49% Leave the SDA Denomination

[CoAspen]

My thought is that Public school at home is better than boarding academy or even home schooling if possible. Education in this country, both private and public, is very archaic in many aspects. Everything else has become forward, but not so much the educational process.

Parents should be the first and best role model, when possible. Church is for support and nurturing of all, including its youngest members.

[JoeMo]

52 minutes ago, Geoarrge said:

I feel very out of place when I do attend my local church, where the congregation is almost entirely college students, professors, and retirees.

Then I would find another church.  I LOVE my church.  We are small; but that lends so well to the sense of community.  It helps that we are all basically in the same age group as well.  Over 40.  Some of our congregation claim to be ex-SDA; but they are still coming to a (barely) SDA church.

I agree with CoA's post about home school or local school vs. boarding academy.  We have a much more intimate relationship with the kids we home-schooled vs. the ones we sent to boarding academy.

[Geoarrge]

If I had the ability to move, that is something I would certainly consider.  As it is, I'm stuck until I develop a marketable skill set, which I have had to do entirely on my own.

[debbym]

On 10/24/2016 at 9:56 AM, rudywoofs (Pam) said:

If there is no risk when revealing a true, very personal experience, then it has less impact on those with whom it might resonate and help.

Most people have worries, fears, and things that have happened to them that they would like to share, but are afraid that maybe:

1.  no one will listen

2.  no one will care

3.  nobody else will understand

Those are very real and understandable concerns.  If one doesn't care what others think about a deeply personal experience, then why bother to share it at all?  The element of "risk" gives the listener (or reader) a way to connect on a deeper level with the person who is sharing.

Sharing an extremely personal story isn't the same as sharing a recipe for, say, making ice cubes.

Because i was just giving, freely, and if someone is able to place value in this story and find meaning more power.  If no one does then they are also free to go there way.  God gave me the experience and i want it to be able to be used for others learning about people, my humanity and theirs, about church, and expectations, and forgiveness.  I can hear my story, i can care, and i can understand... if others do or do not that is ok with me.  Maybe it is comes with being an old lady and not having so many fears. Truth has a way of speaking for itself in a  deeply personal disclosure or an casual story, regardless of how deeply people resonate or not.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

1 hour ago, debbym said:

Because i was just giving, freely, and if someone is able to place value in this story and find meaning more power.  If no one does then they are also free to go there way.  God gave me the experience and i want it to be able to be used for others learning about people, my humanity and theirs, about church, and expectations, and forgiveness.  I can hear my story, i can care, and i can understand... if others do or do not that is ok with me.  Maybe it is comes with being an old lady and not having so many fears. Truth has a way of speaking for itself in a  deeply personal disclosure or an casual story, regardless of how deeply people resonate or not.

okay...more power to thee!

(and, hey!  You're only a year older than me!  And I'm not an "old lady"!  lol )

 

[Bravus]

Just as a basis of comparison, in my university in our 4 year teacher education degree we lose about 49% between the beginning and the end. About 15% each year, compounded.

Some of those fail their courses, some move to different degrees, some leave university for personal or other reasons, some repeat a year, and so on.

I imagine there is a similar but larger range of reasons for leaving Adventism. Some stop believing, some move to offshoots or other denominations. Some were swept in on a wave of emotion at a revival meeting and when the wave subsides so do they. And so on.

Not all attrition is created equal: if we are not just counting the numbers on the books, we may realise that some of those who go to other denominations are still believers and are prospering there, for example.