Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

College

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Program

Religion, MA

First Advisor

Denis Kaiser

Second Advisor

Jean Cadet

Abstract

The Topic

Since the founding of their denomination, Seventh-day Adventists have advocated a particular concept of health based on the visions and writings of denominational co-founder Ellen G. White (1827–1915). According to her writings, certain natural laws are crucial for maintaining health. These laws are often called “the laws of health” or “the eight laws of health” and include principles such as diet, exercise, water, temperance, and hygiene. In Seventh-day Adventist circles, Ellen G. White is usually perceived as the originator of these health principles. Some scholars suggest that she simply borrowed her health principles from other contemporary health reformers.

The Purpose

This study aims to define the expressions used in the context of the “laws of health” through Ellen G. White’s own writings and to determine the similarities and differences between her writings and those of other contemporary health reformers to identify her unique contributions to the eight principles of health.

The Sources

This study was based on primary sources produced by Ellen G. White and other selected health reformers. Both primary and secondary sources were used for background and historical context. Scientific studies were used to examine the relevance of the concepts presented in the writings of Ellen G. White.

Conclusions

The study found that: (1) The concept of the laws of health can be viewed as a fundamental idea in the health-related writings of Ellen G. White, and they also constitute the Adventist health message. Her health laws have a very broad scope, covering most areas of spiritual and physical life. Her health visions, together with her writings, provided a pure source of health and lifestyle guidance for the developing movement. She always tied these laws to the Bible, pointing out their close relationship with God’s moral laws. (2) Health and healing are among the main theological concepts in the Bible. The health laws presented by Ellen G. White and other health reformers have their source in the Bible. The biblical promise of the final restoration of health and resurrection has the potential to provide comfort to many people with depression or other mental problems. (3) It is remarkable how many people throughout history have dealt with the laws of health. Although they had some errors in their thinking, the basic ideas were sound and balanced. (4) The comparison of the writings of nineteenth-century health reformers with those of Ellen G. White showed numerous similarities, which serve as a basis to criticize and discredit her as a prophet. This thesis attempts to provide some explanations or counterarguments. First, they all lived in the same age and used the same terminology. Second, the fact that some of her ideas were present decades or centuries before she presented them does not necessarily mean that her ideas did not come from divine inspiration. Inspiration often uses existing sources or common sense to produce a new and error-free guideline for God’s people to prepare for a higher life. For Ellen G. White, health was not a goal in itself but rather a tool for character formation and for the mission of the church. (5) Rather than seeing nineteenth-century health reformers as having invented their own ideas and trying to sort out carefully which idea belonged to which reformer and who borrowed from whom, this study found that it is a system that already existed from the time of creation. It can be discovered by man but not invented. Only God can be considered to have invented this system. (6) Scientific data suggest that the health laws promoted by Ellen G. White and other health reformers still have relevance today. The use of these principles for prevention or cure has become a medical specialty under the name “lifestyle medicine.” This “new” method uses lifestyle intervention to treat many of the non-communicable diseases (NCSs).

Subject Area

White, Ellen G. (1827-1915); Health--Religious aspects--Seventh-day Adventists; Health reformers--Comparative studies; Holistic medicine

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