Something Different

[notaxtian]

Its March and I would like to try something different. I am placing this in the Rants and Replies forum because even though it may seem like a testimony, it really isn't . I mentioned sometime last year of some of my adventist upbringing. What I am about to write can be considered a "recovery story" of my recent journey up until I registered on ex-christian.net. I have been posting on this forum for a few months, and I just wanted to say that this website has been very helpful. I consider myself agnostic and I now see the world differently. If religion works for some people, that's great, but they shouldn't expect me or other non-believers to accept Jesus just because they do.

 

In my mid thirties I began having a few setbacks which led me to begin thinking about christianity in general and adventism in particular. Earlier my life had been no bed of roses, but it was ok. But suddenly I hit a bump in the road(more like several bumps). I began having a few "what if they're right" moments that I was struggling with for a while, but I figured that it was just part of life and that someday I would recover.

 

My "road to recovery" began when I visited Beliefnet.com back in 2009. I read several forums and took some of the quizzes(One of them says that I'm a Secular Humanist). When I visited the "Discuss Seventh-Day Adventism" forum I learned about a horror novel writer and former adventist named Ray Garton. At the time I had never heard of him. He had mentioned his upbringing in adventism several times on the forums before I visited the website. He mentioned that he slept with a light on at night during childhood because adventism terrified him. I was curious and began reading more of his posts. After mentioning numerous times that adventism is a cult, some of the posters responded rudely. I recall one of them always called him a “liar”, and at least two others asked him to “prove it”. One particular poster CONSTANTLY quoted scripture and seemed very arrogant(anytime someone quotes scripture it drives me crazy). I was impressed at the way Ray was able to stick up for himself when they verbally attacked him.

 

Ellen G. White was the founder and prophetess of the Adventist Church. When she was a girl, someone threw a rock at her, and she suffered a head trauma. Later in life she wrote many books dealing with meat-eating, masturbation, and reading or writing fiction, all of which she said are "bad for you". Nowdays some people think that she was crazy, while others still think that she was a true prophet.

 

Ray mentioned that he was working on his first novel while living in Angwin, California, an all-adventist city(where Pacific Union College is located). Because Ray wrote HORROR fiction(which, in adventism, is considered much worse than regular fiction), it was unacceptable to some of his lifelong adventist "friends", so they stopped talking to him. Rumors began to spread that he was a devil worshiper and was performing satanic rituals in his apartment. His first novel was published in 1984, and a few days later, someone tried to kill him. He told his parents what happened, but they said that those people were "just crazy" and that he shouldn't talk bad about the adventist church.

 

After reading his story I began thinking of my own upbringing in adventism(which wasn't as bad as his, but still unpleasant). Why should those posters care if others chose to listen to him? They refused to believe him because they thought that he was saying negative things about their faith. I wasn't there when his life was threatened, but that doesn't mean that he was lying. I didn't experience what he experienced, but that doesn't mean that it never happened, and it doesn't mean that it hasn't happened(or doesn't happen)elsewhere.

 

Growing up, I couldn't imagine adventists, who were supposed to be "good people", attempt to injure or kill other adventists just because they did something that was against the "rules" of Mrs. White. They might let you know that they are disappointed, but they wouldn't go so far as to make an attempt on one's life, right? After finding out what happened to him, I kept asking myself, "If adventists know it's wrong to kill someone, why would they choose to do so?

[notaxtian]

Part 2

 

In 2010 I began visiting other websites such as ellenwhiteexposed.com, truthorfables.com, and ex-adventist.com. It wasn't until I visited formeradventist.com that I began to see the truth behind the lies that I was taught growing up. I read some of the testimonies of others journey out of adventism and read some of their posts. I was relieved to learn that other people had similar struggles and decided to leave adventism. I began reading their posts more frequently, and at first was not bothered with their constant scripture-quoting. I even considered registering so that I could post. Looking back now it's a good thing that I didn't because, well, I don't believe in God, so....

