Seventh Day Adventists and YOU!

So it's pretty common for newer religions to build off of older ones. I mean, if you look at bible, one of the more noticeable things about it is that it's mostly Judaism with a sequel at the end. And the denominations of Christianity all stem from very similar roots, even though many of them do contain the same ending. One of the most interesting things to someone like me who likes to study and observe is when the ending IS actually different. New faiths have been rising up in the last three or four centuries with new 'radical' and innovative beliefs that dare to challenge the religions that have held so strong over millennia. This week in my class, we were asked to choose one of the many religions we will not get to study, research it, and explain a little about it in our blog. After looking into a few, I decided to choose Seventh Day Adventist.

William Miller had decided to privately study the bible for an extensive two years. He then left Deism and converted to Christianity where he became a Baptist Lay leader. Miller was absolutely convinced that he had found something crucial coded within the bible that was imperative to the faith of God; secretly placed information telling of Christ's second coming and the end of the world. With an urgent sense of importance to spread the word, Miller began preaching in 1831 and began a following that believed according to his calculations that Christ would return in 1844. This unfortunately, to our knowledge, never happened and was known as 'The Great Disappointment'. Miller withdrew from leadership and passed away several years later, leaving his newly formed church in pieces. Ellen White, along other members of different churches  banded together in 1863 to build upon the religion that once was led by Miller. In May of that year, they opened the Seventh Day Adventist Church in NH. She believed that the prediction of 1844 was not the date of Christ's return, but the beginning of the Investigative Judgment where Jesus would begin judging the souls of the living and the dead. White also predicted that Christ would return to Earth shortly after this judgment.

The logo of the church is a direct representation of their values and beliefs. It is said that though the picture is a simple one, it is meant to depict the powerful message of the SDA. The open bible is shown as the base of the religion because the message mus be read and constantly put into action throughout day to day life. At the center is the cross, representing the gospel and salvation as well as tribute to Christ's sacrifice for mankind. The flames circle the earth, representing the Holy Spirit which is everywhere. It is made of 3 lines signifying the 3 angels from Revelation 14. The flames also trail upwards above the Earth to show the ascendancy of the faithful souls departing together to heaven at the Second Coming of Christ.

In the past and present, I have had several friends who were apart of the SDA church. In my time spent with them, I noticed the characteristic that all of them were closely involved with their church and associated mainly with those involved. I became curious and decided this was an ideal time to learn more. I spoke with 3 members from their church and received a lot of valuable information about their beliefs, cultures, and views on life. To learn more about the history and origin of the faith, I researched online for a while and found out the religion was only 150 years old. It's very interesting to see how modern day religions are built off of the others and how strong they can be in gaining a following. I still have many questions, but for now, I am very satisfied with the better understanding I now have of the religion I have seen so close to me but knew little about.

So I've been thinking about this for a few days now...

Catholicism has deemed their God, their Yahweh, as the ultimate being. God is one, God is The Divine Creator, God is all knowing and all good. God created everything that ever was, is now, and will ever be. Sounds like quite a guy in my opinion! Truly a model figure for a society that has devoted their lives to his word. Stories tell of God being the original and omnibenevolent master that is created everything in the world we live in. It is also told of how God only can do good things, being the ultimate sentient being. Sure, there are tales of the Holy Lord showing little mercy on those who have gone against him, but it mostly is in the means of protecting his chosen people, like in the case of Moses and the Egyptians. I won't argue that such acts would defy the idea of God's image, as there are equal reasons as to why each act is as good as they are bad.

Throughout sacred texts dating back centuries, God has always dealt with Beelzebub, the evil being who's existence is associated with suffering and torment. The serpent of morality, Satin, has done terrible things according to the Bible. Truly such a being contains no good within it's agenda. But if God is the only creator and can only do good, where did this Devil come from? Was he there from the beginning? Or is there a darker, more sinister side to the Holy One that isn't spoken of in the liturgical transcripts? Did God create this demon that plagues the world he created? If he did, why? Is it a test of what he already knows? No reasonable explanation comes to mind as I question the origins of this horrible creature.

Chosen through fate or foolishness?

