SDA missionary kid raised in Kenya, high school in Loma Linda Ca, born again christian 2001-2002, atheist since 2003. I was actually first exposed to alternate belief systems at a sabbath school meeting where Loma Linda University professors would read books by authors like Gould and discuss them as a substitute for attending church! (several atheists regularly attended). I quickly gravitated toward the views expressed by the skeptics in the discussions. Somehow i found their thoughts to be more honest and robust. I am eternally grateful for the seeds of freedom and knowledge they planted.
Im really really really into John Coltrane. He is almost Jesus for me. Even been to the St John Coltrane Church in SF a few times.
Despite my rational bent, i cant help feeling spiritual when listening to Coltrane.
Jazz piano is my passion and life long pursuit.
School/College/University
PUC
Age Group
22-30
City and State (For Member Searching)
Angwin CA
Country (For Member Searching)
USA
Comment Wall (11 comments)
You need to be a member of Atheist Nexus to add comments!
Hey Ron, I graduated LLU school of dental hygiene in '98. That was the end of the road for me in regards to SDA's. My parent's are still pretty heavy into it though.
Had to drop facebook because too many of my "friends" were SDA's and I couldn't take the 'happy sabbath,' and 'pray for me,' etc. etc. It's great to know there are other former SDA's out there. : )
Hey man, are you at PUC right now? i graduated in '05, but still have friends that live in the area. hehe, that's bitchin' about them reading those books instead of Sabbath-School! u hear La Sierra's teaching Evolution in their Biology classes now? :) we'll see how long that lasts...
Hi Ron, no I didn't go to LLU. I didn't go to any SDA university, thankfully. I've gotten as far away from that world as I can get. Even so, it took me many years before I could throw off SDA thinking. It's a particularly virulent form of delusion.
Hi Ron, nice to see another ex-SDA (is it safe to assume you are ex? lol) here. I lived in Deer Park for 1 year in middle school and attended the Angwin church, for what it's worth, so I can relate to your environment. I'll hope you'll blog about your life and experiences there. Welcome and good luck.
Sounds like the sda university experience is much more intilectually stimulating than a small town sda church. Does that commnity that you are still close with know about your lack of belief?
Thank you for the olive branch of friendship Ron. I'm a Coltrane fanatic too and I feel the same way about the spirituality of his music. I started listening to Trane in 1975 when I was 16 and I've never been the same sense. I can still whistle, note for note, about 30+ of his solos.
Hello Ron, and welcome to this friendly meeting place where we recognise--as freethinking atheists do--that gods are phoney and religion is used so much to control people;
and how tragic and inexcusable it is that women and minorities have been oppressed these last two thousand years and more.
Comment Wall (11 comments)
You need to be a member of Atheist Nexus to add comments!
Join Atheist Nexus
Had to drop facebook because too many of my "friends" were SDA's and I couldn't take the 'happy sabbath,' and 'pray for me,' etc. etc. It's great to know there are other former SDA's out there. : )
Peace, respect and critical thinking,
Rob H.
and how tragic and inexcusable it is that women and minorities have been oppressed these last two thousand years and more.
Terry Meaden
founder of the busy group "ORIGINS: Universe, Life, Earth, Humans, Religion, Evolution, Darwin..." with its 270 discussion topics. We invite you to join us.
http://www.atheistnexus.org/group/originsuniverselifehumankindanddarwin
View All Comments