 

Part 3 coming up

[Margee]

Part 2

 

In 2010 I began visiting other websites such as ellenwhiteexposed.com, truthorfables.com, and ex-adventist.com. It wasn't until I visited formeradventist.com that I began to see the truth behind the lies that I was taught growing up. I read some of the testimonies of others journey out of adventism and read some of their posts. I was relieved to learn that other people had similar struggles and decided to leave adventism. I began reading their posts more frequently, and at first was not bothered with their constant scripture-quoting. I even considered registering so that I could post. Looking back now it's a good thing that I didn't because, well, I don't believe in God, so....

 

Part 3 coming up

notaxtian........just wanted you to know that I'm reading this....looking forward to part 3 my friend!

[blackpudd1n]

notaxtian........just wanted you to know that I'm reading this....looking forward to part 3 my friend!

 

yes, me too. I am rather curious about the SDA, as the last I heard of one of my high school friends, she'd gotten caught up with them, and wwas dating another SDA... And then, nothing. It's like she's off the grid.

[notaxtian]

Part 3

 

Fast forward to 2011. Having been raised in that unique environment, I know what they are talking about. I still read their posts, but eventually the scripture-quoting became annoying, even though they did it in a "loving way"(like that makes any difference). They still love Jesus, and that in itself is ok I guess, but it still bothers me. I decided not to register and get into a heated discussion with believers. I had already made a decision not to believe in God years ago, so what would the purpose be to post on a christian website?

 

I still visit that site occasionally, and while I am happy for them that they are no longer Adventists, I wonder what they REALLY think of atheists or agnostics(I consider myself a skeptic, but for now I'll go with agnostic). Since they now accept Jesus and not Ellen G. White(founder of Adventism), are they less judgemental of other faiths? Just wondering....

 

Later that year I visited atheistoasis.com, and I found out that Ray Garton is now a moderator/author on that web site. I enjoy reading his blogs. I occasionally write comments after reading them. Other posters have written blogs, but I have yet to respond to them.

 

Just like on Beliefnet.com's "Discuss Seventh-Day Adventism" forum, some people, after reading Ray's blogs, tell him that they don't agree with his comments, which is ok, but then they tell him that he doesn't know what he is talking about and that he should do more research. Sometimes I feel like telling those posters to shut up.

 

It was on this website that I began to muster the courage to post here. I felt like it was time for me to speak my mind. I just had to let others know how I was told these crazy things about the end of the world and you had to accept Jesus as Savior and all that nonsense. I tell ya, that stuff messed me up big time.

 

Fast forward to today. I have more confidence now thatn I did last August when I was new to the forums. I can see the similarities of other's journey out of Christianity. Even thought most posters here aren't former adventists, they have been supportive, and I really appreciate that.

[Destinyjesus3000]

thanks for sharing the story, sry you went through alot of trouble

[blackpudd1n]

thanks for sharing the story, sry you went through alot of trouble

 

Do you have any idea how unempathetic what you just wrote sounds? You might as well have said "cool story bro". Notaxian just pot a lot of time and effort into writing that, opening himself up, and you basically just turn around and say the equivalent of "cool story, bro"?

 

That's the sort of attitude that turns people off from christians. Fuck me.

[blackpudd1n]

Notaxtian, thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. I was wondering if you would mind telling me some more about SDA beliefs.

 

To start with, why are they against fiction? What do they believe about heaven and hell? Do they allow remarriage? What distinguishes the SDA from mainstram protestant xtianity?

[notaxtian]

Notaxtian, thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. I was wondering if you would mind telling me some more about SDA beliefs.

 

To start with, why are they against fiction? What do they believe about heaven and hell? Do they allow remarriage? What distinguishes the SDA from mainstram protestant xtianity?

 

Let's see....From what I remember Ellen White said that if one read fiction he or she would suffer brain damage and other health problems. I have had health problems in the past, but they didn't come from reading fiction. Personally I think it's ridiculous. As for heaven and hell, adventists believe in annihilation, which means that the wicked are destroyed, or cease to exist, at the end of the world. They believe that one dies, his or her soul "sleeps" until the Second Coming. When that happens, he or she is told to "rise" and is then taken up in the air, placed on a cloud, and travels for seven days to Heaven, where they stay for a thousand years. After that, Jesus comes back to Earth to do battle with the wicked for the final time. Once they are destroyed, the Earth will be made new, and sin will be no more. Anyway, that's how I remember it. There may be more that I have missed because it's been a long time since I attended church. I'm not sure what they say about remarriage. Some people of other mainstream christian denominations believe that one goes directly to Heaven after death. I do know that Catholics believe in Purgatory.

