| Author | Message | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 933 Registered: 8-2004  |
Came across this article this morning to do with another list - but thought it might be good to remind ourselves that SDAs are not the only ones who go overboard one way or another about the 'end of the world'. There is also a book available online called Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds (published in 1852 or so) that makes for interesting reading on various popular movements throughout the centuries. SDAism is not unique in rising up based on baseless prophecies and the like. I believe there are plenty of reasons to 'live responsibly' in this present world, and even more reasons to 'live godly'. But the end of all things looks so much different when you walk daily with the Alpha and Omega, knowing that our times are in His hands . . . and that his hands are good! His mercies are sometimes severe, and his blessings at times seem terrible, but that is His prerogative and. And even in the middle of overwhelming circumstances it is our joy to be hid in His heart and upheld by his strong arms. Blessings, Mary | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 934 Registered: 8-2004 |
Here's a quote from the "Extraordinary Delusions" book I just posted a link to: ""Well, son John," said the old woman, "and what wonderful things did you meet with all the time you were at sea?" - " Oh! mother," replied John, "I saw many strange things." -- " Tell us all about them," replied his mother, "for I long to hear your adventures." -- " Well, then," said John, "as we were sailing over the Line, what do you think we saw?" - "I can't imagine," replied his mother. -- " Well, we saw a fish rise out of the sea, and fly over our ship!" "Oh! John! John! what a liar you are!" said his mother, shaking her head, and smiling incredulously. "True as death," said John; "and we saw still more wonderful things than that." -- " Let us hear them," said his mother, shaking her head again; "and tell the truth, John, if you can." -- " Believe it, or believe it not, as you please," replied her son; "but as we were sailing up the Red Sea, our captain thought he should like some fish for dinner; so he told us to throw our nets, and catch some." -- " Well," inquired his mother, seeing that he paused in his story. "Well," rejoined her son, "we did throw them, and, at the very first haul, we brought up a chariot-wheel, made all of gold, and inlaid with diamonds!" "Lord bless us!" said his mother, "and what did the captain say ?" -- " Why, he said it was one of the wheels of Pharaoh's chariot, that had lain in the Red Sea ever since that wicked King was drowned, with all his host, while pursuing the Israelites." -- " Well, well," said his mother, lifting up her hands in admiration; "now, that's very possible, and I think the captain was a very sensible man. Tell me such stories as that, and I'll believe you; but never talk to me of such things as flying fish! No, no, John, such stories won't go down with me, I can assure you!" --from the chapter "The Love of the Marvelous and the Disbelief of the True". This chapter goes on to give various reasons it's author things contribute to humanity's tendency to believe hoaxes and deny truth. Lots of food for thought. | ||
| Reb Registered user Username: Reb Post Number: 70 Registered: 5-2007 |
Amen, Mary! I was never comfortable with the SDA obsession with the end of the world. Seems like every time something happens they go into a "Sunday Laws are Coming" mode. I remember back toward the end of 1999, there were many people in the SDA Church I was attending that were thinking Y2K would bring the end. I kept telling them, no, nothing will happen, the computers are not going to crash. I look back now and this was the thing where a little crack started opening for me to question Adventism. We do not and cannot know when the end will be, the Bible says so. I only want to walk with Him so I will be ready. But I'm not going to obsess on it, I just want to be the best Christian I can be. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5897 Registered: 12-2003  |
Very interesting, Mary. What a pervasive problem we all want to deny: "humanity's tendency to believe hoaxes and deny truth." It just gives me pause! Colleen | ||
| Bobj Registered user Username: Bobj Post Number: 162 Registered: 1-2006  |
Mary The title of the book you've mentioned " .. Popular Delusions and Madness .." causes me to wonder if there are any studies, such as the Adventist Health Study, on the mental health of Seventh-day Adventists. I don't have a background in psychology nor mental health issues, but I cannot help but think there must be a strong link between one's beliefs and mental health, similar perhaps to the link between lifestyle and physical health, except I would predict a negative correlation for members of legalistic religious groups, not a positive. I wonder if psychologists or counselors in Adventist communities, who treat both SDAs and people from the general population, would have noted anything. The fear of Sunday laws, Catholics, being lost, etc, must take a toll eventually. I recall reading that the suicide rate among the Amish is about what researchers would expect to find among people living in large, crowded, stressful, cities, not what one would expect for a population that enjoys a quiet, rural, lifestyle. A link to their beliefs, perhaps? I also wonder if there are predictors or factors that would draw people to certain religions or cults. I don't expect you to have all the answers, but your post above reminded me of some of these questions. Bob | ||
| Reb Registered user Username: Reb Post Number: 77 Registered: 5-2007 |
All I know is I am much calmer and have more peace inside myself since I stopped believing in Adventism. I lived in terror of the Sunday Laws when I believed in Adventist doctrine to the point where I prayed that God would let me die before they happened. Praise God that I no longer believe in these toxic and hurtful fables. | ||
| Jonvil Registered user Username: Jonvil Post Number: 25 Registered: 4-2007 |
In my experience SDAs seem to take a morbid delight in discussing the dreaded SUNDAY LAW. ‘Oh my-all those who will be eternally lost because they worship God on Sunday-of course they can’t be truly ‘worshipping’ on the wrong day and all that joy and assurance must be the influence of Satan who permeates the apostate daughters of the Beast.’ (they may not say it-but they’re thinkin it) | ||
| Reb Registered user Username: Reb Post Number: 79 Registered: 5-2007 |
Yes! You hit the nail right on the head, Jonvil. You got that right, that IS what they're thinkin'. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3694 Registered: 3-2004  |
Isn't it so good and peaceful that we do not believe those things any more. It is not Biblical. Thank you God for your awesomeness and taking us out of the toxic environment. Diana | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3696 Registered: 3-2004 |
I just noticed the name of this thread-Apocaholics anonymous!! I think the title is so apt. Diana | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5916 Registered: 12-2003 |
I've mentioned this before, but a friend of mine has a brother who is a psychologist. He's no longer a practicing SDA, as I remember. He did a preivate study several years ago in which he gave a represenstative selection of Adventists a personality inventory--it might have been the MMPI—and evaluated the results. He found in his study that the personality profile of the Adventists he tested matched the profile of alcoholics. They were highly addictive, etc., and in their cases, their Adventism functioned as their "drug of choice". I don't know any more details about this, but this overview of this man's private study I found quite fascinating. Colleen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3697 Registered: 3-2004 |
I believe that knowing what I know about my family, Colleen. Dysfunction attracts dysfunction. It always does. Diana | ||
| Reb Registered user Username: Reb Post Number: 81 Registered: 5-2007 |
I've had the thought that Adventism is dysfunctional. |
