Presentation33 HISTORICAL FOUNDATION OF ADVENTIST HEALTH DOCTRINE AND PRACTICES

Presented by

Katembo Kambere Thadee, BSN,MPH

Adventist University of the Philippines2010

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Philosophical Basis of Adventist Health Beliefs and Practices

Outline

IntroductionObjectivesKey termsThe prevailing health practices in the early Adventist pioneers’ days

The birth of the Adventist healthy lifestyle teachings and principles

Conclusion 2


Introduction • Wholeness and health have been an emphasis of the

Seventh-day Adventist Church since the 1860s when the Church began.

(SDA Church, Mission and service: Health, http://www.adventist.org/mission_and_service/health.html.en)

The Seventh-day Adventist Church came on the scene at a time, in the latter half of the nineteenth century, of great conceptual and social ferment. Among the things in which people were interested were appeals to nature and nature's God in matters of health and disease. Under the guidance of God, a called people were committed to the task of selecting the best and developing and organizing it into a worldwide system of health and healing that gave this movement a voice of authority in this dimension of the movement's ministry (Provonsha, J. Conceptual Foundations of Our Health Message. Retrieved on April 13,2010 from http://www.aims-health.net/provon.html )

3Philosophical Basis of Adventist Health Beliefs and Practices

Main Objectives are :

1.To describe the prevailing health practices in the early Adventist pioneers’ days

2.To circumscribe historically the birth of the Adventist healthy lifestyle teachings and principles

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Key terms

Health doctrine: teachings and beliefs relating to health.

Health practices: habitual way of doing actions relating to health

Health behaviors: individual responses or reactions to internal stimuli and external conditions with influence on health.(Edberg, 2010)


-I-The Prevailing

Health Practices in the Early Adventist

Pioneers’ days

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1.1. General Context of Health Conditions in the 19th Century

During the first half of the nineteenth century, the living conditions were completely appalling (very bad).

In England for example, the disposal of sewage

and other waste had always been a problem among the urban population of these islands. Piles of decaying waste could regularly be seen in the streets. (Troy Southgate, Public Health in the 19th Century. http://www.rosenoire.org/articles/hist22.php)

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General Context(ctd…)• Health issues in this period of

enlightenment and revolution (1750-1830) are essentially related to the increase of the population, deficient hygiene and sanitation with high prevalence of infectious diseases, while the microbiological origin of those diseases was not yet known. Emphasis was on practices such as health policy and variolation without involving the population in prevention actions .

• From 1830-1875 will come the age of industrialism and sanitary movement. It is the period of great epidemics and the replacement of the miasma theory by the contagious theory. 8


General context(Europe)• Would we notice that Cholera epidemic

spread in London during that period (1848-1854)and John Snow lead the study on it , but organisms responsible for diseases ( to be called microbes later) were not known until the years 1880’s.

• From 1875 to 1950, that period is named the bacteriological era with the great discovery of several microbes.

( Georges Rosen. 1993. A history of public health. Expanded edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press.)

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General Context (USA)It is in a such context of many lifestyle healthproblems during the period 1830-1875, coupled to the ignorance of the etiology of diseases,

that the young Seventh –Day Adventist Church will be born and it was really a need to connectthe gospel with the health message.

In the context of the USA, Robinson(1955) describe that period as “times of this ignorance”

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Poor Medical practices 1-Bloodletting : is the withdrawal of often

considerable quantities of blood from a patient to cure or prevent illness and disease. It was the most common medical practice performed by doctors from antiquity up to the late 19th century, almost 2,000 years.

George Washington (1732-1799) , first US President (1789 -1797) is one the victims of that practice.

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2- Use of Dangerous drugs such as :

* Calomel or Mercurous chloride very toxic, used in medicine as a diuretic and purgative (laxative) in the US (1830s-1860s ).

It is obvious nowadays that Mercury is a heavy metal and very toxic.

That time “mercury was a remedy of great value in the

treatment of many chronic diseases.” (Robinson,1955)

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Dangerous drugs(cntd…)

Opium (an illegal drug) in combination with calomel and antimony (toxic).

Clinically, antimony poisoning is very similar to arsenic poisoning, larger doses cause violent and frequent vomiting, and will lead to death in a few days.

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3-Several Alternative Practices

Use of milk to cure fever and later on the use of water only

Absence of true scientific knowledge regarding diet, sanitation and rational therapy

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4-Liquor and Tobacco Used

Ministers in many popular churches were free to use tobacco and to drink alcoholic beverages without criticism

At the age of 18, when young Loughborough was beginning to preach, he was advised to use tobacco as a remedy for a lung difficulty which followed a slight hemorrhage. He accepted the advice but cessed smoking 2 years later. (Robinson, 1955)

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1.2. Specificity of Prevailing Health Practices in the Early Adventist Pioneers’ Days

Among those pioneers , 7 names are emphasized from James White , the

first GC President to Kellogg the famous and first Adventist doctor, who died the last.

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Elder Andrews statement In 1863, he wrote: “ I was not

instructed in the principles of hygiene, for my father and mother had neither of them any just knowledge of these.