 

Adventists worship on Saturday(aka the Sabbath). Sabbath begins after sundown on Friday and lasts until sundown on Saturday. During that time, they don't do any work or any other "wordly" things like watch tv or go to movies. They attend services on Friday evening(they call it Vespers)to "open" the Sabbath, attend Saturday morning services and "close" the Sabbath with a vesper(evening)service on Saturday evening. I remember that routine VERY well. Sabbath afternoons were boring because adventists were not allowed to do anything "fun". Their focus was to be totally on "Sabbath" activities, such as listening to christian(Sabbath) music, or reading Sabbath books. Occasionally there was the "fellowship potluck" after church, where some of the most disgusting food that I have ever tasted was served. Vegetarianism is encouraged in adventism, and I thought that the some of the food served at these potlucks was gross. I preferred going out to eat where meat was served, but that was forbidden on the Sabbath because it was considered a "worldly" activity. I was just a kid back then, and my tastes have changed somewhat, so I occasionally eat vegetarian foods, but I'm not a vegetarian.

 

I write these posts because I need to resolve some issues, and adventism was a HUGE part of my life. I now realize that it did a lot more damage than I thought. This website is just the first step in my recovery.

[blackpudd1n]

Notaxtian, thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. I was wondering if you would mind telling me some more about SDA beliefs.

 

To start with, why are they against fiction? What do they believe about heaven and hell? Do they allow remarriage? What distinguishes the SDA from mainstram protestant xtianity?

 

Let's see....From what I remember Ellen White said that if one read fiction he or she would suffer brain damage and other health problems. I have had health problems in the past, but they didn't come from reading fiction. Personally I think it's ridiculous. As for heaven and hell, adventists believe in annihilation, which means that the wicked are destroyed, or cease to exist, at the end of the world. They believe that one dies, his or her soul "sleeps" until the Second Coming. When that happens, he or she is told to "rise" and is then taken up in the air, placed on a cloud, and travels for seven days to Heaven, where they stay for a thousand years. After that, Jesus comes back to Earth to do battle with the wicked for the final time. Once they are destroyed, the Earth will be made new, and sin will be no more. Anyway, that's how I remember it. There may be more that I have missed because it's been a long time since I attended church. I'm not sure what they say about remarriage. Some people of other mainstream christian denominations believe that one goes directly to Heaven after death. I do know that Catholics believe in Purgatory.

 

Adventists worship on Saturday(aka the Sabbath). Sabbath begins after sundown on Friday and lasts until sundown on Saturday. During that time, they don't do any work or any other "wordly" things like watch tv or go to movies. They attend services on Friday evening(they call it Vespers)to "open" the Sabbath, attend Saturday morning services and "close" the Sabbath with a vesper(evening)service on Saturday evening. I remember that routine VERY well. Sabbath afternoons were boring because adventists were not allowed to do anything "fun". Their focus was to be totally on "Sabbath" activities, such as listening to christian(Sabbath) music, or reading Sabbath books. Occasionally there was the "fellowship potluck" after church, where some of the most disgusting food that I have ever tasted was served. Vegetarianism is encouraged in adventism, and I thought that the some of the food served at these potlucks was gross. I preferred going out to eat where meat was served, but that was forbidden on the Sabbath because it was considered a "worldly" activity. I was just a kid back then, and my tastes have changed somewhat, so I occasionally eat vegetarian foods, but I'm not a vegetarian.

 

I write these posts because I need to resolve some issues, and adventism was a HUGE part of my life. I now realize that it did a lot more damage than I thought. This website is just the first step in my recovery.

 

Wow... That's pretty messed up shit. And what a way to ruin the weekend! Ah, it's Friday, two days off from work. Time to get home, get changed, go to church, go to bed at a decent hour so I can get up in time for church again tomorrow morning, and then have something vegie to eat for lunch, might as well have a nap, then go back to church.

