Page 89 - Cults and Marginal Groups - Textbook w videos short

Study Section 13: Seventh Day Adventism - History

13.1 Connect.

Remember when we learned about the movement that gave rise to Jehovah’s Witnesses, we
learned that several other groups were birthed from the same events? The Millerite
movement gave birth also to the Seventh Day Adventists. And many, but not all, of the errant
doctrines of the Witnesses are found within the doctrines presented by Seventh Day
Adventists. We will start by looking at what defines a cult. The question you must answer is
how many of the characteristics of a cult are within the Adventist movement? As we go deeper into our
study, you may be able to decide. Let’s now learn about Seventh Day Adventism.

13.2 Objectives:

1. The student should be able to recall the characteristics of a cult.

2. The student should be able to explain the history of the Adventist church and how they are
related to other religious groups that came out of the Millerite movement.

3. The student should be able to explain how the Adventist church has grown today to be a powerful
force among many nations in Africa.

4. The student should be able to cite the pillars of doctrinal beliefs of Adventist and see how some
doctrines differ from those of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and of main-line historical Christianity.

13.3 Seventh Day Adventism

Do you recall what the identifying characteristics of a cult are?

A cult has four principle characteristics:

1. They claim to be the sole Christian religion and sole authority on earth.

2. They elevate the writings of their founders or prophets as equal to the Word of God. Generally, they
interpret the Bible based on these writings which often violate fundamentally recognized doctrines of
Scripture.

3. Those who endorse their faith are not allowed to challenge the doctrines of the faith nor are they to
test or challenge those beliefs. They are to be accepted by blind faith!

4. They aggressively market their doctrines and tightly control the beliefs of their followers. To leave
the faith is to leave the “family” and often results in shunning. Those who leave the faith are considered
pagans.

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