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Growing up a Seventh-Day Adventist, Sabbath was just the day that you weren't allowed to have any fun. As with all things, if it works for you, great. Just don

by jgrowl 11y ago

Growing up a Seventh-Day Adventist, Sabbath was just the day that you weren't allowed to have any fun. As with all things, if it works for you, great. Just don't force it on anyone else.

DizzyDoo 11y ago
> As with all things, if it works for you, great. Just don't force it on anyone else. Here's a question, because this is a phrase I've encountered a lot, but I have often wondered whether this is somewhat a self-defeating statement. "Don't you dare force your beliefs on anyone else" is in itself a belief, that you are forcing upon another, is it not? Just because it is a belief about beliefs, or how someone ought to believe, does not excuse it, I have wondered.
- davemel37 11y ago
  His premise is sound though. If you force a belief on someone without nurturing an appreciation and understanding of why they are supposed to be doing it...the moment they are free of your control they will stop doing it. He atleast explains why you shouldnt force it...(because it makes the day no fun.) Really interesting along his point is that in Jewish Law, if someone violates the Shabbat rules, while technically it is a sin punishable by death, he is considered innocent, like a child who doesnt know better...because if they truly understood and appreciated the value of the day, it would be impossible not to observe it.
- jgrowl 11y ago
  I'm not making a philosophical statement. I'm saying if you cross this line, our ability to live peacefully together is going to end.
ams6110 11y ago
Who's forcing anything?
- jgrowl 11y ago
  I'm mainly speaking from a personal perspective as someone who was knocked against a tree and thrown to the ground by an ex-stepfather for trying to refuse to go to church on the Sabbath. There's also the history of Blue Laws in the US: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_law
tomrod 11y ago
http://www.davidbrin.com/dogmaofotherness.html http://www.davidbrin.com/dogmaofotherness.html is a fantastic take on your last point.
exupero 11y ago
I think it often does feel that way to kids, as most things with rules do. Even as an adult the commitment to taking a weekly break sometimes seems restrictive, but only in the short term. The long term effect is rejuvenating. It's interesting to see the secular world discover the value of resting and disconnecting. I've long thought it interesting that Stephen Covey chose the seventh habit of highly effective people to be "Sharpen the Saw". In regard to forcing others, individuals vary, but the SDA church as a whole has long opposed the state forcing citizens to observe a Sabbath. Any members who use physical force over the matter of Sabbath observance would probably use physical force over other things too, and likely says more about the individual's character than the character of the Sabbath, Sabbath-keeping, or sabbatarians.

by jgrowl 11y ago

Growing up a Seventh-Day Adventist, Sabbath was just the day that you weren't allowed to have any fun. As with all things, if it works for you, great. Just don't force it on anyone else.

DizzyDoo 11y ago

> As with all things, if it works for you, great. Just don't force it on anyone else. Here's a question, because this is a phrase I've encountered a lot, but I have often wondered whether this is somewhat a self-defeating statement. "Don't you dare force your beliefs on anyone else" is in itself a belief, that you are forcing upon another, is it not? Just because it is a belief about beliefs, or how someone ought to believe, does not excuse it, I have wondered.

davemel37 11y ago
His premise is sound though. If you force a belief on someone without nurturing an appreciation and understanding of why they are supposed to be doing it...the moment they are free of your control they will stop doing it. He atleast explains why you shouldnt force it...(because it makes the day no fun.) Really interesting along his point is that in Jewish Law, if someone violates the Shabbat rules, while technically it is a sin punishable by death, he is considered innocent, like a child who doesnt know better...because if they truly understood and appreciated the value of the day, it would be impossible not to observe it.
jgrowl 11y ago
I'm not making a philosophical statement. I'm saying if you cross this line, our ability to live peacefully together is going to end.

ams6110 11y ago

Who's forcing anything?

jgrowl 11y ago
I'm mainly speaking from a personal perspective as someone who was knocked against a tree and thrown to the ground by an ex-stepfather for trying to refuse to go to church on the Sabbath. There's also the history of Blue Laws in the US: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_law

tomrod 11y ago

http://www.davidbrin.com/dogmaofotherness.html http://www.davidbrin.com/dogmaofotherness.html is a fantastic take on your last point.

exupero 11y ago

I think it often does feel that way to kids, as most things with rules do. Even as an adult the commitment to taking a weekly break sometimes seems restrictive, but only in the short term. The long term effect is rejuvenating. It's interesting to see the secular world discover the value of resting and disconnecting. I've long thought it interesting that Stephen Covey chose the seventh habit of highly effective people to be "Sharpen the Saw". In regard to forcing others, individuals vary, but the SDA church as a whole has long opposed the state forcing citizens to observe a Sabbath. Any members who use physical force over the matter of Sabbath observance would probably use physical force over other things too, and likely says more about the individual's character than the character of the Sabbath, Sabbath-keeping, or sabbatarians.