I was kept from the use of tobacco, and from even tasting strong drink; but I learned almost nothing of the evils of unwholesome food.

I did not know that late suppers were serious evils

John N. Andrews (1829-1883)

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Elder Andrews statement (cntd…)

I had no idea of any special transgression in eating between meals…I supposed old cheese was good to aid digestion.

Hot biscuit and butter, doughnuts, pork in every form, pickles, preserves, tea, coffee, etc., were all of common use. (December, 1871 as cited by Robinson, 1955).

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Elder Andrews’ death With his wife Angeline, they had 4 children Charles

(born in 1857), Mary (born in 1861) and two others passed away at a very young age.

John Andrews’ wife Angeline died of a stroke in 1872.

As a widower with his teenage children, He went to Europe in 1874 as the first official SDA missionary.

Andrews died in Europe (in Basel, Switzerland) of tuberculosis in 1883( one year after the discovery of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Koch), at the age of 54. (Pathways of the pioneers, http://www.whiteestate.org/pathways/jandrews.asp) 19


James White (1821 – 1881)Co-founder of the Seventh-day

Adventist Church with his wife Ellen and Joseph Bates. He was the fifth of nine children,

No tobacco, no alcohol in this life

First President of the GC

He suffered three stroke in his life

He died at age 60 in 1881 for Malaria that John Kellogg at Battle Creek sanatorium tried his best in vain.

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Ellen G. White (1827- July 16, 1915)

She and her twin sister Elizabeth were the youngest of eight children.

The mother of four boys, Mrs. White suffered the pain of losing two of her sons. Herbert died as an infant a few weeks old, and Henry died at 16

She died at age 88 on July 16, 1915 for heart failure.

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Joseph Bates (1792 – 1872)

Bates eventually served as captain of his own ship, beginning in 1820.

In 1821 he gave up smoking and chewing tobacco

He later quit using tea and coffee and in 1843, he became a vegetarian.

He died at the age of 80 at the Health Reform Institute in Battle Creek. 22


John H. Kellogg (1852 – 1943)

Was a multi-talented man: surgeon, inventor of surgical instruments, exercise device inventor, pioneer in physiotherapy and nutrition, and a prodigious writer.

He developed a strong dislike for the ministers of the church, claiming that they were relatively uneducated and many did not practice health reform, especially concerning meat eating.

He died in 1943 for unspecified cause. 23


Uriah Smith (1832-1903)

Smith was elected the first secretary of the General Conference when it organized in 1863.

At age 71, Smith died of a stroke on his way to the Review office.

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Goodloe H. Bell (1832 – 1899)

Eldest of 12 children,

Overwork placed him in the Western Health Reform Institute in Battle Creek, in 1866, shortly after it opened.

There he accepted the Seventh-day Adventist faith ( through the health services)

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Averages from the profile of the 7 SDA pioneers

Mean age (life span) = 73.5 years

Sibling mean = 10

Cause of death = stroke, malaria, TB, heart failure

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Summary of heath conditionsToo many births, births too closeSedentarity and especially for girlsUnhealthy clothes for children ( not covering arms and

limbs)High Infant Mortality rateCongested rooms without enough air Neglect of cleanliness ( house, clothes, taking bath)Dangerous drugstobacco and alcohol useNo vaccination because microbes not yet discovered This is the summary of health conditions of that time.(Adapted from White, E. , Selected message 2) 27


It was a need

With this back ground of poor health conditions of the 19th century

We can truly appreciate the great advance that has been made in this generation

Which is a rich heritage of us who live today

SDA were providentially led to accept the sound reforms in health habits as a matter of religious principles.

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- II - Historic of the Birth

of the Adventist Healthy

Lifestyle Teachings and Principles

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2.1 Health Reforms Among SDA

Formative period of the body of SDA may roughly stated to have been from 1844 to 1855.

Still time of general ignorance but inclusion of progressive laws of life in the faith and practices of the believers at the propitious time was already decided.

Why? It seems to have been in the providence of God that the great fundamental spiritual truths should be presented first.

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Tobacco still tolerated Autumn 1848 ( first vision on health), Ellen

White was shown in vision that not only tobacco was harmful, but also tea and coffee as well, and she stopped the use of them as beverages.

Content of vision: Injurious effects of tobacco (“a slow, insidious, and most malignant poison”), tea, and coffee.

Should we notice that the first epidemiological studies on tobacco were lead by DOLL and HILL in 1950.( 102 years later)

No special effort, however, was made through denominational publications to induce sabbathkeeping Adventists to discontinue the use of tobacco until the latter part of 1853.

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Feb. 12, 1854: A second limited view was given

1. Health-related issues:Adultery in the churchLack of bodily cleanliness

among Sabbathkeepers Control of appetite

needed

2. Other topics discussed:ProfanityParental neglect of

childrenUnwise youthful

marriages32


2.2. Health Reform from 1863

Development of the “Health message”--the Decade of the 1860s

The General Conference was organized May 21, 1863.

Sixteen days later the first major health reform vision was given June 6th, 1863.

