What are the differences between Traditional and Progressive Seventh Day Adventism?

[Ave Maria]

Just as the title says, what are the differences between traditional and progressive Seventh Day Adventism?

 

[JonMiller]

In reality, there are all sorts.

Here in CF, it is the people who aren't welcome in the 'traditional' forum.

JM

 

[Byfaithalone1]

Just as the title says, what are the differences between traditional and progressive Seventh Day Adventism?

There are many differences. Here is one:

Traditional SDAs believe and claim to follow all of the fundamental teachings of the denomination (including the writings of the denomination's continuing and authoritative source of truth).

Progressive SDAs do not believe themselves to be limited by the fundamental teachings of the denomination.
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BFA

 

[BigRedBus]

Liberal/Progressive represents a general outlook more than it represents a specific set of beliefs and so you are likelier to find a broad compatibility of religious views here, rather than a tight uniformity of view. You’ll find many of the people on this forum to be independent thinkers, who won’t put up with somebody else telling them what they should believe or how they should behave. So there may well be some diversity of views within what you might have thought was actually a neatly defined area.

The next two paragraphs may explain why I identify more with this end of the SDA Church than the other, but please understand that I am only speaking for myself here.

My view of the Bible is that the reader needs to view it in the context of the times and places it was written. I believe it contains “grey” areas, not just “black and white”. I think it is permissible for different readers to interpret it in different ways at different times. These views can all be equally valid at the same time, even if they appear to contradict and even if I don’t personally agree with some of them.

I will tend to look at the general message that a Bible passage is attempting to convey and so I will try to retain an overview instead of getting bogged down in detail. A traditionalist will tend to go into the deep into the meaning of each part of a passage and not (consciously, at least) tolerate any deviations from the accepted interpretation. Also, I can accept parts of the Bible as being allegorical while a traditionalist’s view of the Bible will be much more literal than mine.

So there you have it – I’m comfortable with ambiguity and am prepared to make my own way forward through a sometimes confusing landscape, given a set of overall parameters. A traditionalist will not feel the same way and will want more certainty and tighter guidelines.

Don’t think this debate is confined to the SDA Church, by the way. You’ll see it wherever you have any religion.

 

[JonMiller]

Yeah, but in the adventist church we have unique things like IJ which are a big part of the 'traditional' / 'progressive' divide. Note that IJ isn't found obviously in the Bible.

Other parts include mostly adventist specific teachings relating to the wearing of jewelry or clapping in church (most of the church has moved away from this though).

 

[Sophia7]

Just as the title says, what are the differences between traditional and progressive Seventh Day Adventism?

There is a sticky thread in this forum that discusses some of the general characteristics of Progressive and Evangelical Adventists. That may help to answer some of your questions about what makes them different from Traditional Adventists.

 

[StormyOne]

I like what you said BigRedBus.... progressives may hold all kinds of diverse views....

 

[Deliberatetourist]

Don’t think this debate is confined to the SDA Church, by the way. You’ll see it wherever you have any religion.

Liberal/progressive in other denominations has usually come to mean people who support gay marriage and abortion on demand. iwould hope that in our denomination the label would not be so narrow.

 

[AzA]

Liberal/progressive in other denominations has usually come to mean people who support gay marriage and abortion on demand. iwould hope that in our denomination the label would not be so narrow.

It isn't.
You might be interested in the following sites:

Re-inventing the Adventist Wheel
Spectrum Magazine
Adventist Today (And on Facebook)
Apokalupto

None of these sites is the voice for progressive Adventism; there isn't such a voice, so don't be disappointed when you do not find it. Each voice, however, will lead you to other voices and over time you'll get a sense of the multitude that represents the progressive engine of the church.

Progressives do not agree on all theological or social issues. For me, the fact that there's no uniformity is one of the things that makes it possible to learn and love.

 

[AzA]

Cheez_It, the traditional section of the church also contains a range of views. People may self-describe or be described as conservative, traditional, historic, and reform. None of these labels (like the progressive labels) are in any way official; don't take them too seriously.

You may be interested in the following sites. Bear in mind that writers may or may not agree with each other.

Adventist Review
Adventist Biblical Research Institute
1888 Message Study Committee
Pipim.Org
Generation of Youth for Christ

Perhaps the regulars in the traditional section will have more recommendations of sites and voices they feel represent their most closely held beliefs.

 

[AzA]

Many Adventists, whatever their theological or social views, may find the following common resources helpful in some way.

SS Bible Study Guide
SSNet
Hope Channel
SDA At Issue
White Estate Archives
General Conference Archives

As a heads-up, Cheez_It, the two Adventist subforums on ChristianForums are currently discussing a new organizational format that would house both sections in a single faith forum here. The site administrators are reviewing our proposal for that, so there may be some changes over the next few months.

It's nice to have you here.