| Author | Message | ||
| Williamjr007 Registered user Username: Williamjr007 Post Number: 16 Registered: 10-2005 |
Hi, two days ago we had our Biblestudy group again and one of the guys told me that there's an article in the magazine "national geographic" about how to live longer, and that SDA have proven to live longer because of their teachings. I haven't read it myself (because it's not in the stores yet here in Belgium) but I found this link. May be interesting to have a look at! http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0511/feature1/index.html | ||
| Williamjr007 Registered user Username: Williamjr007 Post Number: 17 Registered: 10-2005 |
oops, forgot this link with 'in-depth' info. But to read the whole article it seems you have to buy the magazine (as they always do..:-) http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0511/feature1/learn.html | ||
| Williamjr007 Registered user Username: Williamjr007 Post Number: 18 Registered: 10-2005 |
Well, I was suprised to find a Flemish copy of NG magazine. I read it quickly and the article is about a survey why in some parts of the world people are becoming older than in other places. A place called "Loma Linda" somewhere in CaliforniÎ is also part of the survey. | ||
| Raven Registered user Username: Raven Post Number: 318 Registered: 7-2004  |
Here's a link on www.carm.org on the SDA board, where there is discussion about this very topic. You can look at all the responses to this initial post by scrolling down and clicking on whatever you want to read. http://www.christiandiscussionforums.org/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=121&topic_id=50908&mesg_id=50908&page= Basically, research and statistics can be slanted any way someone wants to slant them. Mormons who also have a healthy lifestyle (no smoking, no alcohol, regular church attendance, strong family values), but they do eat meat, also have similar longevity. Also, there are many non-SDA's, who do not abstain from alcohol or meat, and yet they also live well into their 90's and beyond. The SDA's are mainly getting studied because the SDA's want to be studied and be advertized about. I'm not so sure the research was handled properly to account for whether the highest factor in longevity was being a non-smoker versus a vegetarian. I would think that anyone who is a non-smoker AND eats highly nutritious food instead of junk food or highly processed food is going to have a long life. | ||
| Raven Registered user Username: Raven Post Number: 319 Registered: 7-2004 |
Conversely, there are many, many SDA's who faithfully follow the SDA health message, and yet they only live to their 70's or 80's. I happen to know of a disproportionate number of "healthy" SDA's who have died earlier than they would have, of Alzheimers and/or Parkinsons. My dad was one of them, and he was a vegan for the last 15-20 years of his life, and a vegetarian most of his life. | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 1173 Registered: 7-2003  |
We discussed that report last week, but I don't know what thread it is on. Because there is no detail on the study data, it's hard to know what criteria they used. But more than that, the report sounded like SDA produced or experiencial information, rather than objective, statistically significant analysis. | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 353 Registered: 7-2004  |
I have made several posts on the CARM thread about this, and will summarize those here. The data that I have seen previously is statistically significant. The question is whether the statistically analyses performed are approriate to the conclusions. For instance there are co-variate analyses that could be performed to account for smoking, education level, income level, access to health care, and regular religous activity--all of which may affect longevity. These covariate analyses would be performed by a researcher interested in evaluating the effectiveness of largely vegetarian diet. The absence of such data indicates to me that there is more interest in advertising than in actual research content. This link has an interesting alternative view: http://www.acsh.org/healthissues/newsID.760/healthissue_detail.asp
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| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 2052 Registered: 11-2002 |
My study on this topic is limited to reading the obituraries daily in the local newspaper. That is my independant study on life spans and I have concluded SDA's live no longer in years than the general public. I also have been conducting an independant study of quality of life comparing SDA's to the general public. My reasearch has shown that SDA's tend to be way more irritable and uptight emotionally than the general public. This reasearch leads me to the conclusion that their uptightness is due to their failure to be able to overcome perfection and know they are now perfect, hence ready for Jesus to return. They seem perticuraly uptight about the heathens knowing they are still sinful because that hinders their wittnessing to draw the heathen into their ranks. It is a sad situtation for a person to be in, this SDA paradox. They know they must be perfect, yet they know they never will be and the emotional anxiety is profound. So, their quality of life is greatly hindered. Their fear of death has led my research to conclude that SDA's tend to really cling to life and beg, pleed and bargain with God to extend their lives because they lack the assurance of being with Jesus. This also affects their emotional quality of life. Generallly I've observed they are a pretty uptight group of people. Also, I've been conducting a study of SDA's health. This study is only on their health as opposed to life span and quality of life. Sitting in SDA churches I have noticed all manner of ailments among the