| Author | Message | ||
| Reb Registered user Username: Reb Post Number: 464 Registered: 5-2007 |
I could build a time machine and go back to 1844 and have Ellen White committed to the State Hospital where she belonged. Can you imagine how much better things would have been for us if we had not been exposed to the poison called Adventism. If EGW had been committed to the State Hospital where she belonged, there would've been no SDA church and millions of people would have been spared the spiritual abuse caused by Adventism. Just a thought. | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1158 Registered: 9-2006  |
Heres another thought, E.G.W was blinded by the same spirits of deceit that blinds Adventist today. River | ||
| Marysroses Registered user Username: Marysroses Post Number: 110 Registered: 4-2007 |
Well, to add my thought..... I don't think EGW dreamed it all up on her own. If she'd been taken out of the picture somehow (They really didn't have much in the way of mental health care then, the few asylums were horrible pits of neglect and abuse)... Anyway... If it wasn't Ellen it would have been someone else. Visionaries and mediums were a dime a dozen in the mid 19th century. So were new religious movements. We know some of the major players - Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, Ellen White, and there are many obscure ones we don't hear about much, its fascinating to look up all the prophets, visionaries and movements that didn't go past the first few believers. It gives one a sense of the context of Millerism, etc. Don't forget the 'health message' was a reworking of a popular social phenomena in America BEFORE the Adventists took it up. No doubt Ellen was a willing and cooperative partner who contributed some of her own ideas, but I'm quite sure the other 'founders' would have somehow cobbled it together with or without her. I totally agree with you that Adventism has caused much harm, and I wish I had never been exposed to it. But then, maybe I would have been exposed to something worse, and might not have escaped that. If there had not been an EGW, maybe the founders would have come up with something or someone harder to break free of... I'm a history buff, the 'what ifs' of time can occupy me endlessly. Which brings me to another relic of Adventism which often is hard to get rid of... Adventists seem to think Satan is in control and can pretty much do as he pleases, while the universe watches from the bleachers, waiting for God to prove himself right before swooping in etc etc etc. God won already, at Calvary, HE is in control, not satan. That doesn't mean bad things don't happen, as we have free will, but it does mean nothing happens outside His plan and His will. God Bless, MarysRoses | ||
| Luzisbornagain Registered user Username: Luzisbornagain Post Number: 67 Registered: 7-2007 |
you're right marysroses, when Jesus Christ resurrected the scriptures say that He rose up with all power so the devil has no power left to him, except if we give him an open door to our lives somehow, he'll take over. | ||
| Jorgfe Registered user Username: Jorgfe Post Number: 456 Registered: 11-2005 |
A good explanation of the part that Ellen White played can be found at http://www.ellenwhite.org/canright/can9.htm The entire book, Life of Mrs. E.G. White Seventh-day Adventist Prophet Her False Claims Refuted (http://www.ellenwhite.org/canright/egw16.htm) is excellent reading. My take is that Ellen White was an "emotional wreck" that, given her extremely fragile health, was highly affected by the religious fanaticism of the day. After all, just a few more years and the Lord would come! James White was also a key figure, and a shrewed administrator. He used his wife, Ellen, to expand his sphere of influence. As Canright points out, she would follow up with visions to confirm whatever James wanted to accomplish. Next came Joseph Bates, who was also swept up by the 1844 aftermath. Ellen would absorb whatever he said, and have "visions" to support it. James also used Joseph Bates as a source of funding. So initially we have all these people using each other. Canright became involved as an administrative assistant, and James White's empire grew. Meanwhile, Ellen White would conveniently have "visions" to support whatever view they wanted to promote at the moment. Canright's book provides numerous examples of this happening. As the organization grew, others like A.G Daniels took advantage of the momentum, supported by her continuing admonitions. Willie White continued the fraud. Roughly 300 + visions turned in 2000 at his hand. That is now the official line from the White Estate, and also recorded on the Michigan Historical markers. http://truthorfables.com/EGW_2000Vision_Fables.htm This is just one of thousands of myths and lies perpretrated by the White Estate. Today the White Estate and the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists continue to exploit her in absentia, publishing more and more compilations, to keep up the revenue stream and exert control over the "saints". Today they are the ones who are wholly accounatble for this massive fraud. So in summary, it appears to me that Ellen White was actually a victim of a serious mental illness, and was exploited by those around her for their own benefit. Since her death, the Seventh-day Adventist leadership has continued to invoke her name to justify their own power and deception over the laity. Gilbert Jorgensen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 4049 Registered: 3-2004  |
