New Ellen White Scholar Shares His Findings

10 January 2011 | Rachel Davies

| 23

Rachel Davies: You completed your dissertation this year at the University of Helsinki on the spirituality of Ellen White. Since spirituality is a relatively new field of study, what drew you to it? What was your university's response to your research on Ellen White?

Harri Kuhalampi: About ten years ago I became interested in spirituality as an academic question because I was not satisfied with just being religiously active in an external way. That was how I felt. I wanted to understand what religion is fundamentally about. I was looking for a way for religion to be more meaningful.

I was well received in Helsinki. When I met my professor for the first time he expressed how glad he was to get an opportunity to learn more about Adventism. He said that at the theological faculty they have only a rather superficial acquaintance with Adventism. During the whole time I received excellent guidance and support. The university provided a good environment for my research on Ellen White, although there was no related material at their library.

RD: What were your initial research questions and what process did you use for interpreting your literature?

HK: I started with the intention of finding out in what way Ellen White’s book Steps to Christ has impacted the personal spirituality of Adventists. However, this was more difficult than what I had thought. I noticed quite soon that I needed a definition and a description of the spirituality presented in the book before I could study its impact. I decided to concentrate on this. Instead of performing a qualitative study I started a systematic analysis of the six consecutive books which Ellen White wrote after the famous 1888 General Conference Session at Minneapolis which marks a spiritual paradigm shift for the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

RD: In a nutshell, what was the outcome of your research?

HK: I was able to detect a well-balanced and mature structure in Ellen White’s spiritual thinking. The methodology which I had adopted helped me to see general features in her thinking rather than just individual statements. I discovered that her general thinking on the basic preconditions for spirituality is surprisingly similar to that of Martin Luther, and that she distances herself from John Wesley’s approach to Christian spirituality. But the main outcome of my study was a description of her holistic approach to spirituality, which indicates the originality and independence of her thinking.

RD: Were you surprised at all by what you learned? What were some of the most original discoveries that emerged from your studies?

HK: Yes, I was surprised to realise the extent to which Ellen White acts as a spiritual guide and to see her continual interest in caring for the spiritual well being of her readers. In the material her constant attention is on the individual. She writes to guide her readers toward an optimal personal spirituality. Meanwhile, I found very few, if any, references to the role of the church, for example, in spiritual growth. And I was similarly surprised to discover how little she speaks about eschatological topics.

RD: Why is your research important for our understanding of Ellen White? How do you hope it will shape our growing understanding of Adventist spirituality?

HK: It was my intention to discover the fundamental spiritual thrust in her thinking and to construct a structure of her spiritual ideas. Her individual sayings should be interpreted in the context of such a framework. She promotes spirituality and not outward performance of religious duties. Inner peace, joy and trust are more important for her than is impeccable faithfulness to any Christian standards. She is not primarily a teacher of correct theological understandings or a source of doctrinal knowledge. By regarding her first and foremost as a spiritual guide we might come to a more balanced approach to spirituality with less concentration on knowing and understanding or doing and performing.

RD: On a personal level, how has your research impacted your own spiritual life?

HK: The greatest reward was the discovery that spirituality is primarily about being face to face with God. Even if I as a theologian know a lot about God, all my knowledge is insufficient to really know who he is. He remains an un-knowable God, a mystery, a paradox. But he has made his love known to me and therefore I may enjoy peace, joy, trust, and a sense of security and hope. I don’t worry any more about whether I am able to please God or people. Instead, I am at the receiving end: I am content, as God pleases me with his goodness and grace. Religion has become a source of deepest pleasure and satisfaction.

RD: Is there a way for people to read your entire dissertation who might wish to do so?

HK: The editor of the Spectrum journal has requested my permission to publish the final chapter of my dissertation, which I have granted: so it is forthcoming. I hope that the conclusions will help readers capture some of the main points of my findings. But the dissertation has been printed and is available from me. Please contact me by email if you would like a copy: kuhalampi@luukku.com The University of Helsinki also publishes all dissertations on the Internet at the address: http://ethesis.helsinki.fi

RD: What do you do now and what are your plans for the future?

