1919: The Untold Story of Adventism's Struggle with Fundamentalism by Michael W CampbellMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The turn of the century, the rise of modernism and its challenge to Biblical interpretation, the most destructive war seen to that time, and the death of Ellen G. White caused the start of an identity crisis in Adventism that needed to start being addressed. 1919: The Untold Story of Adventism’s Struggle with Fundamentalism by Michael W. Campbell covers the six weeks in which 65 Adventist leaders, editors, and Bible teachers discussed the movement’s identity in rapidly changing times whose records were buried in the archives until 1974.
Through 116 pages of text, Campbell sets the stage, covers the major issues, and gives the aftermath of the 1919 Bible Conference that took place on the campus of Washington Missionary College (now Washington Adventist University) and presided over by long-time General Conference president A.G. Daniells. Hanging over the conference was the death of Ellen White and interpreting her prophecies and the rise of Fundamentalism within American Christianity, this would see the polarization of theological “progressives” and “traditionalists”. Ironically the “progressives” were made up of mostly the older generation while the younger generation made up mostly the “traditionalists” and the debate over “verbal inspiration” and inerrancy in White’s writings. Campbell brings out that the two groups were closer than they appeared but in debating they were pulled further apart. For all the discussions that happened in 1919, the conference was nearly forgotten including what transpired until the late 70s when excerpts of those transcripts that survived were published much to the consternation of Adventists of the day and later. Yet as Campbell’s history of this conference shows the debate that continues in Adventism about Ellen G. White, which makes this short book a very important read for those Seventh-day Adventists interested in our history and how the ministry of Ellen White has been viewed both during her life and after her death.
1919: The Untold Story of Adventism’s Struggle with Fundamentalism covers a conference whose importance had been forgotten until what was said there was published in independent Adventist publications. Michael W. Campbell gives the reader the important details of the debates from the records available as well as giving text, interpretation, and analysis of everything in a to-the-point manner for all readers.
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