Why Seventh Day Adventists Adopt a Vegetarian Lifestyle: A Historical and Theological Perspective

The Seventh-day Adventist Church's advocacy for vegetarianism is rooted in the teachings of its co-founder, Ellen G. White, who outlined principles emphasizing health and animal kindness. This article explores the historical and theological basis for this lifestyle and its contemporary relevance.

Historical and Theological Foundations

The plant-based diet recommended by the Seventh-day Adventist Church traces its origins to the writings of Ellen G. White, who promoted a vegetarian lifestyle for optimal health. In one of her manuscripts dated 1889, she stated, "I advise every Sabbath-keeping canvasser to avoid meat eating not because it is regarded as sin to eat meat but because it is not healthful."

White's teachings extend beyond personal health, emphasizing a return to the original diet of Eden, which was plant-based. In Counsels on Health, she wrote, "Vegetables, fruits and grains should compose our diet. Not an ounce of flesh meat should enter our stomachs. The eating of flesh is unnatural." She reasoned that a return to the original purpose of man, as designed by God, would involve a diet of natural products.

In Manuscript 115, 1903, White further emphasized the importance of a vegetarian diet: "Is it not time that all should aim to dispense with flesh foods? How can those who are seeking to become pure, refined and holy that they may have the companionship of heavenly angels, continue to use as food anything that has so harmful an effect on soul and body? How can they take the life of God's creatures that they may consume the flesh as a luxury? Let them rather return to the wholesome and delicious food given to man in the beginning and themselves practice and teach their children to practice mercy toward the dumb creatures that God has made and has placed under our dominion."

It is important to note that when White referred to "dumb creatures," she used the term to mean creatures that are mute or unable to speak, not "stupid creatures" as we modernly understand it. These references date back to the late 19th century, during a time when such ideas would have been revolutionary in the Christian context.

Contemporary Relevance

The teachings of Ellen G. White are more relevant than ever, given the modern scientific consensus on the benefits of a plant-based diet. With the advent of New Age and Eastern religions, along with a growing body of scientific evidence showing that a vegetarian diet promotes longer, healthier lives, the trend of veganism is on the rise, even among those who do not follow the Seventh-day Adventist faith.

A 2016 review of 96 studies on vegetarianism and health [1] concluded that those who follow a vegetarian diet have a significantly lower risk of developing cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and type 2 diabetes. This data aligns with the theological and health-based reasoning of Seventh-day Adventists.

In recent years, the Adventist population has seen an increasing number of members transitioning to a vegetarian lifestyle, driven by both health-conscious and ethical motivations. This movement reflects the enduring influence of Ellen G. White's teachings on the health and well-being of Adventist communities.

Conclusion

The Seventh-day Adventist Church's advocacy for vegetarianism is deeply rooted in its rich theological and health-based traditions. Through the teachings of Ellen G. White, the church continues to promote a diet focused on preserving health and showing kindness to animals. In an era when scientific research and ethical considerations support plant-based diets, the principles of vegetarianism embraced by the Seventh-day Adventist Church resonate more strongly than ever.