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A memorable vision Ellen White's work and teachings related to health

reform had their origin in a 45-minute vision that she received while in prayer with friends on Friday night (Sabbath )of June 6, 1863 in Otsego, Michigan, in the home of Aaron Hilliard during a family worship period.

That is the first major, comprehensive health vision

She was 36 years old and had been a rather heavy meat eater prior to this time.

She was shown that people wishing to live a life of the spirit have a sacred duty to attend to their health. 34


They should abstain from tobacco, alcohol, and meat,

be temperate in eating and work, and, whenever possible,

use natural remedies to heal diseases: water , proper diet, fresh air, exercise, sunshine, and rest

This is the doctrine or principles witch will take the acronym of NEWSTART, as used today.

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Scope of the Vision contents

Content: emphasized earlier reforms; introduced new ones. 10 emphases (Roger W. Coon. Ellen G. White and the SDA “Health Message:”God’s Third Priority for the First 20 Years of Vision)

1. Care of health as a religious dutyGod requires us to glorify Him in our bodies.We earn nothing, however, toward

salvation/eternal life.

2.The cause of disease is a violation of health laws.

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3. Intemperance on many fronts attacked:

(i) “Stimulating drinks”(ii) Tobacco “in whatever form”(iii) Highly spiced foods(iv) Overwork: “intemperance in labor”(v) “Indulgence of base passion”:

Manifestationsnot particularly otherwise identified; obviously reference to intemperate sexual relationships between husband/wife.

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4. Vegetarianism advocated; pork totally prohibited first time nonfleshdiet revealed to EGW as ideal

5. Proper dietary habits to control appetite:(i) Danger of eating too much.(ii) Danger of eating between meals

6. Control of the mind essential; many illnesses have their origination in a diseased mind, rather than from organic/viral causes.

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7. Natural remedies in healing better than drug medication:

(i) Those identified in this vision:(a) Pure air(b) Pure water--for both internal/external use(c) Sunshine(d) Physical exercise(e) Adequate rest(f) Fasting for brief periods, to rest stomach(g) Proper nutrition

(ii) In 1885--22 years later--she would add a final“natural remedy”: “A firm trust in God,” “trust in

divine power.”


8. Personal cleanliness--raised in 1854 vision--reiterated here.(i) Broadened to include body, clothing, and living

quarters(ii) Personal cleanliness placed on level of “purity of

heart” for all professing Christians.9. Environmental Concerns:

Remove decaying vegetation from immediate proximity of home

Wherever possible, build houses on high ground, avoid allowing water to settle nearby.

10. Health education:For the first time, a “duty” of Christians to educate the

public.This would be further re-emphasized in the 4th health-

reform vision of Dec. 25, 1865, at Rochester, NY.40Philosophical Basis of Adventist Health Beliefs

and Practices

Natural remedies(cntd…)

Vision of Christmas 1865The second major health vision was given in

Rochester, New York. ( but 4th vision in general)

Background: Special service in Local SDA Church Christmas Day for healing for James White and his recovery of health.

Content: SDAs should now provide a health-care institution , Guiding her to the establishment of a health reform institute that would care for the sick and teach basic principles of healthful living and preventive medicine.Cure those already illTeach preventive medicine


Summary of the 4 health visionsFirst vision on health: Autumn 1848 on

tobacco ,tea and coffeeSecond vision on health : Feb. 12, 1854 on

adultery, cleanliness , appetite control, youthful marriage.

Third vision on health (first major, comprehensive health vision) June 6, 1863. 10 principles comprising the actual NEWSTART.

Fourth vision on health (second major health vision ): Christmas 1865. Emphasis on creation of Health institutions.

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Health Reform Institute of Battle CreekLess than a year later (5

September 1866) the Western Health Reform Institute was opened in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Thereafter a number of health institutions were founded.

The January 1904 issue of Good

Health magazine lists 17 sanat0riums in the United States and 9 overseas, plus 29 Adventist-run vegetarian cafes and restaurants throughout America.

Battle Creek Sanatorium

rebuilt by Kellogg after the

fire of 1902 43


Writings on HealthEllen White's major books on health

included :Counsels on Health (1890 cit??), Healthful Living (1898, a remarkable

compilation of her teachings by David Paulson, MD cit??),

Ministry of Healing (1909 cit??), and Counsels on Diet and Foods (1938, a

posthumous compilation from her voluminous writings).

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Conclusion1. To describe the prevailing health practices in

the early Adventist pioneers’ days2. To circumscribe historically the birth of the

Adventist healthy lifestyle teaching and principles

These were the two main objectives of this presentation.

We humbly believe that it has been clear. Health conditions at that time were very poor. It should be a great obstacle to the Gospel, if there was not health message. And what about us nowadays?

This brief history is an obvious proof that Adventist healthy lifestyle teachings and principles were not born by the will of man, but “ it was carried along by the Holy Spirit”(2Pet.1:21). 45Philosophical Basis of Adventist Health Beliefs

and Practices

THE END AND THANK YOU

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Presentation33 HISTORICAL FOUNDATION OF ADVENTIST HEALTH DOCTRINE AND PRACTICES

Documents

y health practices

health message

matters of health

health policy

healthy health behaviors

lifestyle health problems

history of public health

worldwide system of