The "what if's" are interesting if one wants to go there. But we cannot do anything about what happened in the past. We cannot undo and re write history. We are in "today". What are we going to do about today?? I for one do not want to play the "what if's". God has so much more for me today. God has shown us what happened in the past and has shown us what each of us can be and do today. We can learn from the past and that is what God wants us to do, as I see it. We do not want to repeat it. That is why He took me out of adventism. I have learned more about adventism since I left the adventist church, than when I was in it. What did God want me to learn? That is something each of us has to answer for ourselves. For me it helps me understand those left in the SDA church and the hold on them. Adventism's beliefs threatened my salvation and God did not want me there. He is not willing that any should perish. So, why did God take you out of adventism and what does God want you to do. I know for me He does not me to remain in the past and play the "what if's". He wants me to show others the love of God in all that I do and tell others what the SDA church teaches. What ever else He wants from me, He will let me know. I see more and more what an awesome God He is. Diana | ||
| Laurie Registered user Username: Laurie Post Number: 48 Registered: 6-2007 |
I do know one thing... I have a great appreciation for God's grace and feel like I have just discovered Jesus. It sounds twisted, but I can "thank" adventism for that. Does that mean that I could feel the way I do today if I had never been a SDA? I don't know. I just know that most people around me that are my age are just stuck in a rut of going to church every now and then, and God is not a particularly important part of their life. I have to believe God brought me up in adventism for a reason. We have a 14 yr old daughter and she is getting the benefit of having 2 parents who are excited about God. This is a critical period in her development and I am so glad I am having this "rebirth" in my religious experience. Now believe me, I do not feel the scales are balanced in regards to the negative things I have experienced over 40 years versus my life right now. Adventism formed every aspect of my life through my childhood, teen years, marriage, everything. Most of it in a bad way. I'm with Diana. It is not good to dwell on it. But I really do feel like I have a special appreciation for Jesus... because of adventism. Laurie | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 76 Registered: 7-2007 |
I think there's also the possibility that Ellen White didn't want to admit that she was wrong after Jesus didn't come back in 1844. I'm wondering if her pride may have opened the door to Satan to take over? Just a thought. Dianne | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 4053 Registered: 3-2004 |
Dianne, We will not know that until Jesus comes. It is an interesting thought. Diana | ||
| Benevento Registered user Username: Benevento Post Number: 153 Registered: 4-2005 |
In the meanime she was used as a "Cash Cow" then and is still being exploited the same way. When we look back and think we really believed this stuff it isn't surprising that people fall for it still. And once convinced they hate to admit they are wrong.Even when they admit she was wrong about some things. Some people go to great lengths before admitting they are wrong, especially about the "truth" I know I put of reading any anti SDA literature until I was convinced in other ways it was wrong. Dear Galations finally convinced me! I do regret I didn't act sooner but thank God I finally did. Peggy | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 6398 Registered: 12-2003  |
Laurie, you have perfectly expressed my own experience. I feel as if I have discovered Jesus within the past 10 or so years. I have often thought that if it hadn't been for my life in Adventism, I would not have the amazing awareness of Jesus and His love and his work that I have now. I thank God for my Adventism; because of it, I understand the new covenant in a way I'm quite certain (judging by my Christ-following friends who don't share my SDA baggage!) that I would not have understood it otherwise. God so redeems the years the locusts ate! Praise God for rescuing us from the clutches of a false prophet and a misunderstanding of Jesus that left us with "no gospel at all", as Paul said. I am so grateful. Colleen |