SDA's. I have observed SDA's with allergies, asthma, in wheelchairs and using walkers. I have known SDA's with many different types on cancers and rashes. They seem to get the flu and colds when it's flu and cold season just as much as their heathen neighbors do. I knew a SDA man who died from the flu outbreak in 1968 so I know these illnesses cross denominational boundries. As a non-physician my advice to SDA's would be this-get over it. Enjoy life a bit more. A few years one way or the other isn't going to cause you any more greater being the apple of God's eye. I also whenever I can with the SDA's I know share the story of Paul with them where Paul is lamenting if he'd rather die and be with Jesus or stay here on earth and share the good news of Jesus with others. So, I tell them, "Hey, chill willya? Share Jesus with folks now and rejoyce when your days are about over and know you can finily kick-it with our Lord." And, those friends, are the conclusions from the independant studies of SDA's I've been conducting. | ||
| Pheeki Registered user Username: Pheeki Post Number: 691 Registered: 1-2003 |
I love it Susan2...excellent work. | ||
| Windmotion Registered user Username: Windmotion Post Number: 225 Registered: 6-2001  |
Yes, my SDA relations found out about the study and are all praising it -- and by extension themselves. These are the same people (my step father-in-law) who will eat a whole tub of ice cream in one sitting. They also have a CHIP magnet on their frige "eat food as grown, simply prepared" but then like to eat fried veggie hotdogs. What nice thing can I say to them when they start praising the Adventist diet? Oh, and his mother lives with them, and she has Parkinsons. Someone said something about Parkinsons on another thread. Frustratedly, Hannah | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1968 Registered: 3-2004  |
Susan, Congratulations on your "research". Very well done. Diana | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 979 Registered: 3-2005 |
Yes, I agree with Susan's research as well. Ric_b, thanks for posting that William Jarvis article on vegetarianism. I saw that a long time ago, but didn't know where to find it. You can take any group of people that just doesn't smoke and you will get similar statistical results. You can make statistics say anything you want. It can now be medically proven that most of EGW's health advice is junk. You would be better off eating or drinking the things she forbids. She was only right about sugar and cigarettes. Tea, coffee, and wine are all healthy taken in moderation, yet those were classified as "mortal" sins by her "papal authority". Stan | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2863 Registered: 12-2003  |
Susan, I'm "buying" your research! It seems far more objective than the Adventist health study! Hannah, I've watched so many Adventists with that same dichotomy going--embrace the ascetic health message, but privately indulge because they've "earned" it by sometimes eating right! Colleen | ||
| Lars Registered user Username: Lars Post Number: 6 Registered: 7-2005 |
The primary factor that led my wife and me to an in-depth contextual study of Scripture was our observations of SDA saints in their final days of life. In spite of their proper diet and lifestyle, many of these dear ones were afflicted with cancers of the colon, bladder, or nervous system. The commonality that had a great impact on us was how terrified they were as they approached their final days of life on earth. In the SDA teaching, they were NOT supposed to be worried about death. They had the ìtrue knowledgeî that they would just go to sleep and awaken at the resurrection in the twinkling of an eye. The reality was totally the opposite. The illness and death of my wifeís mother was what really started us to ìinvestigateî the problem with SDAism that led these dear ones to such a terrified state. The Holy Spirit led us each on separate, but simultaneous, paths to an understanding, acceptance, and conviction of the ALL sufficiency of Grace through Faith in the true Gospel of Jesus Christ Incarnate, Crucified, Resurrected, and Ascended. LARRY | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 2055 Registered: 11-2002 |
Larry, your reasearch seems to corralate quite well with my research. Very similiar observations. | ||
| Violet Registered user Username: Violet Post Number: 312 Registered: 2-2001 |
When I was a teenager in the SDA system I was constantly depressed, on the verge of suicide because I knew I would never go to heaven. There was no way I could ever be perfect. Now I have assurance of salvation and although I have two teenagers at my house the people in my office have often commented about how I am always smiling. Yes, I smile, I have Jesus to smile about. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2886 Registered: 12-2003 |
Violet, isn't that an amazing thing? Knowing Jesus really changes everything. It's amazing that His presence never leaves. Colleen | ||
| Violet Registered user Username: Violet Post Number: 313 Registered: 2-2001 |
Amen, Jesus is everything to me. | ||
| Derrell Registered user Username: Derrell Post Number: 95 Registered: 10-2002 |
From the NAD Friday Fax Nov. 11 ADVENTISTS AND LONGEVITY IN THE NEWS AGAIN - Terry Butler, Co-investigator of the Adventist Health Study-2, reports that CNN has been at Loma Linda University for two days this week following up on National Geographic's story about Adventists and longevity. They've been interviewing some of the older people there. The report will be shown on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360o", Wednesday, November 16, at 10 pm ET. | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 357 Registered: 7-2004 |
You have to give the NAD PR department credit. They are getting plenty of mileage out of this study. |
