| Author | Message | ||
| Redhorsewoman Registered user Username: Redhorsewoman Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2005 |
I found this board while researching some information on the SDA religion for a friend whose roommate recently began studying with an SDA woman, and who found herself becoming interested in the group. I have never been SDA myself, but was, rather, brought up as a Jehovah's Witness. I met my friend on a JW discussion board when she was studying with the JWs and wanting to know about the religion from both sides of the coin so to speak. I left the JWs about 20 years ago, mainly because I found that they were not living up to the scriptures that they claimed identified them as the only true Christians on the face of the earth. Much later, after getting on the internet, I discovered many research sites about JWs that not only confirmed what I had noticed on my own, but also added many additional falsehoods to my "JW file." I was quite surprised, to be utterly frank, to find out how similar are SDAs and JWs. I joined the board in hopes that I might be able to share experiences of a very similar religious background, as well as ask questions from time to time that my friend might ask about the SDA religion for which I have no intimate knowledge. Nice to "meet" all of you. :o) | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1505 Registered: 3-2004  |
Welcome Redhorsewoman, Ask away, we will answer and/or point you to where you can find the answers. Are you a Christian now? Do you have a church you attend? Thanks for coming here. Diana | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 307 Registered: 3-2005 |
Welcome Redhorsewoman, Yes, since leaving SDA 20 years ago, I am just now understanding how similar all the cults are, and a lot of similarities between JW, and SDA, are evident. All the cults, and false teaching, comes from the same pit--and its interesting how old heresies keep getting recycled. Stan | ||
| Redhorsewoman Registered user Username: Redhorsewoman Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2005 |
Flyinglady, I do consider myself a Christian, but I have not joined another church. To be perfectly honest, the thought of joining ANY group after being a JW for 30 years absolutely terrifies me. I prefer to maintain a sense of spirituality and to have a personal relationship with God. Perhaps someday I'll find another church that won't make me feel as if I'm being swallowed alive. :o) | ||
| Redhorsewoman Registered user Username: Redhorsewoman Post Number: 3 Registered: 5-2005 |
Riverfonz, you are SO correct. I had occasion to help out a co-worker who was being approached by members of ICOC. Their methods of proselytizing were similar to those of JWs, and initially I thought that she was being contacted by them. She is Hindu and her husband is Moslem. She wanted to expose her children to all sorts of religious beliefs so that when they get older they can choose the path that is right for them. Knowing how JWs work, I gave her some hints as to how to handle the situation and to prove to herself whether these people were truly interested in her and her family as people (which is what they told her) or if they were interested only in getting new converts. She tried my suggestions, and found out very quickly what the ICOC members were all about. A cult is a cult is a cult, it would seem. :o) | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1507 Registered: 3-2004 |
Redhorsewoman, Just hang onto Jesus. Read and study your Bible. God accepts us where we are and I love Him so much for that. He alone knows what is best for each of us. Isn't the Gospel of Jesus beautiful? I call the book of John the Love Gospel. Keep coming back here and talk to us. Diana | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1508 Registered: 3-2004 |
I seem to remember, but I cannot say from where I remember it, that the JW's are an off shoot of the Seventh day Adventist. So there are many similarities. I will pray for your friend that she find Jesus and not the SDA version. Diana | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 673 Registered: 10-2004  |
The JW's are an offshoot of the Millerite/Adventist movement. Redhorsewoman, Welcome to the forum. We're glad you've joined us. Have you seen the web site at http://www.watchthetower.com ? It even has a page about the Watchtower stealing artwork from the SDAs! Jeremy | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 884 Registered: 7-2003  |
Actually, I think they are both considered to have started from the millerite movement of the 1840s, but they've never been linked beyond that that I'm aware of. My history gets fuzzy, so I could be remembering incorrectly. Welcome, Redhorsewoman. I bet you like horses  . Several of us have "never been" SDA, but are impacted by it in some fashion in our lives. This has been a great source of information, comfort, unity and an occasional "sad" reality check to find what you've learned, discovered and maybe even feared is true afterall. | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 885 Registered: 7-2003 |
Ahhhh, Jeremy...you beat me.... Thanks for the confirmation of my memory, though | ||
| Redhorsewoman Registered user Username: Redhorsewoman Post Number: 5 Registered: 5-2005 |
Yes, in doing some of my research on both JWs and SDAs so far, I did discover that they have the same roots. Some doctrines are different, but overall, they seem to be cut from the same bolt of cloth. Melissa, yes, I DO like horses. In fact, I have three (this is what happens when you move to a rural area with a teenage daughter and the property has an old stable on the premises.) My screenname can be credited to my Peruvian Paso horse, Hablador, who is a deep red chestnut. He is the "Red Horse." | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 887 Registered: 7-2003 |
I have a developmentally delayed daughter, and she has loved horses from her earliest days...I joke I must have done it when I picked out her baby book with rocking horses on it. Of course, the real ones intimidate her a bit because they are so big...but she loves to feed them apples... | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1980 Registered: 12-2003  |
