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Contextualising Recent Tensions in Seventh-Day Adventism: "A Constant Process of Struggle and Rebirth"?

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Contextualising Recent Tensions in Seventh-Day Adventism: View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Avondale College: ResearchOnline@Avondale Avondale College ResearchOnline@Avondale Theology Papers and Journal Articles Faculty of Theology 9-2010 Contextualising Recent Tensions in Seventh-day Adventism: "A Constant Process of Struggle and Rebirth"? Arthur N. Patrick Avondale College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://research.avondale.edu.au/theo_papers Part of the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Patrick, A. N. (2010). Contextualising recent tensions in Seventh-day Adventism: “A constant process of struggle and rebirth”? Journal of Religious History, 34(3), 272-288. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9809.2010.00897.x This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Faculty of Theology at ResearchOnline@Avondale. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theology Papers and Journal Articles by an authorized administrator of ResearchOnline@Avondale. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Contextualising Recent Tensions in Seventh-day Adventism: “a constant process of struggle and rebirth”? Arthur Patrick Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Avondale College Abstract Between 1844 and 1863, fragments of disappointed Millerism developed the landmark ideas, the denominational name and the basic structure of what is now the Seventh-day Adventist Church with fifteen million members in 201 countries. This article contextualises the struggle of recent decades between continuity and change in Adventist teaching, suggesting that a score of doctoral theses/dissertations and other studies offer a coherence that is deeply disturbing for some believers, insufficient for some others, but satisfying for many. The demands in Western culture for faith to be aped by evidence and to offer existential meaning have elicited three stances in relation to traditional Adventist thought: reversion, alienation and transformation. While the consequent tensions may be viewed as evidence of “growth, vitality and increased understanding,” they also constitute an urgent call for effective internal and external dialogue. Author’s Note history in Australia. The article claimed 2010. Subsequently the Journal editors the sources were already in hand for representing the Society for the “substantial and accurate Seventh- Dated 14 April 2011: On 24 October Journal of Religious History in Australia, day Adventist history to be written” 2006 I presented a paper entitled and those overseas representing the that would “expose increasingly the “Adventist Studies Since 1986: Fractious publishers Wiley-Blackwell, negotiated inadequacies of numerous viewpoints Adolescent or Maturing Adult?” to an the final form of the article printed in current both within the denomination Avondale College Faculty Colloquium Journal of Religious History 34, No. 3 and beyond its borders.”1 Two decades (see Stephanie Arnold, “Research (September 2010), 272-288. Dr David Fellow: Adventist studies ‘maturing’,” Hilliard wrote a capable introduction 1 Arthur N. Patrick, “Seventh-day Connections, 1 November 2006, 2). for the September 2010 issue of the Adventist History in the South Pacific: A By 17 November 2006 the script for Journal. I am grateful for the policies of Review of Sources,” The Journal of Religious oral delivery had developed into the the Society and of Wiley-Blackwell that History 14, no. 3 (June 1987), 307-326. For a article reproduced word-for-word permit the original draft to be placed discussion of “Religious History” as defined below, except for the addition of the on the Avondale College of Higher by JRH, see Arthur Patrick, “Introduction,” Abstract. On 26 November 2006 the Education website, and for the insights “Christianity and Culture in Colonial first draft of the article was submitted of so many people who helped develop Australia: Selected Catholic, Anglican, to Journal of Religious History; on 28 the article from the draft below to its Wesleyan and Adventist Perspectives, 1891- 1900” (Ph.D. dissertation: University of February 2008 a second draft was published form, now available in Journal Newcastle, 1991), 1-8; cf. J.D. Bollen, A.E. submitted incorporating my responses of Religious History held by scholarly Cahill, Bruce Manfield, Patrick O’Farrell, to helpful suggestions received from libraries worldwide. “Australian Religious History, 1960-1980,” the referees and passed on to me The Journal of Religious History 11, no. 1 by the Journal editors; on 28 August (June 1980), 8-43. The 1987 article should 2008 a third draft was submitted, As The Journal of Religious History was be read in the