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Vegetarianism Part 2
Seventh-day Adventists and Vegetarianism Outline: The growth of Adventists' interest in health Seventh-day Adventists have proposed a vegetarian diet and a healthful lifestyle for over a century. This began gradually and was progressive as more information became available on the benefits to health of avoiding meat and other harmful substances. Many other groups and most nutrition experts now also promote a healthful lifestyle including the importance of adding more plant based foods to the diet. Biblical principles of health The Bible principles of health are that the body is a temple. This is the reason that it is considered important to keep it in good health, for God to dwell within through the Holy Spirit. Statements on diet & health and vegetarian diets from Ellen White, an early Adventist leader and writer 1864: " God gave our first parents the food He designed that the race should eat. It was contrary to His plan to have the life of any creature taken.... The fruit of the trees in the garden, was the food man's wants required." 4aSG, 120,121 1884: " I know that in His original plan, God did not provide for the flesh of dead animals to compose the diet for man." CDF 410 1884: " Again and again I have been shown that God is bringing His people back to His original design, that is not to subsist upon the flesh of dead animals. He would have us teach people a better way." DF p. 69 1890: " Fruit, grains, and vegetables prepared in a simple way, free from spice and grease of all kinds, make, with milk and cream, the most healthful diet. They impart nourishment to the body, and give a power of endurance and a vigor of intellect that are not produced by a stimulating diet." CT, p 47 1890: "Again and again I have been shown that God is trying to lead us back, step by step, to His original design, that man should subsist upon the natural products of the earth. Among those who are waiting for the coming of the Lord, meat-eating will eventually be done away; flesh will cease to form a part of their diet." CTBH 119 1890: "....that they might enjoy the food originally provided for man, --the fruits of the earth, which God gave to Adam and Eve in Eden." CTBH, 118 1902: "The Lord intends to bring His people back to live upon simple fruits, vegetables, and grains." MM 277 1905: " Grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables, constitute the diet chosen for us by our Creator. These foods, prepared in as simple and natural a manner as possible, are the most healthful and nourishing. They impart a power of endurance and a vigor of intellect that are not afforded by a more complex and stimulating diet." MH p. 296 1905: " It is a mistake to suppose that muscular strength depends on the use of animal food. The needs of the system can be better supplied, and more vigorous health can be enjoyed, without its use. The grains, with fruits, nuts, and vegetables, contain all the nutritive properties necessary to make good blood. These elements are not so well or so fully supplied by a flesh diet. Had the use of flesh been essential to health and strength, animal food would have been included in the diet appointed to man in the beginning. When the use of flesh food is discontinued, there is often a sense of weakness, a lack of vigor. Many urge this as evidence that flesh is essential; but it is because foods of this class are stimulating, because they fever the blood and excite the nerves, that they are so missed. Some will find it as difficult to leave off flesh eating as it is for the drunkard to give up his drink; but they will be the better for the change. MH, p. 316. Development of the "health reform message" as a major teaching Ellen White received a "vision" or dream about the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle in the year 1863 that formed the basis for the small group of Adventist Christians to teach their members and others about the benefits of a healthy diet. She talked about it being a progressive learning process and urged that it be done carefully and with study. She urged it not to be made a test of belonging to the church but to encourage people learn to eat more healthfully and to show the importance of the relationship between health and developing a spiritual nature. Wherever it was possible for fresh fruits and produce to be obtained, it was always stressed that this was better than a meat diet but that one needed to consider that in certain parts of the country and the world, fresh foods were not available at all times. At that time there was no refrigeration, no frozen foods, no prepared cereals, not even peanut butter. Development of health sanitariums and hospitals Because Seventh-day Adventists believed that health and spirituality were connected, and that God wanted people to be healthy in order to be happy and live in harmony with His principles, they began to develop small sanitariums and hospitals around the world. Through this means, a person could be treated wholistically with spiritual as well as medical and natural methods for healing. They believed that in order to gain optimum health, people need to understand not only how to get well, but what habits and conditions allowed the body to develop the diseases in the first place, and how lifestyle, health habits and mental outlook could be changed to allow the body to recover and to stay in excellent health. Click here for a list of health sanitariums, hospitals, and lifestyle centers. Health food factories and food products Because there were few opportunities for healthful vegetarian foods in the days before peanut butter, frozen foods and boxed breakfast cereals, and little access to fresh fruits and vegetables out of season, an early pioneer in the health field of the Seventh-day Adventist church experimented with developing healthful cereal grains that could be toasted in a way to make them more palatable to the average person for breakfasts. Out of that experiment developed the W. K. Kellogg food business, as well as the competition from C. W. Post and the universal spread of breakfast cereals around the world. Other health food plants were developed that developed substitution for various meats from soy and gluten flours that would enable people to switch gradually to a more plant based diet. Many of these products are still produced under various commercial names and can be found in nearly all developed countries. Click here for a list of Seventh-day Adventist owned and operated food factories or enterprises. In addition, there are now many large and small independent businesses that have developed quality vegetarian products sold in many parts of the world in response to the growing interest in healthful plant-based diets. Most of these businesses are commercial enterprises not associated with any particular organization or church. Development of vegetarian restaurants Ellen White urged the opening of health food restaurants to introduce to the general public the advantages and excellent quality of a more plant-based diet. These were quite prominent in the earlier part of the 20th century and large restaurants existed in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and other cities. She urged that they be started in many cities. They were to be both for health and to introduce people to a more spiritual life. They were not to exist merely to be a business for the owner. Currently there are vegetarian restaurants owned or operated by Seventh-day Adventists in many locations. Click here for a sample listing. Many exclusively vegetarian restaurants are operated by many other groups and individuals as well. Most restaurants now also offer a vegetarian or low fat menu. Health seminars and programs conducted in churches Seventh day Adventist churches and Lifestyle Centers often conduct vegetarian cooking schools or classes and the Lifestyle Centers are able to provide 1-3 week live-in programs including exercise with health classes and instruction in healthful cooking. Their are some videos available that give instruction in healthful cooking and lifestyle change. Click here for listing of health seminars or cooking schools in your area. Click here for schedules of lifestyle center programs. [www.Power4Health.org. Last revised: 3/3/02] |