Many religions see themselves and their fellow believers as a chosen kind. This is often depicted in their scripture, teachings, and other methods of maintaining the faith. For Jews, the Torah has told many stories of their divine leader, God, playing the cards in favor of those who followed his word and would smite those who opposed him and his people. The Egyptians had enslaved the Jews and God used Moses to free them. When Moses was up against the proverbial wall, God broke it down and rained terror on the pursuing Egyptian soldiers. What other reason would God do such, unless it were to show his people were chosen to live and continue their faith in his holy image? The Jews are raised with the knowledge that they are officially, by act of God, better than other humans, not chosen for lack of proper worship.

As an Ex-Psych major, I'd love to pick this mentality apart to the bone starting with illusions of grandeur, but that's a conversation for another time. I as well as some Jews even, believe this covenant of God appears a little blown up or out of proportion. Micheal Chabon, famous Jewish writer feels that the false image is portrayed by ordinary people doing ordinary things. The only major accomplishment that differs from other ancient societies that faded out is that the Jews stayed alive. He believes this is more survival tactic rather than supernatural. Living in a society where one's accomplishments are proclaimed and short comings are discarded can maintain such a stereotype, but many believe it is an ambiguous thought that Jews indeed are superior and chosen for greatness more than any other. After all, if God made man in his image, wouldn't man share all flaws and strengths alike?

The Hindu-Buddha Bromance

Well, back in the day, Hindus believed in a very rigid and strict religion that initially defined who you were born as, who you are, and who you will be in the future. This wasn't a very appealing idea if you were to be born on the bottom of the Hindu ladder. The caste system allowed no movement in one lifetime to upgrade to first class, so to say, and to be considered 'Untouchable' was an inevitable life long curse for many. The good news is there was a way out; the cycle of Samsara, where you are born again into a new living being depending on your kharma from your past life. The bad news; it gives a whole new meaning to "Waiting your entire life" for something. So when Prince Siddhārtha Gautama came round and offered a new way of life that freed them from their castes and god's, it seemed like a good option for the lower hindu society.

Buddism still maintained a belief of ascetics which ledup to the enlightenment of one's self and transending into Nirvana. One major difference is when you get there, there is a much lower population of Godly people. Actually, there were no gods to greet them. Rather than following the way of a celestial savior, Buddhists worshiped the all mighty Buddha  with his grand knowledge of life. By sacrificing the life of worldly desires and live an ascetic life, one would reach a state of enlightenment known only to the Buddhas and be freed of the samsara cycle. This sense of Nirvana is very similar to the Hindu ways of reaching Moksha in that you must release yourself to live for a higher power in order to end the sufferinf of samsara. By omitting the gods from their beliefs, Buddhists called this new way 'Dhamma'.

Freedom to choose...

... or at least, freedom to choose as long as what you choose is what someone else wants, that is...

In Ofra Yeshua-Lyth's blog, she states a rather blatant distaste for Israeli independent governing. Her literature provided gives notion that it would be best for the nation to become a democratic party and abandon their connection between the church and state. She also argues that the treatment of Arabs is poor because they are not Jewish. These as well as other issues with Israeli govt were expressed in her article.

In response to Ofra's writing, I find the argument a little hypocritical in several ways. Find me an Arab country that treats Non-Muslim people with all of the same respects that they give to their Muslim peers. A country is able to decide their own rules and standards, even if the standards deem other people as lower class. Rwanda had a split class for a long period of time and the Hindu people live in a caste system where people are regarded as 'Untouchables'. No one has the right to separate their faith from their government except themselves and if they decide not to, then that's their call. Her claims of them having an unreformed and outdated religion is something that could be said about any religion. Last time I checked, faith wasn't about convenience; no God is waiting ready by the Dollar Menu for you to have it your way. The ways or Orthodox Judaism may be strict and 'old', but the Hindu's live their lives in devotion to their faith and have been around for 5000+ years. Are they outdated too? I saw if the Israeli Government wantsto be a National Jewish State, then they should. It's their decision.

The formalities!

To all readers,

As part of a college course, I am asked to maintain this blog on religions from all over the world. Various topics will be shared, discussed, debated, noted, and more. As the writer, I look forward to publishing my opinions, views, and findings as well as seeing the same in feedback from you all as well. This is a first for me in several ways, but I look forward to using this blog as a chance to learn more about these topics as time goes on.

Your's truly,
009