Changes

The church professes 28 fundamental beliefs which it sees as being based on the Bible, and which it states is the only basis of its faith, though historically it has privileged the teaching of Mrs White.  Healthy food is part of the religion. Most Adventists are vegetarians, and reject caffeine and alcohol.  Adventists in Battle Creek, Michigan, developed America's [[Breakfast cereals|breakfast cereal industry]].

The church professes 28 fundamental beliefs which it sees as being based on the Bible, and which it states is the only basis of its faith, though historically it has privileged the teaching of Mrs White.  Healthy food is part of the religion. Most Adventists are vegetarians, and reject caffeine and alcohol.  Adventists in Battle Creek, Michigan, developed America's [[Breakfast cereals|breakfast cereal industry]].

   

   

Adventist missionary activity has been quite successful, and over 90% of members are outside the U.S., including 34% in Africa, 33% in Latin American, versus 8% in the U.S. and Canada. There is a very active missionary program in 230 countries. There are 15 million members, with the greatest numbers in Brazil (1.3 million); the US (950,000); India (920,000); the Philippines (750,000); Peru (660,000); Mexico (550,000); and Kenya (530,000).  There are 64,000 churches and 16,000 ordained ministers. <ref> See statistics at [http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/rel_sev_adv_mem-religion-seventh-day-adventist-membership online]</ref>   

Adventist missionary activity has been quite successful, and over 90% of members are outside the U.S., including 34% in Africa, 33% in Latin American, versus 8% in the U.S. and Canada. There is a very active missionary program in 230 countries. There are 15 million members, with the greatest numbers in Brazil (1.3 million); the US (950,000); India (920,000); the Philippines (750,000); Peru (660,000); Mexico (550,000); and Kenya (530,000).  There are 64,000 churches and 16,000 ordained ministers.<ref>See statistics at [http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/rel_sev_adv_mem-religion-seventh-day-adventist-membership online]</ref>   

Worldwide the church operates 107 colleges and medical schools, and 7300 elementary and secondary schools. Total enrollment is 1.5 million. It operates over 700 hospitals, sanitaria and clinics. The worldwide budget is $2.7 billion, with $420 million spent on aid and relief efforts.<ref> See [http://www.adventist.org/world_church/facts_and_figures/index.html.en Official statistics online]</ref>

Worldwide the church operates 107 colleges and medical schools, and 7300 elementary and secondary schools. Total enrollment is 1.5 million. It operates over 700 hospitals, sanitaria and clinics. The worldwide budget is $2.7 billion, with $420 million spent on aid and relief efforts.<ref>See [http://www.adventist.org/world_church/facts_and_figures/index.html.en Official statistics online]</ref>

==History==

==History==

The fear that other Protestants would establish a Christian Sunday expanded into opposition to the establishment of a "Christian" identity for the nation, and opposition to school prayer. This led to alliances with secularists in the American political spectrum.  

The fear that other Protestants would establish a Christian Sunday expanded into opposition to the establishment of a "Christian" identity for the nation, and opposition to school prayer. This led to alliances with secularists in the American political spectrum.  

==Health==

==Health==

Adventist emphasis on health and healing coincided with broader emphases on proper diet (specifically the [[Kosher]] dietary laws), promoting [[vegetarianism]], nonsmoking, and temperance--which usually means abstaining from alcohol, premarital sexual, and vulgarity. From [[Breakfast cereals|Kellogg's Corn Flakes]] (an Adventist innovation) to sanitaria emphasizing natural cures to first-rate nursing and medical schools, as well as medical missions around the world, Adventists formed many alliances with more innovative forces, both secular and religious.

Adventist emphasis on health and healing coincided with broader emphases on proper diet (specifically the [[Kosher]] dietary laws), promoting [[vegetarianism]], nonsmoking, and temperance—which usually means abstaining from alcohol, premarital sexual, and vulgarity. From [[Breakfast cereals|Kellogg's Corn Flakes]] (an Adventist innovation) to sanitaria emphasizing natural cures to first-rate nursing and medical schools, as well as medical missions around the world, Adventists formed many alliances with more innovative forces, both secular and religious.

In the 20th century premillennial fundamentalism and political conservatism are often associated with each other. The premillennialism of Seventh-day Adventists, however, has not shared the outlook of that conservatism. The Adventists' views on race, prohibition, religious pluralism, the observance of the Sabbath (in the context of establishing Sunday as a national day of rest), and other matters exhibit similarities and differences when compared to the views of premillennial fundamentalists. Adventists have wanted to keep America Protestant, but they stressed liberty as the essence of Protestantism and thus helped to expand American religious pluralism.<ref> Morgan (1994)</ref>

In the 20th century premillennial fundamentalism and political conservatism are often associated with each other. The premillennialism of Seventh-day Adventists, however, has not shared the outlook of that conservatism. The Adventists' views on race, prohibition, religious pluralism, the observance of the Sabbath (in the context of establishing Sunday as a national day of rest), and other matters exhibit similarities and differences when compared to the views of premillennial fundamentalists. Adventists have wanted to keep America Protestant, but they stressed liberty as the essence of Protestantism and thus helped to expand American religious pluralism.<ref>Morgan (1994)</ref>

At the end of World War II, the church reported 226,000 members in the US and Canada, and 380,000 elsewhere; the budget was $29 million and enrollemnt in church schools was 40,000.

At the end of World War II, the church reported 226,000 members in the US and Canada, and 380,000 elsewhere; the budget was $29 million and enrollemnt in church schools was 40,000.

