7th Day Adventists?

[JohnH]

I like that the 7th Day Adventists kept things that made them unique (the "7th Day" ad the "Adventist"), but still came back to orthodox theology on God.

I am puzzled why we would care about whether or not 7th Day Adventists subscribe to what the Catholics claim are the right doctrines about trinitarianism or christology.

I would say the direction the Adventists have taken away from nonresistance is deeply sad, and the Jehovah's Witnesses should be commended for continuing to obey the New Testament in this regard.

[Praxis+Theodicy]

I am puzzled why we would care about whether or not 7th Day Adventists subscribe to what the Catholics claim are the right doctrines about trinitarianism or christology.

Asserting that Jesus is not actually God is opening up a whole can of worms that inevitably brings you WAY outside orthodoxy, as the official beliefs of the Watchtower demonstrate.

Also, saying that Trinitarianism is "what the (Roman) Catholics claim are the right doctrines" is oversimplifying to the point of inaccuracy. That Jesus is God is one of those basic things believed "Always, Everywhere, by Everyone," and the JW step right away from that.

[JohnH]

I am puzzled why we would care about whether or not 7th Day Adventists subscribe to what the Catholics claim are the right doctrines about trinitarianism or christology.

Asserting that Jesus is not actually God is opening up a whole can of worms that inevitably brings you WAY outside orthodoxy, as the official beliefs of the Watchtower demonstrate.

Lots of non-Trintarians don't say that, though. The Apostolic Pentecostals are very, very emphatic that Jesus and God are the same thing. They just think that God is Jesus, Jesus is God, and Jesus is God's name. They also think the Holy Spirit is the same thing and that the Holy Spirit's name is also Jesus. They don't doubt the divinity of Christ at all.

Yet I am supposed to believe that they are somehow some kind of heretics in some grave kind of doctrinal error, yet simultaneously believe the Church of England has "orthodox doctrine".

Also, saying that Trinitarianism is "what the (Roman) Catholics claim are the right doctrines" is oversimplifying to the point of inaccuracy. That Jesus is God is one of those basic things believed "Always, Everywhere, by Everyone," and the JW step right away from that.

I have more respect for Jehovah's Witnesses who actually obey what Jesus taught, such as about nonresistance, than people who claim to have the right opinions about Jesus yet don't do anything he taught us to do.

[Valerie]

Well both & others are considered heretical (commonly known). To believe 7th Day is not heretical, you’d have to except the (false) prophetess so then we should all be 7th Day. Both cannot be right.

It's pretty commonly accepted that JWs are heterodox, but It's only the particularly curmudgeony Christians that will accuse 7DA as heretics.
As I noted in my comment, their origins included a heterodox theology of the Trinity, but they have since amended this understanding, bringing them back in line with orthodox Christianity.
As I also noted in my comment, they have produced lot of heretical offshoots, which in my mind makes them a risky endeavor; but it doesn't mean the, themselves, are heretics. It's another way "common knowledge" might be confused about the 7DA, mixing them up with Branch Davidians or something.

Would. Branch Davidisn fall under “cult”?

[JohnH]

Well both & others are considered heretical (commonly known). To believe 7th Day is not heretical, you’d have to except the (false) prophetess so then we should all be 7th Day. Both cannot be right.

It's pretty commonly accepted that JWs are heterodox, but It's only the particularly curmudgeony Christians that will accuse 7DA as heretics.
As I noted in my comment, their origins included a heterodox theology of the Trinity, but they have since amended this understanding, bringing them back in line with orthodox Christianity.
As I also noted in my comment, they have produced lot of heretical offshoots, which in my mind makes them a risky endeavor; but it doesn't mean the, themselves, are heretics. It's another way "common knowledge" might be confused about the 7DA, mixing them up with Branch Davidians or something.

Would. Branch Davidisn fall under “cult”?

Depend on which one. There are several branches of Branch Davidians.

[JohnL]

Depend on which one. There are several branches of Branch Davidians.

I imagine so. Just about every group in the world has branches. As soon as one gets set up and settled there’s going to be folks that think they can do it one better and leave to start their own version.

[Soloist]

Wife: there’s a lot of branches of seventh dayers also, and I would say that I’m definitely uncomfortable with the ultra conservative end. our doctor had all sorts of tracts in his office and invited us to some meetings about prophecy, and although his family was nice, I certainly would not be comfortable with their theology. That might be what Valerie is thinking about. I would be a lot more comfortable with some of the more moderate seventh dayers that don’t elevate Ellen White as high

We did talk to a different seventh day guy that would have a similar viewpoint as the JW‘s on the Trinity, but I don’t think that was shared by everyone at his church. He was probably more on the conservative end.