| Author | Message | ||
| U2bsda Registered user Username: U2bsda Post Number: 480 Registered: 11-2004 |
Is there a biography of EGW that tells the whole story? | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 11 Registered: 5-2007  |
The following title, written by a non-Adventist, is a good biography of EGW: Title: Ellen G. White: Prophet of Destiny Author: by Rene Noorbergen ISBN: 087983014x Publisher: Keats Publishing, Inc. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5951 Registered: 12-2003  |
Rene Noorbergen may not have been Adventist, but he went to college at La Sierra College. His book "Prophet of Destiny" was published by Pacific Press in the 1980's--it IS an Adventist book. It is very favorable toward Ellen and does not tell all the truth about her. I see, Phil, that it is now published by Keats, but originally it was Pacific Press Noorbergen became well-known as an author interested in phenomenon not explainable by science (see Amazon.com's reveiw of Prophet of Destiny) after co-authoring a book with psychic Jean Dixon. Noorbergen also wrote "Secrets of the Lost Races" which the Adventist church also published and sold. If one is looking for a book to tell "the whole story", Noorbergen is probably not the person who has all the info. While you will likely learn many facts about her early life, other books which flesh out her adult life include "WhiteWashed" by Sydney Cleveland (avialable through www.LifeAssuranceMinistries.com) and "Prophetess of Health" by Ron Numbers. Ron Numbers was an SDA grad student when he wrote Prophetess of Health--I'm not sure if or where it's available at this time. Dale Ratzlaff used to carry it. You might check Amazon.com Prophetess of Health took a close look at her Health Message writings and investigated sources from where her ideas came. It's a well-researched book. Just by-the-by, we know a former book editor from Pacific Press who used to work there during the time Noorbergen's books were being published. This particular editor told us a few years ago that Noorbergen was known to embellish where necessary. I can't prove this to be fact; it was merely an interesting comment from an editor who worked there at the time Noorbergen was being published. Colleen (Message edited by Colleentinker on May 31, 2007) | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 12 Registered: 5-2007 |
Thanks Colleen, Back when I was doing my reseach, Noorbergen's book was the only source that I could find. I had not idea it was first published by Pacific Press. That bit of information sure would have set off some alarms in my head. As soon as I get some time, I will take your suggestion and get the other publications that you mentioned. Phil | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 13 Registered: 5-2007 |
Colleen, I want to thank you again for your response above. It set me off on more research and then some long suppressed memories came flood back. I am going to move over to the members only section and start a new topic titled "heresy and painfull memories. Phil | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 1084 Registered: 4-2000  |
Phil, I heartily recommend your reading Dr. Ronald Number's book, "PROPHETESS OF HEALTH" (published in 1976). A good library will probably have it as well. As a result of reading his book, this created serious doubt in my mind about Ellen White for the first time. It took my wife and I nearly a quarter century thereafter to officially leave Adventism. We were hard nuts to crack. With the arrival of the information superhighway in the 1990s, we could clearly see the many problems in the SDA belief system. Another excellent book, edited by Ronald Numbers and Jonathan Butler, entitled "THE DISAPPOINTED: Millerism and Millenarianism in the Nineteenth Century" is also a must-read type book. It was published by the University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, TN in 1993. By the way, Ronald Numbers is the nephew of Adventism's ABC preacher of prayer and revivalist, Glen Coon. The ABC (ask, believe, claim) concept of prayer is nearly identical to that of Oral Roberts. The late Glen Coon even offered to pay his nephew several thousand dollars to not publish PROPHETESS OF HEALTH. Coon admitted not having the money, but was willing to make payments to his nephew, Dr. Numbers. Interestingly, the last time I checked with McKee Library at Southern Adventist University, the alma mater of Dr. Numbers, they didn't even have his book. A few years ago, the Association of Adventist Forums had Dr. Numbers for a guest speaker at the Loma Linda University chapel. I have a tape of his message. One zealous believer in Ellen White had to be escorted out of the chapel after he became belligerent (red-faced with the veins in his neck showing). After his shouting that disrupted the program, Dr. Numbers asked him, "Why did you come?" Dr. Numbers continued his presentation that included a brief analysis of the shouting EGW fan. Dr. Numbers related the story of Ellen White's next door, non-Adventist neighbors in Battle Creek who had two teenage sons. Ellen White had a special vision that those boys were masturbating next door. So, Ellen White went to visit the parents about this very serious matter that would supposedly cause their son's brains "to rot from the inside out." Amazingly, Dr. Numbers continued, one of those two boys grew up to become a successful, well-known lawmaker in the State of Michigan. Apparently, "self-abuse" or "secret vice" didn't rot his brain from the inside out with resulting "impaired intellect" nor "a hardened look of depravity." Dennis Fischer | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 16 Registered: 5-2007 |
Dennis, Since I am alway ready learn something new, I will follow your suggestions (and Colleen's suggestins) on reading material. I would like to note that I have been so many years focused on hearing and teaching a pure gospel of Jesus Christ, I had almost forgotten EGW existed. As far as EGW goes,I came to the conclusion that she was guilty of heresy about 35 years ago when I was doing my research on her. My primary source was the Bible. I see by the publication date, Ron Numbers book would have been avalible but it escaped my attention. Would you go over to the members only section, read my latest posting there and then get back to me. I treasure Spirit lead instruction and believe your words fit that description. Phil | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5980 Registered: 12-2003 |
Dennis, I admit that your post made me laugh. I find it—well—MOST interesting that this venerable prophetess would be burdened with visions regarding the teenaged neighbors "self abuse". i guess, though, when you're a prophetess, you don't get to choose your visions. Colleen (Message edited by Colleentinker on June 02, 2007) |