 

So would no fiction extend to no movies, too? No TV? Doesn't sound like a very fun way to live at all.

[Akheia]

Ugh, sounds gruesomely repressive. I'm happy to see you here and doing better.

 

The entire denomination sounds like a bunch of kill-joys who panic at the idea that someone, somewhere is having fun. I remember hearing about the vegetarianism thing (I'm married to a lifelong non-Christian vegetarian) and checking out some of the cookbooks they'd put out, and oh my goodness the food was disgusting-sounding to me and my husband both! It really does sound just horrible to put a kid through that kind of joylessness. Glad you saw the light and got out of that faith

[FeelHappy]

I still visit that site occasionally, and while I am happy for them that they are no longer Adventists, I wonder what they REALLY think of atheists or agnostics(I consider myself a skeptic, but for now I'll go with agnostic). Since they now accept Jesus and not Ellen G. White(founder of Adventism), are they less judgemental of other faiths? Just wondering....

 

 

Hard to say, I used to be a Word of Faith christian eventually I lost my WoF beliefs but spend another few years searching out different christian denominations. The whole time I would try to explain to WoFers my beliefs all the while still remaining in the christian fold. I would have argued with atheists and agnostics back then. I have to assume that some of the people would look at atheists or agnostics the same way any christian looks at them, which basically means there's no set answer. Some will be accepting, some will want to convert you and some will reject you.

[notaxtian]

I still visit that site occasionally, and while I am happy for them that they are no longer Adventists, I wonder what they REALLY think of atheists or agnostics(I consider myself a skeptic, but for now I'll go with agnostic). Since they now accept Jesus and not Ellen G. White(founder of Adventism), are they less judgemental of other faiths? Just wondering....

 

 

Hard to say, I used to be a Word of Faith christian eventually I lost my WoF beliefs but spend another few years searching out different christian denominations. The whole time I would try to explain to WoFers my beliefs all the while still remaining in the christian fold. I would have argued with atheists and agnostics back then. I have to assume that some of the people would look at atheists or agnostics the same way any christian looks at them, which basically means there's no set answer. Some will be accepting, some will want to convert you and some will reject you.

 

Thanks for replying feelhappy. The former adventists seem to be understanding, from what I have read, but then again, I have yet to read a post from an agnostic or atheist on their website. It would be interesting to see how they respond.

 

Sometimes they argue amongst themselves for various reasons. It's interesting to read these heated exchanges.

[notaxtian]

Here are two links I would like to share. I think that they are good examples of what I was talking abouthttp://www.formeradv...html?1328548935andhttp://www.formeradv...html?1327468684. I wonder what would have happened if I, as an agnostic, had participated in these discussions? If one thinks that THIS is bad, just wait until an agnostic or atheist tells them what THEY think. I'm sure that one day it will happen. Just wait....

[notaxtian]

Notaxtian, thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. I was wondering if you would mind telling me some more about SDA beliefs.

 

To start with, why are they against fiction? What do they believe about heaven and hell? Do they allow remarriage? What distinguishes the SDA from mainstram protestant xtianity?

 

Let's see....From what I remember Ellen White said that if one read fiction he or she would suffer brain damage and other health problems. I have had health problems in the past, but they didn't come from reading fiction. Personally I think it's ridiculous. As for heaven and hell, adventists believe in annihilation, which means that the wicked are destroyed, or cease to exist, at the end of the world. They believe that one dies, his or her soul "sleeps" until the Second Coming. When that happens, he or she is told to "rise" and is then taken up in the air, placed on a cloud, and travels for seven days to Heaven, where they stay for a thousand years. After that, Jesus comes back to Earth to do battle with the wicked for the final time. Once they are destroyed, the Earth will be made new, and sin will be no more. Anyway, that's how I remember it. There may be more that I have missed because it's been a long time since I attended church. I'm not sure what they say about remarriage. Some people of other mainstream christian denominations believe that one goes directly to Heaven after death. I do know that Catholics believe in Purgatory.

