| Author | Message | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1809 Registered: 11-2002 |
Every Monday night at 10 to 11 p.m. on EWTN is one of my favorite programs. It is called, Coming Home. In case you are unaware of what EWTN is it is the Catholic tv network. The letters stand for, Eternal Word Television Network. I have learned a lot on that station about early Christian history, different martyers, missionaries, etc. It is a network with many different and interesting programs. Anyway, on Monday nights is a program called, Coming Home. It has a moderator and one guest. The guest will either be someone converted to the Catholic faith from a totally non-Catholic background or sometimes will be a lapsed Catholic who has returned to the faith of his heritage. Well, last night was the most interesting episode of Coming Home I have ever seen. The guest was a lady named Dr. Beverly J. B. Whelton, Ph. D. She looked to be in her early 50's. She was raised historic SDA. She attended SDA schools from first grade through high school. I did not catch if she attended SDA colleges. She became a nurse. It always bothered her that SDA medical institutations did abortions but she got a job in a non-SDA health care setting and like many SDA's do she tried to push that knowledge of abortions in SDA institutations to the back of her mind. Then she married a young man who had been raised Catholic. Interestingly he became Adventist and she converted to Catholic. She was extremely accurate in her explaniations of the different SDA doctrines and teachings. She explained the IJ as well as anyone possibly can. She explained the exclusiveness of SDA's to the greater society-you know, their own schools, because of the food restrictions and the Sabbath rules their sociasl lives generally revolves around only other SDA's, etc. She told how one of her favorite memories in school was in the sixth grade making a replica of the Temple (Tabernachle?). She said the defining doctrine that led her away from the SDA is their teachings on the soul/spirit after physical death. It just never added up to her knowing that God breathed His own breath into Adam. She got all the details of SDA doctrine and teaching exactially correct. It was extremely interesting. I would like Colleen to find out if that lady would do an interview for Proclamation! It would be interesting. I went to the Coming Home website hoping to read a transcript of the interview but there was none. I know Colleen and her husband saw the program also so Colleen, how about adding your two-cents to this discussion? Did any of you others watch it? If so, please respond. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2032 Registered: 12-2003  |
Richard and I were chuckling about watching this program as he put the finishing touches on the next Proclamation (yes, we're finally getting caught up with the dates that appear on the magazine!). The woman was--well, a bit eccentric, perhaps--but extremely bright. We were most struck by how accurately she explained SDA doctrines and practices--their origins, meanings, etc. While we didn't see eye-to-eye with her in terms of how she resolved her cognitive dissonance with Adventism, still she made very good points about the human soul and the issue of human life and how that related to abortion. She had attended a Catholic university at some point--post grad, I think--and she began to find that their respect for life and the significance of the human soul resonated with her. Interestingly, she talked about the joy and freedom she had found in Catholicism. It's true that she was able to abandon the rigid, historic dietary practices, etc. (The SDA diet restrictions were one of the points she discussed as being unbiblical.) I would guess that she is saved--admittedly, I dozed off a few times during the program--but she did seem to have a much deeper respect for God than she had as an Adventist. I thought an interesting point was that her mother-in-law (now former MIL) was a huge role model and served as a major catalyst for her becoming Catholic. She talked about her in-laws compassion and kindness--it made me suspect her own family had probably been harsh and demanding in a typical historic SDA way. At any rate, it was quite interesting! Colleen | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1813 Registered: 11-2002 |
Coming Home has a website. i got to it on search. It was around the tenth one down. I read a lot on their site today. What struck me as so interesting in the interview with Dr. Whelton was when the interviewer asked her if having gone to sda schools her entire growing up years if she had learned early Chruistian history. She has said that she learned through Jesus and the apostles. Then was taught that Christianity was for the most part a hidden religion, the people were too fearful to openly be Chriastians and that in SDA schools she was taught that the term Dark Ages means just that. That that period of time Christianity had been blocked out. Then she learned about Martin Luther and that God used him for a big revival of Christianity and then when Ellen White came along God used her for His final, last great guide to understanding all truth. I was stunned as that is just the exact same way that I was taught. I never heard the names of the great martyers, the great early missionaries of Christianity, I think I learned of Albert Schwitzer from my own readuing, not in SDA schools. It was basically that Christianity didn't exist until EGW c ame along and lead folks to true Christianity. She also mentioned that she was taught that the pope is the beast of Revelation. That also ios just how I was taught. Do SDA's and the SDA church even recognize the great pronmotors of Christianity? Do they have a spot in their compassion for Mother Theresa? Dorothy Day? Father Romero? etc. | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 9 Registered: 4-2005 |
I grew up believing that Catholics were to be guarded against. I was told they worshipped idols, and that priests along with the entire Church were the standard bearers of all that is opposed to God and Biblical truth. As a child I was actually afraid of individuals I discovered were Catholics. No way would I ever get close enough to a Catholic Priest for him to attempt to shake my hand ! After our painful excommunication from the SDA Church,we found ourselves adrift in a hugh world we had been taught was basically evil and the epitome of Babylon. Eventually I began to guardedly sniff out Christian authors, and world religions and philosophies and I was shocked to find nuggets of truth, nearly everywhere I looked. While virtually all Adventists and possibly a number of former Adventists would raise their eyebrows over whom and what I now include as my "spiritual mentors," I hold them in my heart with gratitude for the helping hand they extended to me and the stepping stones they and their cultures offered which, for me, clarified my own traumatic walk to a renewed and fuller understanding of the Gospel and to come to