HK: I started working as a counsellor while I was doing my doctoral studies. My speciality is counselling and consultation at places of work (supervision). In addition I give lectures and training sessions. I hope I will find time to write a book about spirituality. However, during the past two weeks I have received two very interesting job offers, both of which would offer ample opportunities to put into practice much of what I have learned. I do not know what the future holds, but I am content and happy because I know that God is guiding and I am safe with him, come what may.
____________________________

Harri Kuhalampi, ThD, completed his doctoral dissertation at the University of Helsinki in 2010.

Click here to read an article by Dr Kuhalampi on the holistic spirituality of Ellen White.

Click here to read a review of Dr Kuhalampi's dissertation by Graeme Sharrock.

Zane Yi - Tue, 01/11/2011 - 06:09

Thanks, Rachel and Dr. Kuhalampi, for the insightful interview. This past week, I have forwarded the link to the dissertation to a friend and look forward to taking a closer look at the dissertation myself soon.

I really appreciated the following comment and found it to be a refreshing articulation of a way appreciate and view Mrs. White's writings: " She is not primarily a teacher of correct theological understandings or a source of doctrinal knowledge. By regarding her first and foremost as a spiritual guide we might come to a more balanced approach to spirituality with less concentration on knowing and understanding or doing and performing."

I also had a questions about the influence of Luther (over Wesley) on her views. Dr. Kuhalami states, "I discovered that her general thinking on the basic preconditions for spirituality is surprisingly similar to that of Martin Luther, and that she distances herself from John Wesley’s approach to Christian spirituality." I'd be interested in learning more about this finding. How was Wesley's view different from Luther's on the "pre-conditions" for spirituality? Is this distancing from Wesley explicitly stated somewhere?

Thank you.

Bob Helm - Tue, 01/11/2011 - 11:36

I appreciate Dr. Kuhalampi's assessment. Although Ellen White came from a Wesleyan background and Wesleyan elements are prominent in her writings, I have long thought that those who wish to peg her as a pure Wesleyan are being much too simplistic. Like Adventism itself, Ellen White syncretistic. She tried to combine the good points from different faith traditions, and her appreciation of Martin Luther and the Lutheran reformers was profound.

It should be noted that Ellen White's concept of sanctification as the work of a lifetime was decidely unwesleyan. Progressive, lifelong sanctification is the Lutheran and Calvinist view.

David Allen - Tue, 01/11/2011 - 11:42

I enjoy EGW as a devotional author even though there is a sense of absolutism in them—one interpretation. What concerns me is the claims that EGW makes for herself, even in her hundreds of pages of reproof and correction. For anyone to reject her Testimonies Ellen believed it was the same work of “Korah, Dathan, and Abiram” that opposed Moses (5T 290). To Ellen to question or doubt the Testimonies is to “drift away from Bible truth” (5T 647)

We cannot accept her devotional books and set aside her Testimonies picking and choosing what we like. Ellen disapproved of this approach. To Ellen it was an abuse of her writing to discard some counsel and accept others (9T 154). To her it was all her writings were inspired and she was convinced that her Testimonies never contradicted the Bible or added new light. She spoke in absolute terms taught by her Angel Guide and her night visions with expressions such as “The Spirit of God has opened my mind,” and “I was shown” Etc.

Note some of her comprehensive claims:

Holy Spirit Inspired:
“The Holy Ghost is the author of the Scriptures and of the Spirit of Prophecy.” 3SM 30.3}

“I cannot write unless the Holy Spirit helps me.” 3SM 49

Given by the Lord:
“I write all that the Lord gives me to write.--Letter 52, 1906. {3SM 49.6}

Given by God:
“Sister White is not the originator of these books. They contain the instruction that during her lifework God has been giving her. They contain the precious, comforting light that God has graciously given His servant to be given to the world.”: {3SM 50.4}

“I do not write one article in the paper expressing merely my own ideas. They are what God has opened before me in vision—the precious rays of light shining from the throne.” (5 T 67)

“The Bible must be your counselor. Study it and the testimonies God has given; for they never contradict His Word.” 3SM 32.3}

“You cannot neglect God's messages of warning, you cannot reject them or treat them lightly, but at the peril of infinite loss.” (LS 324)

These claims place her above just as an inspirational author, but as divinely inspired. When we follow her advice we please God and when we discard the “Testimony of Jesus” we displease God. The sign God’s last Remnant Church is that will keep the Testimonies of Jesus.

