Why do Seventh Day Adventists adhere to vegetarianism?

Most information I can find gives information on the healthful benefits of the diet and lifestyle (admittedly a couple of things are archaic -- such as sunbathing being healthy and tea being bad for you -- overall it's a good, healthy, wholistic diet and life regime). But where did these stipulations come from? Nothing biblical, nor in the Levitical diet and hygiene stipulations nor modern Kosher stipulations resemble this.

I do think the practice is commendable. But what is its origin? Asked by Yellowdog 5 months ago Similar questions: Seventh Day Adventists adhere vegetarianism Society > Religion & Spirituality.

Similar questions: Seventh Day Adventists adhere vegetarianism.

The Seventh-day Adventist Position Statement on Vegetarian DietsAdapted from the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Nutrition Councilhttp://www.sdada.org/position.htm"For more than 130 years Seventh-day Adventists (SDAs) have practiced a vegetarian dietary lifestyle because of their belief in the holistic nature of humankind. Whatever is done in eating or drinking should honor and glorify God and preserve the health of the body, mind and spirit. " Next to tobacco and alcohol, foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol (such as meat) are the greatest risk factors in decreasing life expectancy from atherosclerosis, cancer, and premature death.

Why? Their prophet probably said so. That usually how it works but you can contact them and ask the history that their practices are based on: E-mail: veggie@sdada.

OrgBusiness address:Seventh-day Adventist Dietetic AssociationDepartment of Nutrition & DieteticsSchool of Allied Health ProfessionsLoma Linda University - NH 1103Loma Linda, CA 92350 htm.

Thanks! That's a lot of good information and sources. Yellowdog 5 months ago .

Sometimes you read and read and no matter how deep you go, you can't really find the source so lately I've been answering with email addresses and snail mail addresses so people can ask experts directly. I knew a former 7th day adventist and I must say she was one of the best cooks I can remember. Very healthy Mediterranean style food.Yum.

I enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning and I love hot chocolate when we used to go skiing. Did you read the Wiki site info about religious food taboos. It's fascinating..

I haven't read it yet, but I will. Thanks for all your help. Yellowdog 5 months ago .

It was a fad in the 19th century when the religion (predicated on a failed prophecy) started. Very simple was to take that fad and make it doctrine by way of, "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh" (Colossians 2:20-23).

While the practice might be considered "commendable," it's commended by other humans. The Epistle to the Colossians is making a careful distinction between that and what GOD thinks we should be doing. The origin was a sudden wealth of food, such that human beings could actually afford to get their proteins without meats, a situation peculiar to the U.S. (which indicates that it was not a commandment of God, who is the God of all humans, not merely wealthy Americans.) .

Yes, the vegetarian dietary code is human in origin, and a vegetarian diet and lifestyle would not be possible in many places -- such as Lapland -- and anywhere in the world it would not sustain a population unless they really knew what they were doing with nutrition. To require it as a religious stipulation is rather cultlike and legalistic. Yellowdog 5 months ago .

I do still think it's a commendable goal for health reasons and even relgious discipline -- but should not be required, when Jesus and the Apostles clearly taught differently. Yellowdog 5 months ago .

The Kellogg family was active in the early formative years of the 7th Day Adventist Church. There cereal was promoted as part of the wholistic way of life. This included physical (right diet and exercise), spiritual practice, and living by God's Law etc.

I just read that it's the fastest growing religion in the U.S. They are actively engaged in helping people with their outreach programs. "You will know them by their fruit" comes to mind for several reasons, I'd say;) .

They have always promoted healthy living and a unique way of life, but some of their views are rather aberrant. The several I've spoken with have told me that Christ returned in Spirit Form in 1844 and is now in the Holy of Holies in Heaven and is judging every person on earth -- and once he finishes judging everyone the end will come. There was a lot of esoteric "number crunching" in these prophecies, where units of measurement in the Jerusalem Temple correlate to the Heavenly sanctuary and that in turn correlates to the number of years marking certain events in history.

