew up one state north of "Mormon Central." I (and my late Father) had often discussed and read up on Mormon symbology and beliefs. Also, I can hardly remember the number of times "missionaries" came to our door. By the way, my mother mentioned, just today, that they had an encounter with a SDA pastor around when I was born (more than 50 years ago). One day, my father (who was a Methodist minister) invided this SDA pastor and his family over for dinner. My mother, a fresh new minister's wife, proudly prepared a wonderful feast consisting of, amoung other things, a fine, perfectly prepared, PORK ROAST. As soon as the meal was presented, the SDA family informed her that they did not eat meat. My mother, mischievous imp that she can sometimes be, then brought out the vegetables, which the SDA family just loved!! Especially, the mashed potatoes smothered with gravy made from the pork drippings. . . . 'course she did not happen to remember to tell them how the gravy was made, BUT THEY JUST LOVED IT. . . . then there is the time my pre-teen sister answered the door when two LDS missionaries knocked on the door . . . wearing her pet snake around her neck. | ||
| Pw Registered user Username: Pw Post Number: 380 Registered: 6-2004 |
Halloween indeed as far as regarding the creeds of the LDS & the SDA. All tricks and no treats. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1785 Registered: 12-2003  |
That Mormon creed is eerily familiar in many ways... You're right, Pw--"all tricks and no treats." Colleen | ||
| Jerry Registered user Username: Jerry Post Number: 449 Registered: 6-2002 |
Yep, Pw, I agree. What a week for cultic literature! So, today, I take my mother to a doctor and end up waiting for about two hours while she got a MRI. There on the magazine table was an Amazing Facts "40th anniversary" magazine. I carefully looked through it to find any reference to the Seventh-day Adventist church or E. G. White. Despite revealing that the publisher was Pacific Press and touting Desire of Ages and another EGW book for sale. Those words did not appear anywhere. No surprise, of course. So I wrote "CULT" on the front and back cover and wrote this on the first inside page: "This group is entirely owned by the Seventh-day Adventist church. In NOT ONE place will you find that fact revealed in this magazine. This is a cultic organization based mostly on the unscriptural writings of E. G. White, a false prophet." And put it back on the table. There was also some JW literature, but they boldly proclaimed their identity, so I did not bother doing the same to them. (. . . just had to do it . . .) | ||
| Pw Registered user Username: Pw Post Number: 384 Registered: 6-2004 |
I wish you were able to write "cult" on the Revelation Seminar ad I responded to in the newspaper years ago that hooked me into their clan. Again, nowhere did they identify themselves and held the meetings at a local lodge rather than at their own church building. Liars and deceivers! | ||
| Tisha Registered user Username: Tisha Post Number: 32 Registered: 3-2005 |
Jerry What a great idea! I think I will make up some labels that say what you wrote and carry them with me. Then I'll be ready to stick them on with a moments notice! Between my mother and myself we spend quite a bit og time in doctors' waiting rooms. I can hardly wait! | ||
| Pw Registered user Username: Pw Post Number: 385 Registered: 6-2004 |
Perhaps the label should read: WARNING - WILL ROBINSON....THIS MATERIAL WILL CAUSE YOU TO BE "LOST IN SPACE". | ||
| Praisegod Registered user Username: Praisegod Post Number: 308 Registered: 3-2004  |
I took the response cards out of the Bible story books in one doctor's office. | ||
| Pw Registered user Username: Pw Post Number: 387 Registered: 6-2004 |
I usually throw away any JW materials I see laying around. My area is polluted with them. Haven't really noticed much of an SDA influence here though. | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 564 Registered: 10-2004  |
Also, some web site addresses might be a good thing to put on those labels, so people can research the cult/false prophet if they need to.  Jeremy | ||
| Seekr777 Registered user Username: Seekr777 Post Number: 111 Registered: 1-2003  |
I'm having a problem with putting stickers on other peoples property or throwing out cards. This seems to lower us to another level. If we want to but a nicely labeled sign or a leaflet next to the material it would seem to be more ethical. If we had a leaflet which quietly and convincingly shared our journey out and the Biblical reasons why I know I'd be much more receptive. This reminds me of dirty tricks in Politics. Richard rtruitt@mac.com | ||
| Jerry Registered user Username: Jerry Post Number: 450 Registered: 6-2002 |
Understand, Richard, You may well be right about the ethics of this action, but this material is intended as advertising for public consumption placed, not on the initiative of the doctor's office, but by SDA initiative. This is similar to the way drug companies place pamphlets for people to pick up and read or take with them. The office does not own, purchase, or control the use of this material. This is different from the other magazines purchased by the medical office and placed on the table. Those have DO NOT REMOVE FROM OFFICE clearly marked on the magazine. (Message edited by Jerry on April 13, 2005) | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1382 Registered: 3-2004  |