Since Ellen is led by God we are obligated to follow Fundaments of Christina Education, Medical Ministry, Diet and Foods and nine Volumes of Testimonies. This is not easy, if not impossible in a worldwide multicultural movement. After 150 years later Ellen has not given us easy options to understand her divinely inspired Testimonies. As there are questions, there are solutions, if we really want to discover them.

davidrlarson - Tue, 01/11/2011 - 23:51

Many thanks for doing this fine dissertation! Thinking of EGW primarily as a "spiritual guide" casts much needed new light on her proper role in SDAism, I do believe.

Bill Cork - Wed, 01/12/2011 - 06:45

"Since Ellen is led by God we are obligated to follow Fundaments of Christina Education, Medical Ministry, Diet and Foods and nine Volumes of Testimonies."

But what does this mean to say "we are obligated to follow" them? The Testimonies are written to specific individuals at specific times. That requires an understanding of the context and issues in order to discern the principles that are applicable now. "Counsels on Diet and Foods" is a very poorly done compilation, ripping statements from documents with no indication of the context. We cannot regard them as verbally inspired dictums that are applicable to every time and every place. I think that especially in the case of this book the White Estate has an obligation to prepare a new, annotated edition giving us context and historical background of each and every selection. The book will be 2 to 3 times longer, but it will be a healthier book as a result.

I think it important to note that Ellen White's book on health, "The Ministry of Healing," is not a list of dos and don'ts. It sets out principles and a wholistic foundation. It places the health message in the context of Jesus' own ministry. That's how Ellen White operated. Many of her statements in CDF were originally short comments in long letters that included lots of other things. Some were letters to Kellogg, in which she chats to an old friend, gives some encouragement, some rebuke--and happens to mention things she heard in a health talk in Europe. She was a warm, vibrant, person--not a dispenser of random laws.

David Allen - Wed, 01/12/2011 - 12:34

RE: Bill Cork, Jan 12, 2011

I agree with you that Ministry of Healing is a wonderful Christ centered book and represents the mature EGW viewpoints on health and healing.

Yet, I think you have arrived at the position where you free to choose what you think is inspired or just Ellen’s human opinion. This position is where the church is at today their only way to handle her many embarrassing and difficult counsels.

However I ask you, is this the way EGW intended us to use her writings? Not when she was alive! Sure some may discount her Diet and Food’s book, however this book reflects similar advice given in the 9 Vol’s of the Testimonies or in Christian Temperance & Bible Hygiene, written with her husband, they are not compilations but managed and printed by Ellen herself. Furthermore compilations of her health counsels were printed while she was alive.

Even in Ministry of Healing most readers choose what they want to believe and follow:

(1) Mustard, pepper, spices, pickles, condiments—make the blood feverish and impure. (325)
(2) Tea (Green or Black) is as stimulant and produces intoxication and excites the nervous system. (326)
(3) Tea, coffee, tobacco, and alcohol—are nerve irritants and the only safe course is touch not, taste not (335, 326)
(4) An entire chapter promotes civil laws supporting Prohibition—“Let and army be formed to stop the sale of the drugged liquor traffic…demand its prohibition.” (327-349)
(5) An entire chapter directed to the Physician—To follow natural methods of healing free from poisonous drugs. Nature assisted will cast out impurity without the use of any drugs. “Disease is an effort of nature to free the system from conditions that results from the violation of the laws health.” (125-136)
(6) Works of romance, fairy tales, myths, fiction, and frivolous exciting tales is intoxicating and a curse to the reader, which can be the cause of mental and physical disease. These books are cunning devices of Satan, from which we must guard youth from this temptation. Many are lifelong invalids and are in the insane asylum because of the habit of novel reading. “Even fiction which contains no suggestion of impurity (sex) and which may be intended to teach excellent principles is harmful.” (445-8).
(7) “Christ made use of simple agencies of nature. While He did not give countenance to drug medication, He sanctioned the use of simple and natural remedies.” ( 233)

So where are we at with EGW? Only as unselfish inspirational author she is inspired while we discount her other ideas that do not fit a global culture? Or is there another approach?

Bill Cork - Wed, 01/12/2011 - 13:21

"I think you have arrived at the position where you free to choose what you think is inspired or just Ellen’s human opinion."

That's an assumption on your part, and does not follow from anything I said.

MH gives the context and the meaning and the rationale. It is the coherent presentation that she intended of her beliefs.

