How serious do take EGW?

[JohnMarsten]

How serious do you take the writings of EGW? Especially her guidelines which have an impact on everyday life...

For example: she wrote you shouldnt go to a theater or read fiction. It can be easily said that according to this SDAs should watch any movies at all, in other words a TV set might be very dangerous and IMHO should be 'plucked out'!

Of course this is all a little bit ironic since most SDAs wouldnt care much about what I wrote above, but still the assumption is correct IMHO.

So what is your take? Are her guidelines in any way binding? How do you cope with it?

 

[Castaway57]

How serious do you take the writings of EGW? Especially her guidelines which have an impact on everyday life...

For example: she wrote you shouldnt go to a theater or read fiction. It can be easily said that according to this SDAs should watch any movies at all, in other words a TV set might be very dangerous and IMHO should be 'plucked out'!

Of course this is all a little bit ironic since most SDAs wouldnt care much about what I wrote above, but still the assumption is correct IMHO.

So what is your take? Are her guidelines in any way binding? How do you cope with it?

It would depend on what you are talking about. For eg if we were to talk about where she said some of the things you mentioned, that would be a start. I would need specific references from her writings to which you are referring to

Can you give any specific reference for the comment you made re movie, or TV? The context and intent must be considered in any judgment on her writings, just like anything else.

 

[JohnMarsten]

It would depend on what you are talking about. For eg if we were to talk about where she said some of the things you mentioned, that would be a start. I would need specific references from her writings to which you are referring to

Can you give any specific reference for the comment you made re movie, or TV? The context and intent must be considered in any judgment on her writings, just like anything else.

Lets take the following two excerptions:


"Dear Brother E: I have just read the Review and Herald and have seen your article giving a list of good books for our youth. I was much surprised to read your recommendation of Uncle Tom's Cabin, Robinson Crusoe, and such books. You are in danger of becoming somewhat careless in your writing. It would be well to give thought and careful study to whatever is to be immortalized in print. I am really alarmed to see that your spiritual eyesight is not more clear in the matter of selecting and recommending reading for our youth. I know that the recommendation in our papers of such infatuating books as Uncle Tom's Cabin will in many minds justify the reading of other books which are nothing but fiction. . . . This recommendation will make taxing work for those who are laboring to persuade the youth to discard fictitious reading. I have repeatedly seen the evil of reading such books as you recommend, and have an article all prepared, cautioning our youth in this very matter." (Testimonies Vol. 5, p. 516)

"Among the most dangerous resorts for pleasure is the theater." (Messages to Young People, p. 380)

 

[Stryder06]

Lets take the following two excerptions:


"Dear Brother E: I have just read the Review and Herald and have seen your article giving a list of good books for our youth. I was much surprised to read your recommendation of Uncle Tom's Cabin, Robinson Crusoe, and such books. You are in danger of becoming somewhat careless in your writing. It would be well to give thought and careful study to whatever is to be immortalized in print. I am really alarmed to see that your spiritual eyesight is not more clear in the matter of selecting and recommending reading for our youth. I know that the recommendation in our papers of such infatuating books as Uncle Tom's Cabin will in many minds justify the reading of other books which are nothing but fiction. . . . This recommendation will make taxing work for those who are laboring to persuade the youth to discard fictitious reading. I have repeatedly seen the evil of reading such books as you recommend, and have an article all prepared, cautioning our youth in this very matter." (Testimonies Vol. 5, p. 516)

"Among the most dangerous resorts for pleasure is the theater." (Messages to Young People, p. 380)

Really wondering what you're looking for. If somone says "Yes" what will that matter for you?

 

[JohnMarsten]

Really wondering what you're looking for. If somone says "Yes" what will that matter for you?

non sequitur

 

[Castaway57]

non sequitur

That means "not relevant?"

OK; fair enough. The question of the OP for this topic does beg for some kind of qualifications. I mean, in my meagre mind, the same could be asked about almost any person.

Are you asking us when to consider something Ellen White wrote is "inspired" or are you asking something else?

Some kind of clarification from you on what exactly you are looking for here would be very helpful to me in order to give you a more relevant answer.

Again; thankyou for your contribution here.

 

[JohnMarsten]

That means "not relevant?"

OK; fair enough. The question of the OP for this topic does beg for some kind of qualifications. I mean, in my meagre mind, the same could be asked about almost any person.

Are you asking us when to consider something Ellen White wrote is "inspired" or are you asking something else?

Some kind of clarification from you on what exactly you are looking for here would be very helpful to me in order to give you a more relevant answer.

Again; thankyou for your contribution here.

well, I was jusr making a little bit of fun with this non sequitur phrase...

no really, I was just curious... it wasnt a question about inspiration, I guess if someone doesnt believe her writings to be inspired he or she will not take them serious either...

But on the other hand, there are so many people out there who believe in her writings, so I was just curious how her writings are implemented in everyday life.

You know there was a time in my life where I took her writings more or less serious, or at least gave them some thought. I had some SDA neighbors who read that woman shouldnt wear trousers, so the mother with her daughter started wearing skirts and womans dresses for a while because everything else would have been an abomination to the Lord. After some time, lets say it lasted a couple of months, they did away with this and started wearing trousers again...

Its nice to observe such things, cause by doing certain things you manifest something. While they had their womens' dresses fad they were certainly representing something... but later must have gotten out of it somehow, maybe realizing that trousers can be worn by women nowadays

Its just interesting...

So, indeed egw writings can be taken very seriously...

 

[Castaway57]

But on the other hand, there are so many people out there who believe in her writings, so I was just curious how her writings are implemented in everyday life.

So, indeed egw writings can be taken very seriously...

Well, making a long story short, I certainly agree with you - but in some cases we see, I would not use the word "serious." Like anything else, her writings can and do get blown out of context.

I have no problem with the official beliefs regarding EGWs writings, but I have been known to be the first to squawk when people use them out of context. The types of things you mentioned re dress, are prime examples.

I will tell you about the bicycle craze in my next post - it clearly illustrates what I am talking about; but for now I am out of time. Take care...till next time...

 

[David Conklin]

Originally Posted by Stryder06

Really wondering what you're looking for. If somone says "Yes" what will that matter for you?
​

non sequitur

Actually, it was quite logical. One has to wonder why you ran away from a direct question?

 

[Castaway57]

Actually, it was quite logical. One has to wonder why you ran away from a direct question?

I highly doubt he "ran away."

 

[David Conklin]

I highly doubt he "ran away."

ROFL!!! That's what the critics "always say" about the Adventists on the forums. I tell 'em, "Nope, still here!"