Spiritual diversity in contemporary society

¶ … Adventists

History of Tradition

The Seventh-Day Adventists are an American Protestant denomination of Christianity. Based on the teachings of William Miller, the Seventh-Day Adventist sect began in 1844 and was started in Washington, New Hampshire. The predecessor movement of the Seventh-Day Adventists was referred to as Millerite after William Miller. Starting his religious career in the 1930s as a Baptist, Miller preached about the End Times and the Second Coming of Christ. The term "adventist" refers to the second coming of Christ, a central Millerite belief. Miller also believed that the Bible contained "coded information" about the apocalypse (Robinson 2007). Miller interpreted a passage from the book of Daniel to mean that the Second Coming would take place in 1843 or 1844, signaling an intense period of spiritual purification (Cho 2002). Subsequently Miller embarked on a passionate preaching expedition. When Miller's apocalyptic predictions failed to come true as they were told, some of his followers withdrew their support for his movement. The event became known as the Great Disappointment. Many others carried on Miller's legacy after his death in 1849 and later founded the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

In 1863, over 3000 believers headed by Ellen and James White formed the first official Seventh-Day Adventist Church: more than a decade after Miller died. Miller therefore never knew what a lasting legacy his unique spiritual beliefs would have on the future of American Protestantism. Miller's ideas would become incorporated into Christian revivalist movements in 19th century America and drew followers from a number of different Protestant denominations including the Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists. According to the Seventh-Day Adventist official Web site, their Church was the fifth in terms of overall membership by the middle of the 19th century.

Although they were called Millerites by outsiders, Miller's followers preferred referring to themselves as Seventh-Day Adventists (Robinson 2007). Seventh-Day Adventist doctrine coalesced during the middle and later half of the 19th century. The Church officially upheld the original Miller prediction about the Advent of Christ. According to the Seventh-Day Adventists, Miller's original prophesy still held true but that the Second Coming would first entail a period of spiritual judgment before Christ actually returned to Earth.

Doctrine/Tenets

Although official Church literature claims that "freedom" is a central tenet of the Seventh-Day Adventist faith, the Church is known for its conservatism (Robinson 2007; Cho 2002). Much of Seventh-Day Adventist doctrine reflects traditional and conservative Protestantism including strict adherence to the Bible as being the actual Word of God. Creationism is inherent to Seventh-Day Adventist doctrine and Adventists believe in a strict interpretation of the Biblical creation story, denying the theory of evolution as being valid. Most Seventh-Day Adventists are also against homosexuality like their conservative Protestant counterparts.

However, Seventh-Day Adventists can be distinguished from other Protestant denominations based on several features. First, Seventh-Day Adventists firmly uphold the Miller prophesy of an immanent Second Coming of Jesus. The belief in the End Times is common among Protestants but not to the extent that it is in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Whereas Miller originally prophesied a specific time and place for the Second Coming, Adventists since White believe that "no one knows the time or day," (Cho 2002). Believers are urged to accept Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of humanity to prepare for the End Times.

In conjunction with the core belief in the Second Advent of Christ, the Church believes in what is known as Investigative Judgment. Ellen White claimed that the date Miller predicted as the absolute Advent of Christ did not set the time for the physical appearance of Christ. Rather, the prediction merely referred to the commencement of a period of divine judgement in which all souls would be pre-judged in heaven in preparation for the actual Advent of Christ. Seventh-Day Adventists believe that Investigative Judgement has been occurring since the 1840s and that by the time Christ appears all humans will have their fate sealed. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church points to Old Testament scripture to substantiate the belief in Investigative Judgement (Robinson 2007). Seventh-Day Adventists also believe that during the period of Investigative Judgement, the Earth is being gradually purged of all sin. Satan reigns on earth now, and after the Advent of Christ only the righteous will be resurrected and reborn on the newly purified planet (Robinson 2007). Only Christians who are righteous and who believe in Christ will be able to return.

Furthermore, Seventh-Day Adventists observe the Sabbath on Saturday and not Sunday with most other Protestants. Their ascription to the traditional Jewish Sabbath also stems from the Adventists' firm belief in a literal interpretation of the Old and New Testaments. A significant feature of the Seventh-Day Adventist religion is the promotion of an almost ascetic lifestyle. Abstinence from alcohol and tobacco is a core tenet. Moreover, the Adventists promote Biblical dietary guidelines similar to Kosher practices. Finally, Adventists uphold Ellen White as a prophet.

Religious Behaviors