Because this SDA literature is placed there for public consumption, I picked up the information for the childrens Uncle Arthur stories, put it in my purse and threw it away when I got home. I found it in my dentist's office. The dental hygienist goes to the same church I attend and I told her about what I did and why. She did not know the literature was there. I do not feel bad at all about doing this. I do not want any children corrupted/influenced by the writings of the SDA church. I could not afford those books for my son and used to feel bad about it. Now I am thankful I could not afford them. When I see literature like that again, I will pick it up and take it home and put it in my shredder. Diana | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 192 Registered: 3-2005 |
Way to go Diana!! Stan | ||
| Pw Registered user Username: Pw Post Number: 389 Registered: 6-2004 |
I don't consider throwing out SDA or JW propaganda into the trash lowering myself to another level. I feel that if I can stop one person from joining a cult then it was worth it. It's about as beneficial as junk mail. | ||
| Jerry Registered user Username: Jerry Post Number: 451 Registered: 6-2002 |
In my opinion, the SDA church uses purposefully deceptive techniques to conceal their identity. I choose not to remove or destroy their material. Rather, I reveal who places this material in a way that helps the casual reader to understand that this is a calculated deception. I think that it is just as valid to make the other choice. It is just that I believe that I might have more impact for several people to read my comment and possibly discuss this with others. The people who see this are free to dismiss my comments as "crackpot paranoia" if they wish, but at least it makes them think about the issue. I feel very strongly about countering this type of deception in an effective way. I cannot afford to produce "counter pamphlets" and place them in as many places, so I do the best I can, where I can. I currently believe that this is an ethical choice. However, I will always listen to reasons on the other point of view. | ||
| Tisha Registered user Username: Tisha Post Number: 35 Registered: 3-2005 |
I hear you Richard. I will think about your point of view, and pray about what I should do. Right now I tend to agree with Jerry because I feel so strongly about countering this type of deception. I don't even tear out things that interest me when I come across them in the Doctors' offices. I have asked them to copy things for me! But I do feel that those pamphlets are something different, meant for the public to take. So, I'll have to pray and think about this before I take a stand one way or the other. Thanks for bringing up this other point of view. | ||
| Pw Registered user Username: Pw Post Number: 392 Registered: 6-2004 |
You know, it just dawned on me how I used to leave some SDA tracts (I think it was called Steps to Christ) in public bathrooms. I only pray that someone tossed it away rather than read it. I'd hate to think I actually got someone involved. | ||
| Blacksheep Registered user Username: Blacksheep Post Number: 10 Registered: 3-2005 |
Remember when you or I passed out/placed Adventist liturature, we did it with complete sincereness. It was not because we were out to get somebody, it was because we wanted to help the "unsaved" to get to heaven...etc. Most people in SDA who do this (I assume) are actually doing it in an innocent fashion, whereas the "Church Fathers" are more likely to be the ones out to get the non-wary person. Let us not be too quick to condemn those placing the liturature, most SDAs are as blinded as we once were. And we have to listen to our own conscience when it comes to deciding right or wrong in removing SDA tracts. Just another way to look at this issue. | ||
| Jerry Registered user Username: Jerry Post Number: 453 Registered: 6-2002 |
Yes, Blacksheep, I agree 100 percent. My problem is not with those who actually place the literature, it is with the literature itself. I think we all know that these campaigns are designed and promoted starting from higher levels (often at the General Conference level). It is most likely true that all who place these pamphlets do it with the best of intentions. However, the best intentions do not negate the damage that can be started by the pamphlet. I would never condemn anyone including those who designed the campaign. I condemn the message and the deception. I condemn the clear attempts to conceal the identity of the SDA church. There are at least four ways that this is done in the particular document I saw:
These things are conscious decisions to deceive. However, even the people who made these decisions probably really thought they were doing it for good and righteous reasons. Those of you here who used to do these distributions get NO CONDEMNATION from me. Not even patronizing pity. You did what you thought was right at the time. God bless everyone involved in this, then and now, with His grace and love. I do what I believe is right by countering the message. | ||
| Pw Registered user Username: Pw Post Number: 393 Registered: 6-2004 |
I had a debate with an SDA on another forum about why they did not reveal themselves whenever they promoted Revelation Seminars. His response was that "they did not want to be pre-judged about their doctrine before having a chance for the ones attending to hear the message for themselves". I went on about how deceiving that method is because I fell victim to it. The ad never mentioned their name, nor was it held at their church but a lodge. I really laid down my feelings that no other church (or cult) hides their name behind a veil like this, so why the big secret identity ploy? Never got a decent answer for that question. | ||
| Bob Registered user Username: Bob Post Number: 197 Registered: 7-2000  |
Pw, Scripture says people avoid the light because they know their deeds are evil! | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1774 Registered: 11-2002 |
I consider that stuff 'religious porn'. And, just like I throw out skanky, sleezy sexual porn I will throw out religious porn. |