know the Loving Father in ways previously not imagined. Such mentors include: Friar/Father Thomas Keating; St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, Thomas Merton and William A. Meninger among others. I was ashamed to discover the depth of their love of Jesus, their commitment to His Spirit and their focus upon being God's persons. Father Keating and I have corresponded over the years during his residence at St. Benedict's Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado. His books, "Open Mind, Open Heart - The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel; Invitation to Love - the Way of Christian Contemplation, Awakenings, and Reawakenings, much by Thomas Merton have brought great spiritual blessing and enlightenment and helped lead me into a higher level or dimension of prayer I had not known. I have come to discover that many Catholics are more Christian than many, many Adventists I have known and if we can lay aside our former self-righteous cloaks and throw back our "remnant hood" we can embrace Catholic Christians with the same love we share with each other. Why waste our energy railing upon the Pope and Catholicism as a legalistic religion, when we can focus upon that which is uplifting of Christ, and transcending union with Him. It is possible that by our open arms and hearts, our humanness, we might be used by the Holy Spirit to bring a greater understanding of the authentic Gospel to them as well as to others. JWD | ||
| Pw Registered user Username: Pw Post Number: 451 Registered: 6-2004 |
I remember how the SDA's tainted the Catholic Church during the Revelation Seminar. It was all their fault for changing the sabbath day to Sunday, idol worship, etc. They basically were calling them a cult without using the word itself. They need to take a good look in the mirror. | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 894 Registered: 7-2003  |
I remember the first time B came to a Thursday evening service with me (He can't come on Sunday, but came to a couple on Thursdays...) He was shocked we actually used the Bible. He had been taught SDAs were the only people who actually used it. His distrust of Catholics is much as mentioned above.... | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2038 Registered: 12-2003 |
Melissa, I just feel for you in this shared-parenting relationship you have with B. The inability to agree on the most essential reality is such a burden to bear. You have great perception and insight, and I admire the way you have pursued Jesus and healing and truth in spite of the situation with B. You remain in my pryaers... Colleen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1558 Registered: 3-2004  |
Growing up in addventism(they add to the Bible), I was taught what all that the SDAs believe is wrong with them. Countering what I learned was that all my Mom's relatives are Catholic and her favorite cousin, with whom she was raised, is a Catholic priest. So I found out at an early age that there are some Catholics who are good people. Most of my Catholic cousins are like a lot of SDA, including myself. We are/were what we are/were because we were raised that way and did not give it much thought. One of my cousins, as an adult, gave up Catholicism and became a JW. I did not understand it when it happened, as I was out of the church, but paid lip service to the SDA church. I still believe my uncle is a godly man and will not be surprised to see him in heaven. Thank God, He has His hands on us from the time we are born. He is awesome. Diana | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 691 Registered: 10-2004  |
Diana, I like that--"Addventism"!  Jeremy | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 460 Registered: 7-2004 |
Melissa, I second what Colleen said above. You have been an example for me in how to continue living with the SDA influence in my life despite the changes I have made. I have been very fearful for the spiritual health of my children as they remain in the SDA system...it gives me a peace to see you raising your little one(s) with the full knowledge of True Light. God is with us on this journey. We have prayed for God to hold our children in His arms of safety and love. I continue to pray for you and for myself as we raise our precious little ones in His grace. He will cast the darkenss of Adventism in His light and keep them safe! JWD, Have you ever read any Kathleen Norris books? Her writings are reflective and similar to Merton. The Cloister Walk is a highly insightful and very peaceful read. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2043 Registered: 12-2003 |
Another inspiring writer is Henri Nouwen. He is a Catholic priest who has taught at both Notre Dame and Harvard Divinity Schhol. His later works, such as "The Return of the Prodigal Son", reflect his deep compassion and surrender that underlie his retirement commitment to live as a chaplain at L'Arche Daybreak community, a home for severely mentally disabled adults in Toronto. "The Return of the Prodigal Son" (sbutitled "A Story of Homecoming") contains his reflections on Rembrandt's painting in The Hermitage in St. Petersburg. It's a wonderful, contemplative, evocative book which, as the New Oxford Review says, challenges us "to love as the father and be loved as the son". Colleen | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 897 Registered: 7-2003 |
Thanks, Colleen and Dd. | ||
| Lindylou Registered user Username: Lindylou Post Number: 59 Registered: 1-2005 |
I would second Colleen's recommendation of the Henri Nouwen's books. "The Return of the Prodigal" is one of my favorite books. It is so insightful. One of his points really struck home with me - so many times with this story, we mainly focus on the prodigal son - when there is so much to learn from the "one who stayed home." I can relate so well to the "good child" - the one who stayed home and did his duty - and the anger that must have built up inside of him as he saw the younger son return home and get all of the attention. When he expresses his frustration about this fact - that he was a dutiful son and no one ever celebrated that fact, the Father answered: "You're with Me always, All I have is for you!" I find those words so encouraging when I get off track and feeling sorry for myself. In my past, it felt many times as if once one was "in the fold" that God and church members weren't so much concerned about them anymore - that all the attention went to finding the lost sheep. And I know that I have dealt with anger in my life that came from always trying to do the right thing: - be the best example possible -to represent my church working family in a good light - to be a "responsible" person. Even now, I sometimes get so tired of being responsible that I could scream. I just want to go running to my "Daddy" in heaven like a naughty little child and let Him comfort me in His loving arms. Thank goodness for a loving Father who opens his arms wide to ALL his children - the prodigals, the dutiful, the Marys AND the Marthas! |