Just because Christ did not return to earth in the 1840s did not mean that his return was not imminent, the Adventists argue, nor did it mean that preparations for that return should not remain uppermost in the minds and hearts of Seventh-day Adventists. Adventism is still the essential element in the identity of the group.

Just because Christ did not return to earth in the 1840s did not mean that his return was not imminent, the Adventists argue, nor did it mean that preparations for that return should not remain uppermost in the minds and hearts of Seventh-day Adventists. Adventism is still the essential element in the identity of the group.

==Internal disputes==

==Internal disputes==

The major doctrinal conflicts that troubled the movement throughout the last third of the twentieth century include disputes over the nature of Ellen White's inspiration and authority, challenges to orthodox Adventist interpretations of Daniel 8, and debates over the role of good works in salvation. As with many doctrinal crises among evangelical Protestant churches, these conflicts often arose in disputes between the church's academics, increasingly trained in secular academic traditions, and its more theologically conservative, even reactionary, clerical administrators. In each case these controversies revealed an ambivalence by Adventists toward other Christians and secular society. They asked, are we like them or different, and how much does it matter? It was a crisis of identity for the church.<ref> See Vance (1999)</ref>  

The major doctrinal conflicts that troubled the movement throughout the last third of the twentieth century include disputes over the nature of Ellen White's inspiration and authority, challenges to orthodox Adventist interpretations of Daniel 8, and debates over the role of good works in salvation. As with many doctrinal crises among evangelical Protestant churches, these conflicts often arose in disputes between the church's academics, increasingly trained in secular academic traditions, and its more theologically conservative, even reactionary, clerical administrators. In each case these controversies revealed an ambivalence by Adventists toward other Christians and secular society. They asked, are we like them or different, and how much does it matter? It was a crisis of identity for the church.<ref>See Vance (1999)</ref>  

===Role of women===

===Role of women===

Although the denomination was formed by a woman at a time women were not generally allowed in pulpits, the Adventists reversed policy at the same time most denominations became more accepting of women leaders. When Adventists wanted to emphasize their separation from the world, they denounced the gender roles of the larger society, and when they de-emphasized separatism and moved toward accommodation, they advocated gender norms, behaviors, and expectations similar to those of Fundamentalists.<ref> See Vance (1999)</ref>  

Although the denomination was formed by a woman at a time women were not generally allowed in pulpits, the Adventists reversed policy at the same time most denominations became more accepting of women leaders. When Adventists wanted to emphasize their separation from the world, they denounced the gender roles of the larger society, and when they de-emphasized separatism and moved toward accommodation, they advocated gender norms, behaviors, and expectations similar to those of Fundamentalists.<ref>See Vance (1999)</ref>  

==Creationism==

==Creationism==

In the history of [[creationism]] in the United States, the emphasis on flood geology is largely an outgrowth of Seventh-day Adventism.<ref> Ronald L. Numbers, ''The Creationists: The Evolution of Scientific Creationism'' (1992)</ref>

In the history of [[creationism]] in the United States, the emphasis on flood geology is largely an outgrowth of Seventh-day Adventism.<ref>Ronald L. Numbers, ''The Creationists: The Evolution of Scientific Creationism'' (1992)</ref>

==Opposition==

==Opposition==

Evangelicals throughout the 19th century denounce Adventism as an illegitimate cult, the same is said of other Protestant Baptist-origin Millerite movements.<ref>[http://www.apologeticsindex.org/s18.html Seventh-day Adventism, Apologetics Index research resource]</ref>

Evangelicals throughout the 19th century denounce Adventism as an illegitimate cult, the same is said of other Protestant Baptist-origin Millerite movements.<ref>[http://www.apologeticsindex.org/s18.html Seventh-day Adventism, Apologetics Index research resource]</ref>

* Land, Gary. "At the Edges of Holiness: Seventh-Day Adventism Receives the Holy Ghost, 1892-1900." ''Fides et Historia'' 2001 33(2): 13-30  

* Land, Gary. "At the Edges of Holiness: Seventh-Day Adventism Receives the Holy Ghost, 1892-1900." ''Fides et Historia'' 2001 33(2): 13-30  

* Morgan, Douglas. ''Adventism and the American Republic: The Public Involvement of a Major Apocalyptic Movement.'' (2001). 269 pp.

* Morgan, Douglas. ''Adventism and the American Republic: The Public Involvement of a Major Apocalyptic Movement.'' (2001). 269 pp.

* Morgan, Douglas. "Adventism, Apocalyptic, and the Cause of Liberty," ''Church History'', Vol. 63, No. 2 (Jun., 1994), pp. 235-249 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3168590 in JSTOR]

* Morgan, Douglas. "Adventism, Apocalyptic, and the Cause of Liberty," ''Church History'', Vol. 63, No. 2 (Jun., 1994), pp.&nbsp;235–249 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3168590 in JSTOR]

* Neufield, Don F. ed. ''Seventh-Day Adventist Encyclopedia'' (10 vol 1976), official publication

* Neufield, Don F. ed. ''Seventh-Day Adventist Encyclopedia'' (10 vol 1976), official publication

* Pearson, Michael. ''Millennial Dreams and Moral Dilemmas: Seventh-day Adventism and Contemporary Ethics.'' (1990, 1998) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521091489 excerpt and text search], looks at issues of marriage, abortion, homosexuality

* Pearson, Michael. ''Millennial Dreams and Moral Dilemmas: Seventh-day Adventism and Contemporary Ethics.'' (1990, 1998) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521091489 excerpt and text search], looks at issues of marriage, abortion, homosexuality