If you take each dictum as infallible and inerrant, and not needing of any context, you end up with CDF. You end up having to reconcile 1) eat eggs and 2) don't eat eggs as timeless truths--instead of as specific counsel to specific individuals with specific issues. I suggest you read some of George Knight's books about her, and the transcript of the 1919 Bible Conference where her own co-workers and friends (and son) reflected on these things.

Elaine Nelson - Wed, 01/12/2011 - 14:05

It was at that 1919 Bible Conference referred to that the leaders were reluuctant, even fearful of letting the members know what was discovered and considered. IOW, the church created her as an inspired prophet.

The result: Continue the pushing her writings as inspired and the selling of her books. Today, we are reaping this problem caused by the leaders who wanted to "protect" members from the truth. Now with Ted Wilson pushing her, it's is up to each one to decide whether to read and listen to her, or whether to try to pick and choose, or decide to ignore her and stick to the Bible.

frank7 - Wed, 01/12/2011 - 14:18

Elaine,

I have read the minutes of the 1919 conference. I never got the impression that any of the participants were questioning that EGW had the gift of prophecy, or that she was an inspired person in that sense. What I did get was their struggle with how that inspiration worked in reality as opposed to popular perception, or shall we say misperception, and how the church was to relate to such a paradigm shift in thought, application, and practice if confronted with such a different perspective.

Although we seem to differ on this, I agree that the tragedy is that they buried the discussion, buried the minutes, and just chose to sit on the issue rather coming forth to the church at large. Daniells and those who agreed with him fell under the fundamentalist's knife, and the church plunged further into Ellenology. Then the inevitable backlash exploded in the 70's when the discovery of the minutes happened alongside other developments.

So here we are... and heading backwards in many circles it seems.

Frank

bevin - Wed, 01/12/2011 - 16:04

>>> "I think you have arrived at the position where you free to choose what you think is inspired or just Ellen’s human opinion."

Of course we are. Where did you EVER get the idea that God expects us to believe everything another follower of God, no matter how inspired, thinks/says/writes?

The OT and the NT are full of examples of God's people listening to spiritual leaders and deciding whether or not to follow them.

Balaam was a spiritual leader. Saul was. David was. Peter was. Paul was. And yet all made critical errors that (fortunately) were ignored by other followers of God.

/Bevin

Bob Helm - Wed, 01/12/2011 - 21:44

MH gives the context and the meaning and the rationale. It is the coherent presentation that she intended of her beliefs.
____________________________________________________________
Dear Bill Cork,

You have underlined a real problem - the Ellen White compilations that have been made. It is true that some compilations like "Gospel Workers" were made in her lifetime and with her approval. It is also true that her will calls for further compilations to be made. And there are some good ones. But we need to beware of the compilations that piece together little snippets from her writings that are often taken out of context. "Ministry of Healing" is a wonderful, Christ-centered book that presents the wholistic basis for healthy living. But I think we would be better off if copies of "Counsels On Diet And Foods" had never come off the press. And the same goes for "Messages To Young People." If Ellen White had lived to see these very slanted books with her name on their covers, I think she would have been appalled.

Michael - Wed, 01/12/2011 - 23:46

There are no "slanted" books.
Slanted implies an intentional effort to mislead.
Confusion is the difference between expectation and reality.

If a greater advisement that the books are compilations than currently exist need done, then do it.
The current information that it is a compliation arranged topically is enough for most reasonable people.
Study guides are freely available for these books that specifically point out that fact as well as the fact that people have misused and misrepresented these books.
Here is a copy for your review.
http://www.whiteestate.org/guides/CDF.html

Michael

Fred Eastman - Thu, 01/13/2011 - 10:22

Thank you Dr. Kuhalampi for a very insightful look at EGW. One of the basic principles to use when evaluating EGW is to look at her "whole body of work" when trying to glean the thrust of her message. This also applies to the Bible. Unfortunately many find this approach "disquieting" as it requires real thought and "analysis" rather than just following "the rules" and is much more "dangerous" to those with a more "legal" (concrete thinking) approach. This is what Graham Maxwell advocated in his approach to "all 66" that was so "eye openning" to those who accompanied him on those "journeys".
Fortunately the "picture" of EGW passed down from my grandfather, who was a contemporary, and friend of hers was much different and presented her in a much "more balanced" viewpoint than is easily obtained by just reading her writings today. If you know someone personally it is much easier to "put into perspective" their thoughts and actions than just looking at them historically without that context.
We all need to step back and look at the "big picture" in order to do "justice" to EGW IMHO
Thanks again!
Fred

Yaroslav - Thu, 01/13/2011 - 11:57

Yaroslav Paliy

You can download Kuhalampi's thesis here: https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10138/21594.