Though they don't put their prophet (Ellen White Gould) on par with scripture (as the Mormons put the writings of Joseph Smith on par with scripture), they do, nonetheless, consider her writings prophecy and her to be a true prophet even when proven false. Yellowdog 5 months ago .

The Millerites were the early version and was based on biblical prophesy which missed the mark. The later version is probably no stranger than other 19th century cults at the time. The fact that they are proactive with needy people offsets a lot of that archaic crap, imo.

I think I could hang with them outside of Church on Saturday...I mean as an associate not a true believer.

I have always liked Adventists -- a very unusual and oddly down to earth people, considering their aberrant theology that surfaces from time to time. Their theology is essentially Christian but has some theological errors of varying significance. Like you, I could never be a part of their belief structure they require.

Yellowdog 5 months ago .

I think I'd rather not personally kill animals for food, and a lot of people nowadays have problems with ethics of the way animals are farmed, slaughtered, raised, etc. But Adventism developed in areas and in times where they didn't need to hunt and farm. Yellowdog 5 months ago .

The response from Maximun20Characters is correct. However, Boosh would like to add his 2 cents worth (if it really means anything). It has always bothered me that there are so many Christian denominations and here is another reason why.

Someone or some group read things into the sacred writings that just are not there. In the old testament, there were certain dietary rules that were put upon the Jews by God and this was mainly for health reasons. However, when Christ was executed, the old law covenant perished and a new one created with far fewer restrictions.

Notice what 1 Timothy 4:1,2 has to say: "However, the inspired utterance says definitely that in later periods of time some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired utterances and teachings of demons, by the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, marked in their conscience as with a branding iron; forbidding to marry, commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be partaken of with thanksgiving by those who have faith and accurately know the truth. "In particular notice what is mentioned in the 2nd verse, that some would forbid eating certain kinds of food of which God said could be eaten while practicing thanksgiving. Is this hard to understand?

And since it is so plainly said, where do the Seventh Day Adventist get off making this a LAW in their community? Seems to go directly against the Bible. Dos they know something the apostle Paul did not know?

It would be perfectly fine if the church leader wants their followers to abide by a certain dietary restrictions for health reasons, however if one abides by the Holy Bible, it would be wrong to make it part of Church dogma. Please also note that the apostle said that those who follow such rules would be adhering to teachings of demons. Those who do not follow such ridiculousness would have faith and accurately know the truth!

Thanks for listening, Boosh .

This info is something every Adventist needs to know. There is nothing wrong with following those dietary codes, even as a religious discipline -- but to make a law out of it is bizarre when Christ and the apostles plainly and directly said otherwise. Yellowdog 5 months ago .

Exactly! However, for the most part Adventist are really good, God fearing people. Their danger lies in worshiping God incorrectly.

Does it matter? Note what Jesus said at John 4 verse 24: "God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth. "Scripture does not say 'may' or 'should' worship with spirit and truth.It says that worshipers 'must' worship with spirit and truth.

Would a worshiper want to take the chance of worshiping God incorrectly? I am not willing to take that chance. That is why I constantly search the Bible to make sure I see things clear.

Yellowdog, I encourage you to do a little research on Sir Isaac Newton. This extremely intelligent man revered God and constantly searched the Bible to find correct application of Scripture. You will not be disappointed.

He was a very intriguing individual. Respectfully, Boosh .

" "Religion & Spirituality" "Some people say the Seventh Day Adventists are a cult of Christianity, but what do you think?" ""Religion is for people who are scared of hell, and spirituality is for people who have been through it. " comments? " (10 answers).

Religion is for people who are scared of hell, and spirituality is for people who have been through it. " comments? " (10 answers).

I have always liked Adventists -- a very unusual and oddly down to earth people, considering their aberrant theology that surfaces from time to time. Their theology is essentially Christian but has some theological errors of varying significance. Like you, I could never be a part of their belief structure they require.

Yellowdog 53 months ago.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.