Redhorsewoman, I am so glad to see you here! You've come to a supportive place. With prayers for you and your friend, Colleen | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 452 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hello R.H. Woman... I am looking forward to getting to know you better! Welcome! You will find a love for God like no other place here at FAF. God brought you here for a purpose and I can't wait to hear what you find it to be! | ||
| Tisha Registered user Username: Tisha Post Number: 59 Registered: 3-2005 |
Welcome Redhorsewoman! I know how "scary" it seems when contemplating joining another Church - "What if I get misled again?" kind of thoughts. All I know is that I will now check everything out according to the Bible alone. When I study, I ask the Holy Spirit to show me the truth, to not let my old programming lead me astray. As I was looking for a Church to fellowship with, I really checked out every doctrine. Then I attended regularly for about a year - waiting for the little unspoken beliefs to surface, waiting to see what they "really" believed. To my amazement there were no suprises other than how Biblically grounded they are. I have since joined them as an official member. I have confidence that they are being up front with me. But it took awhile for me to really trust another Church! And I will now ALWAYS judge everything by what the Bible says. So, keep your eyes on Jesus, your "finger on the Bible", and pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you. You can't go wrong doing that! -tisha | ||
| Redhorsewoman Registered user Username: Redhorsewoman Post Number: 6 Registered: 5-2005 |
Actually, Tisha, my fear isn't so much about getting misled again. I think that I tend to probe quite a bit these days as far as beliefs. No, my feat is that of literally being swallowed up. I devoted just about every waking minute to the JW religion. I was a pioneer (full-time minister) for three years until my health fell apart. Even after that, the requirements of being a "good" JW were, as I look back now, quite onerous, what with 5 meetings a week, going out in the ministry on weekends and vacations, studying for all of the meetings, and reading all of the Watchtower literature. I find it difficult now to join ANY sort of group because of the fear of getting enmeshed and being expected to "perform" as I had to as a JW. It's hard to explain, I guess. I also tend to be a rather quiet person and I crave my solitude. I find peace and comfort in my animals and in nature. Going into a social situation (such as a church or any other sort of group) is burdensome for me. I did it before because I honestly believe that this was what God wanted me to do. I was duped. Maybe at some point I'll stop being a recluse. :o) | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1516 Registered: 3-2004 |
Redhorsewoman, I really like your alias. Among the many things I like are horses & flying a small plane(thus my alias). I have always wanted a horse, but never had the money to get one. That is beside the point. What I really want to say is God knows what you need and if you need to be alone at this time, God will be with you. Just as He has been with you all your life. His hand has always been on you. Just follow Jesus and you will not be duped or misled. He is awesome. Diana | ||
| Lydell Registered user Username: Lydell Post Number: 679 Registered: 7-2000 |
Welcome Redhorsewoman. I can understand you fear. But may I offer something for you to consider. The church is the body of Christ. Each one of us has unique giftings that enable to function as just one of the body parts. We need to be WITH the other members of the church to be able to function as a complete body. A body without an arm has a much more difficult time functioning. And an arm alone is useless, unable to live up to it's potential. It's why the Lord tells us to not forsake assembling together. If you get in a group that puts you under pressure to "perform", then you will know you are in the wrong place. A true body of Christ will love you and allow you to bloom, and assist you in growing. The Lord says that He puts the lonely in families. So He definitely HAS a church family for you somewhere. Please allow Him to lead you there...you will find amazing healing there. | ||
| Bob Registered user Username: Bob Post Number: 253 Registered: 7-2000  |
Redhorsewoman, most of us who found our way out of a cult needed years to heal and to get over our fear of "church." Take the time to heal, but also take very seriously the wise counsel that Lydell has offered you. As "Dr. Phil" always says, "You can't fix what you don't acknowledge." Acknowledge your fear and distrust, but don't let that keep you away from the love and support of an assembly of people who truly know and love and trust God. Put yourself where Scripture says we should be - in a fellowship of believers - and let the Holy Spirit take care of you! It will take time, but He has all the time in the world for you! Bob | ||
| Redhorsewoman Registered user Username: Redhorsewoman Post Number: 8 Registered: 5-2005 |
Lydell, you make good points. However, I've found that assembling together doesn't necessarily have to be in a church setting. Finding those with whom one can have a relationship doesn't always mean joining a specific group. Being alone also doesn't necessarily mean that one is lonely, and, to be honest, I very seldom feel lonely. As Flyinglady mentioned (and, I like riding in small planes, but I wouldn't trust myself to fly one....unless crashing was high on my agenda of fun things to do...LOL) God has been with me even though I have not joined any particular group since leaving the JWs. Perhaps at some point I'll feel the need to join a group, but at this point in time, I'm content and don't feel that I'm missing anything. Odd? Perhaps...but, then again, anyone who lives with a virtual zoo (horses, dogs, cats, birds, fish, and chinchillas) might be seen as just a bit odd, anyway. :o) |
