The Seventh Day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination that observes the Sabbath (a holy day of rest) on Saturdays (like Jews) rather than on Sundays (like most other Christians). The group focuses especially on the Second Coming of Christ, which they believed would be imminent and would result in the faithful being taken to the Promised Land. Like other Protestant groups, they hold firm to the idea that Scripture is infallible, that there are Three Divine Persons in the Holy Trinity, and that there will be a resurrection. This paper will discuss the beliefs, hopes, traditions, etc. of the Seventh Day Adventists.
The Church was formed in Maryland in 1800s but it has since become international with over 20 million members worldwide. They have 28 Fundamental Beliefs, which are similar to Trinitarian Protestantism and include belief in justification by faith alone, baptism by immersion, and a literal interpretation of the Bible. They believe that the Law is embodied in the Ten Commandments given to Moses, that the soul is not immortal and that death results in a loss of consciousness (until the resurrection).

Adventists do not work on the Sabbath. They will not engage in secular forms of recreation on the Sabbath, prepare meals or any such thing. They will, however, go for walks, partake of family activities, do charitable works, and have potlucks. Typically, a Sabbath School Lesson is held on the Sabbath, which is like a small Bible study group. The Church service includes a sermon, singing, Bible reading, prayer and tithing.

Health and wholeness are very important to Adventists, so diet is a particular consideration of the group. Vegetarianism is often promoted among Adventists (Fraser, 2003). Their health focus includes adhering to the same kosher laws that are observed by Jews and which stem from a reading of Leviticus. They abstain from eating pork and anything...…immodest attire. They do not advocate that unmarried girls use birth control as it indicates that premarital sex is okay, when they believe that all sex should be reserved for married couples. So for a nurse to recommend birth control to an unwed Adventist girl as a way to treat difficult menstruations would be an unacceptable approach to care. Transcultural nursing is about being informed so that respect and sensitivity can be shown at all times.

In conclusion, the Seventh Day Adventists are a group that has only been in existence for just over 100 years—but they have grown rapidly all over the world after beginning in Maryland. Their practitioners tend to try to lead health lives because of their belief in the human being filled with the Spirit. They are social conservatives at heart. They enjoy being in nature, resting on the Sabbath, which they identify as Saturday, and taking care of the whole person.