| Author | Message | ||
| Shellep |
Hi My name is Rushelle It's not too often I come in here to post. But I do read and find it very enlightning. I have a question if any one out there is willing to answer. Ok. Here it is. If the SDA church is a cult, what makes them an occult? Please help me to understand. Because I have been out of the adventist church for going on 4 months now and I understand that it is a cult. The thing is there is a difference between the words cult and occult. So how is the SDA church an occult? Asking for answers Shellep | ||
| Max |
Hello Rushelle, I can clarify the difference between "cult" and "occult". Because the words are so similar they appear to have the same root. But this is not so. ********** "cult" comes from the Latin "cultus" -- meaning "care" or "adoration." "cultus" in turn comes from "colere" meaning to cultivate, as in "caring" for plants or farming. And the apropos definition for "cult" is: "a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious (false)." ********** "occult" (adjective) comes from the Latin "occultus," which in turn comes from "occulere," meaning "to cover up" or "to conceal." "occult" (noun) is defined as "matters regarded as involving the action or influence of supernatural or supernormal powers or some secret knowledge of them." Example: Ellen G. White's visions and the attendant supernatural manifestations, such as not breathing and holding a heavy Bible at arms length for extended periods. ********** By these definitions, then, former Seventh-day Adventists can regard SDAism as both: 1. a cult, meaning a false (unchristian) religion, and 2. an occult belief system in the sense of having secret knowledge (epitomized in the teachings of Ellen G. White) not available from Scripture alone. Your question is, "How" is SDAism an occult religion? The answer involves an examination of the denomination's behavior. For example, Ellen G. White's writings: 1. Contradict Scripture alone, as in telling already-saved people need to get ready for Jesus to come, meaning that they're not ready and therefore not really saved after all. This, in my opinion, can be regarded as indistinguishable from plunging people into "gross darkness," from which the only escape is Sabbath-keeping, tithe-paying, vegetarianism, wine-shunning, jewelry-shunning, etcetera till you out-Pharisee the Pharisees of old. 2. Add to Scripture alone, as in, "Although thou mayest wear dead animals, thou shalt not eat them." 3. Detract from or "veto" Scripture alone, such as denying the full deity of Jesus Christ and removing your salvation from AD 31 (the cross) to AD 1844 (transition from holy place to most holy place). Max of the Cross (Etymologies and definitions from Webster's 10th.) | ||
| Valm |
Hi Rushelle and Max, Rushelle, You ask a very good question and I think Max summarized it well. If you want more to read as to why many Christian people believe that Adventism leans towards cultic I would refer you to Dale Ratzlaff's book The Cultic Doctrine of the SDAs. Another resource at you fingertips is www.sdaoutreach.org Under materials and resources is a book called Beware The Cult. I never thought ofSDA philosophy being occult like but Max raises a good point that the definition of occult and the charecteristic of SDAs secret knowledge share a common theme. Irregardless of what name you put on it it is not Biblical in its acceptance of Christ only Christ. God Bless you Rochelle through your transition. God will bring the right people to you; watch for them in your day to day activities. There are many fine Christian people I could not see until I was out of Adventism for a while. Keep coming on line with your questions. We will all learn something from them Valerie | ||
| Shellep |
Max & Valerie, WOW I didn't know that. That's interesting. It just blew my mind to see how the SDA Church is like that. I appreciate your help I am most defenately going to share this information with my family. I just praise God for my family and I leaving the SDA church. Wow. Thanks a bunch shellep |