 

Adventists worship on Saturday(aka the Sabbath). Sabbath begins after sundown on Friday and lasts until sundown on Saturday. During that time, they don't do any work or any other "wordly" things like watch tv or go to movies. They attend services on Friday evening(they call it Vespers)to "open" the Sabbath, attend Saturday morning services and "close" the Sabbath with a vesper(evening)service on Saturday evening. I remember that routine VERY well. Sabbath afternoons were boring because adventists were not allowed to do anything "fun". Their focus was to be totally on "Sabbath" activities, such as listening to christian(Sabbath) music, or reading Sabbath books. Occasionally there was the "fellowship potluck" after church, where some of the most disgusting food that I have ever tasted was served. Vegetarianism is encouraged in adventism, and I thought that the some of the food served at these potlucks was gross. I preferred going out to eat where meat was served, but that was forbidden on the Sabbath because it was considered a "worldly" activity. I was just a kid back then, and my tastes have changed somewhat, so I occasionally eat vegetarian foods, but I'm not a vegetarian.

 

I write these posts because I need to resolve some issues, and adventism was a HUGE part of my life. I now realize that it did a lot more damage than I thought. This website is just the first step in my recovery.

 

Wow... That's pretty messed up shit. And what a way to ruin the weekend! Ah, it's Friday, two days off from work. Time to get home, get changed, go to church, go to bed at a decent hour so I can get up in time for church again tomorrow morning, and then have something vegie to eat for lunch, might as well have a nap, then go back to church.

 

So would no fiction extend to no movies, too? No TV? Doesn't sound like a very fun way to live at all.

 

Some adventists don't go to movies, while others don't have a tv. When I was a kid, I watched tv and went to movies, but NEVER on the Sabbath. I guess I was lucky. Historic Adventists stick to the rules, so to speak.

[notaxtian]

Ugh, sounds gruesomely repressive. I'm happy to see you here and doing better.

 

The entire denomination sounds like a bunch of kill-joys who panic at the idea that someone, somewhere is having fun. I remember hearing about the vegetarianism thing (I'm married to a lifelong non-Christian vegetarian) and checking out some of the cookbooks they'd put out, and oh my goodness the food was disgusting-sounding to me and my husband both! It really does sound just horrible to put a kid through that kind of joylessness. Glad you saw the light and got out of that faith

 

Thanks for responding, Akheia . Adventism DID put a damper on my childhood. The vegetarian thing is ok. I actually don't mind eating healthy. I mostly eat chicken nowdays.

[blackpudd1n]

Here are two links I would like to share. I think that they are good examples of what I was talking abouthttp://www.formeradv...html?1328548935andhttp://www.formeradv...html?1327468684. I wonder what would have happened if I, as an agnostic, had participated in these discussions? If one thinks that THIS is bad, just wait until an agnostic or atheist tells them what THEY think. I'm sure that one day it will happen. Just wait....

 

Wow... these people either need to get laid or need to get a life!!!

 

What a boring bunch of people!

[notaxtian]

Here are two links I would like to share. I think that they are good examples of what I was talking abouthttp://www.formeradv...html?1328548935andhttp://www.formeradv...html?1327468684. I wonder what would have happened if I, as an agnostic, had participated in these discussions? If one thinks that THIS is bad, just wait until an agnostic or atheist tells them what THEY think. I'm sure that one day it will happen. Just wait....

 

Wow... these people either need to get laid or need to get a life!!!

 

What a boring bunch of people!

 

They sound somewhat arrogant to me, like they know more about Jesus than Catholics, Baptists, or any other denomination. I am SO glad that I didn't register on that website.

[notaxtian]

Notaxtian, thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. I was wondering if you would mind telling me some more about SDA beliefs.

 

To start with, why are they against fiction? What do they believe about heaven and hell? Do they allow remarriage? What distinguishes the SDA from mainstram protestant xtianity?

 

This link explains in more detail about adventismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh-day_Adventist_Church

[notaxtian]

Visiting adventist web sites helps me to understand what caused my fear of the end of the world and it's another step in my recovery. For me it's like trying to solve a puzzle or a mystery. To some it may sound strange to go back to the source of one's problems, but I feel that I must do so. Adventism did a lot of damage to my childhood, and I resent that. I can never get my childhood back. Never.

 

Hopefully once I complete this step, I can FINALLY move on with my life. I can't go back in time, but I can make my future better.