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Spes Christiana 33.1
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Editorial
Reinder Bruinsma
First Published July 2022; pp. 3-6
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God and Pandemics:
The Impact of “Pestilences” on Christian Believers in General and, in Particular, on Seventh-day Adventists
Reinder Bruinsma
doi 10.17613/q228-7r14
First Published July 2022; pp. 7-30
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This article analyses the religious impact of a number of past pandemics. After providing a brief survey of major epidemics and pandemics in history—from the fifth century BC Plague of Athens to the Covid-19 pandemic that broke out in 2020—the religious impact of a few of these health disasters is examined: The Black Death of the fourteenth century, the Influenza of 1918-1920, the more recent HIV/AIDS pandemic and the current Corona (Covid-19) pandemic. Special attention is given to the Seventh-day Adventist response to the last three of these pandemics. The available data indicate that, perhaps contrary to expectations, the eschatological aspect of these pandemics, as “pestilences” that were signs of Christ’s imminent coming, was not the dominant element in the Adventist response. Looking at some of the conspiracy theories that accompany the Covid-19 crisis, it is found that at least some Adventists are also susceptible to such theories.
Catholic-Protestant Dialogue:
An Assessment
Radiša Antić
doi 10.17613/4avt-g405
First Published July 2022; pp. 31-44
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During the last forty years of the Protestant-Catholic dialogue was there any real change in dogmatic substance? Was the underlying theological question of justification by faith alone of 1517 really solved and thus the way to unity and reconciliation opened? The Roman Catholic Church of today is in many ways dissimilar to the church known by Luther, Calvin and Zwingli. Nevertheless, a deeper analysis of the Protestant Catholic interchange demonstrates that Rome is having a dialogue with other Christians only on its own terms. The Roman Catholic Church has never changed its doctrinal position and does not intend to do so in the future. Moreover, a careful reading of the Lutheran-Catholic dialogue indicates that contemporary Protestant leaders have abandoned the bold attitude of the Reformers, especially their position on the key biblical teaching on justification by faith alone. It is ignored and occasionally denied.
The Cosmic Week in the History of Seventh-day Adventist Eschatology
Laurence A. Turner
doi 10.17613/b682-nn25
First Published July 2022; pp. 45-68
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This article begins by briefly surveying the history of the cosmic week concept from its origins in pre-Christian texts through to the late eighteenth century. It then investigates its role in Millerite eschatological thought and the ways in which this impacted early Seventh-day Adventism. Between the mid-nineteenth century and early twenty-first century, the place of the cosmic week in Adventist eschatology moved from common acceptance to explicit rejection in church publications. It has recently been revived by some Adventist internet ministries, with a focus on the year 2027, seen as the end of the sixth millennium since creation and thus, it is claimed, the (approximate) date for the second coming. The biblical hermeneutics and exegesis employed to substantiate these claims are critiqued.
Kirche im Wandel:
Eine demografische Analyse der Entwicklung der Freikirche der Siebenten-Tags-Adventisten in Deutschland und Österreich
László Szabó
doi 10.17613/xk7c-6y26
First Published July 2022; pp. 69-100
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Veränderungen in der kirchlich geprägten Religiosität in Europa stellen viele konfessionelle Ortsgemeinden auf eine existenzielle Bewährungsprobe. Die hier vorgestellten Forschungsergebnisse zeigen, dass es dafür in der Freikirche der Adventisten neben allgemeinen demografischen und gesellschaftlichen Trends auch wesentliche beeinflussbare Faktoren gibt. Durch vorbeugende, strukturell optimierte Maßnahmen könnte der Mitgliederverlust stark reduziert werden und zudem könnten sich neue Möglichkeiten für Gemeindeentwicklung eröffnen. Besonders zu berücksichtigen sind: der bewusste Umgang mit dem steigenden Belastungsquotienten in den Ortsgemeinden, die Integration von jungen Erwachsenen, die Aktivierung der passiven Babyboomer-Generation, neue Gemeinde- und Gottesdienstmodelle für Kleinstgemeinden, die Wahrnehmung der besonderen Bedürfnisse und Erwartungen von Männern, die Betreuung von Alleinstehenden, seelsorgerliche „Sterbebegleitung“ schrumpfender Gemeinden, das missionarische Feld der konfessionsverschiedenen Ehen und neue zielgruppenorientierte Missionsansätze.
Advent Hope:
Movements of Embodied Hope and the Common Good
John Webster
doi 10.17613/8rxw-9633
First Published July2022; pp. 101-126
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What’s become of the “common good”? Given the current state of polarization, and the systemic and structural nature of social injustice, is it still possible to hope for justice? The article proposes that the basis for working together is not necessarily sharing “common ground” but a pursuit of “common ends.” A keynote presentation and response at a Society of Adventist Philosophers conference provided an opportunity to test the thesis. Could a secular philosopher (Sally Haslanger, MIT professor, founder of Critical Social Theory) and an Adventist theologian engage in a serious common pursuit of hopeful change without stumbling over worldview differences? The article provides a case study in self-aware and self-critical conversation “across a divide.” It asks, can “Advent Hope,” rejecting the distortions of escapism, apocalyptic sensationalism, political quietism, and individualism, become a “movement of embodied hope,” en route to the coming Kingdom of God?
Book Reviews
The Future of Open Theism: From Antecedents to Opportunities.
Richard Rice.
Downers Grove: IVP, 2020. 250 pp.
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The Trinity: An Introduction.
Scott R. Swain.
Short Studies in Systematic Theology. Wheaton: Crossway, 2020. 154 pp.
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Living for God: Reclaiming the Joy of Christian Virtue.
Frank Hasel.
Nampa: Pacific Press, 2020. 119 pp.
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Die Dreieinigkeit in Bibel und Adventgeschichte.
René Gehring.
Wien: Top Life Wegweiser-Verlag, 2021. 168 pp.
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Migration and the Making of Global Christianity.
Jehu J. Hanciles.
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2021. 461 pp.
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