Adventist Tradition
Photo of Capitol Hill SDA Church courtesy of https://www.capitolhillsdachurch.org
Notable books:
Seeking a Sanctuary, Second Edition by
The completely revised second edition further explores one of the most successful of America's indigenous religious groups. Despite this, the Adventist church has remained largely invisible. Seeking a Sanctuary casts light on this marginal religion through its socio-historical context and discusses several Adventist figures that shaped the perception of this Christian sect.
Seeker after Light by
Drawing on their interest and research in Seventh-day Adventist history, Edwards and Land collaborate to provide a scholarly examination of the revealing, if nearly forgotten, episode in 1905, when Albion Fox Ballenger challenged the church's sanctuary doctrine. They present not only a biography of the public figure of Ballenger, but also a portion of the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church within the context of the larger story of religion in the U.S. By investigating the interest of some turn-of-the-century Adventists in such things as the Holiness Movement and faith healing, Edwards and Land show that neither Ballenger nor the church was isolated from American religion during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Apocalypse delayed : the story of Jehovah's Witnesses by
"Since 1876, Jehovah's Witnesses have believed that they are living in the last days of the present world. Charles T. Russell, their founder, advised his followers that members of Christ's church would be raptured in 1878, and by 1914 Christ would destroy the nations and establish his kingdom on earth. The first prophecy was not fulfilled, but the outbreak of the First World War lent some credibility to the second. Ever since that time, Jehovah's Witnesses have been predicting that the world would end "shortly." Their numbers have grown to many millions in over two hundred countries. They distribute a billion pieces of literature annually, and continue to anticipate the end of the world. For almost thirty years, M. James Penton's Apocalypse Delayed has been the definitive scholarly study of this religious movement. As a former member of the sect, Penton offers a comprehensive overview of the Jehovah's Witnesses. His book is divided into three parts, each presenting the Witnesses' story in a different context: historical, doctrinal, and sociological. Some of the issues he discusses are known to the general public, such as the sect's opposition to military service and blood transfusions. Others involve internal controversies, including political control of the organization and the handling of dissent within the ranks."-- From publisher's website."Thoroughly revised, the third edition of Penton's classic text includes substantial new information on the sources of Russell's theology and on the church's early leaders, as well as coverage of important developments within the sect since the second edition was published fifteen years ago."-- From publisher's website.
Jehovah's Witnesses by
From its origins in nineteenth century Adventism until the present day, the Watch Tower Society has become one of the best known but least understood new religious movements. Resisting the tendency to define the movement in terms of the negative, this volume offers an empathetic account of the Jehovah's Witnesses, without defending or seeking to refute their beliefs. George Chryssides critically examines the historical and theological bases of the organization's teachings and practices, and discusses the changes and continuities which have defined it. The book provides a valuable resource for scholars of new religious movements and contemporary religion.