context provided by Hilary M. responding to additional comments celebrating its first quarter century, Carey, Ian Breward, Nicholas Doumanis, Ruth made by the referees. After that, with founding editor Professor Bruce Frappell, David Hilliard, Katherine Massan, the article queued for publication in Mansfield was facilitating an article on Anne O’Brien, Roger Thompson, “Australian a themed issue, a number of items of Seventh-day Adventist historiography Religion Review, 1980-2000, Part 2: Christian information were updated in the final as “the first in a new, occasional, series” Denominations,” The Journal of Religious edition submitted on 16 February on sources for the study of religious History 25, no. 1 (February 2001), 56-82. later it seems appropriate to revisit could select Adventist Studies as a the burgeoning discipline of Adventist Adventist Studies thematic option.9 Studies to identify trajectories and interpret their nature and significance. Seventh-day Adventists (SDAs) Contemporary Seventh-day Adventism established their first college in 1874 cannot be understood adequately A Catholic journalist, in the epilogue to and now operate 101 senior colleges without due attention to its nineteenth- a widely acclaimed volume published and universities worldwide.6 Graduate century origins and development in in 1976, describes Christian history as study offered intermittently in the the United States, even though only “a constant process of struggle and 1930s developed into the church’s one in every fourteen of its fourteen rebirth–a succession of crises, often premier institution of its type, the SDA million members now live in North accompanied by horror, bloodshed, Theological Seminary, housed at the America. Further, Adventism may be bigotry and unreason, but evidence Washington (D.C.) headquarters until interpreted as one of the many utopian too of growth, vitality and increased 1960 when it relocated to the campus communities that emerged in the United understanding.”2 Marilyn Westerkamp of Andrews University in Berrien Springs States between 1787 and 1919.10 Even states that during the 1970s in the (Michigan).7 A range of accredited more specifically, it should be compared United States, religious history that PhD degree programs allowing the and contrasted with other nineteenth- had been “replete with apologetical option of a specific focus on Adventist century movements that developed in positions,” “a poor stepchild to historical history and thought have developed the United States, have a continuing scholarship,” tending “toward anecdotal, since the 1970s within such disciplines presence there and like Adventism often uncritical celebrations,” was as biblical, theological and historical have spread to other parts of the world, “transformed.” 3 During that challenging studies.8 During 1993 the seminary especially the Church of Jesus Christ of decade and especially in the 1980s, announced a PhD program in Adventist Latter Day Saints, Christian Science and Adventism felt a need to marginalise Studies and academic offerings at other the Jehovah’s Witnesses.11 or dismiss some of its historians and Adventist institutions have also moved other researchers. However, by 1979 to include the study of Adventism Sociologists and historians rightly use it had also published its first history more intentionally; for instance, when the word Adventist to describe various textbook written by a trained historian in 2006 Avondale College in Australia movements that have flourished 4 and it was becoming aware of the was accredited by the Government of throughout the Christian era up to and professionalisation of its historians.5 This New South Wales to offer PhD studies including the present.12 However, in article suggests that “a constant process in history, education, pedagogy, health of struggle and rebirth,” always evident and theology, the college advertised the 9 See “Adventist Studies: An in Adventism but acutely evident during possibility that each of these disciplines Introduction for Higher Degree Students” online at www.avondale.edu.au or the the past four decades, offers continuing 6 Yearbook of the Seventh-day annotated edition in print (Cooranbong: evidence of “growth, vitality and Adventist Church (Hagerstown, MD: Review Avondale College, May 2006). While hundreds increased understanding.” and Herald, 2006). of websites offer reliable data and ephemeral 2 Paul Johnson, A History of opinion about the SDA church, its General Christianity (New York: Simon and Schuster, 7 Loma Linda University incorporates Conference, world divisions, institutions and 1976), 515-6. a Faculty of Religion but its principal focus ideas, those sponsored by the church’s archives is health sciences. The exploration of such and universities are of prime importance for 3 Marilyn Westerkamp, “Religion,” matters can be commenced with the Seventh-
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