Ole-Edvin Utaker - Sat, 01/15/2011 - 10:06

I haven't been able to read your thesis yet, but your approach and conclusions are interesting and seem to have certain important implications for SDA, both on the role of EGW and other doctrinal matters. You posit in your article that "the holiness of the Sabbath means that it is possible for anyone, anywhere to enter into and experience the sacredness of that day, because it was God who has set the day apart to fulfill his purposes"... and further you claim that there is no separation between the "ordinary and the religious spheres of life". I agree with you on the latter, but does that mean that the sabbath, as a day, could just as well be substituted with any other day? Does your conclusion have implications for traditional SDA apologetics for the sabbath? Does your holistic spirituality approach bear any significance on traditional SDA biblical hermeneutics and doctrinal understanding, more generally?

We were fellow students at Newbold many years ago, and I left the church a few years after that, but I'm still inteterested in religous issues. It is encouraging to see that SDA theological thinking is dynamic and testing new approaches. I'm curious to read your response....

lorenseibold@am... - Sun, 01/16/2011 - 20:41

"And I was similarly surprised to discover how little she speaks about eschatological topics."

Most of us today, I think, suppose EGW speaks about eschatology more than almost anything else. How could it be anything but the major theme, given the events that began her ministry? If what he says here true, that it is a minor theme (and I would want to know more before I accept this) why does it seem that we today find that theme predominant in her writings? I wonder how Dr. Kuhalampi comes to this conclusion?

Loren

Rachel Davies - Mon, 01/17/2011 - 06:18

Loren,

Dr. Kuhalampi's research did not encompass all of EGW's material, but only "the six consecutive books which Ellen White wrote after the famous 1888 General Conference Session at Minneapolis which marks a spiritual paradigm shift for the Seventh-day Adventist Church." Those certainly have a different flavor than, say, "Great Controversy" and the other EGW material to which we point as prophetic simply because its eschatological.

bevin - Tue, 03/01/2011 - 10:22

Maggie,, Goggle his name

/Bevin

Tom Zwemer - Tue, 03/01/2011 - 15:20

Maggie

BobRyan/Michael not withstanding. It is a known fact that Ellen White was wrong on the following:

The Investigative Judgment
The Shut Door
The Solar System
The Final Generation
Amalgamation
Date of Creation
Masterbation
Reform Dress
and a host of other issues
She also repreatedly lied about sources

So it is normative to circle the wagons and protect one's own. The idea that one is "Called" to the ministry sets them apart from the human herd---it is not different that in the days of Eli's sons.

Just remember, Jesus has your name engraved in the palms of His hands. These guys can't erase it, no how. They deal only in sarcasm, ridicule, double talk, and pompous self righteous nonsense.

Thus a religious system built upon those givens--is bound to protect its own at the expense of the "flock". Tom Z.

Maggie - Tue, 03/01/2011 - 15:40

Well, Tom you're right - they can't erase it no how, and thank you for that encouragement, and your sage viewpoint. I appreciate your contributions!

And it always does seem to come down to "doctrine before people," doesn't it?

OTOH, Mr. Harri Kuhalampi is innocent until proven guilty, and we can't prove him guilty or innocent, and we'll never be privy to the whole situation, assuming the story's even true and applies to this particular Harri Kuhalampi. (Lots of Finns have the same names - I know that from a Finnish friend.)

But...still...how could I not bring this up?

I'm still going to read what he has to say, and, really, I suppose I'll probably agree. I have nothing whatsoever against agreeing with him. If I do, I do. I'm sort of an Ellen White mystic myself, so if he's using the word 'ontological' he might find a hearing in me.

But what does that mean?

God desires truth in the inward parts, and my inward parts aren't fit for polite company, even if I believe all the truest "True" things....

Don Tucie - Fri, 07/15/2011 - 08:39

If you set out to find her "spirituality," whatever that is, sure you'll find it. Or could this be just another effort to contextualize the disturbing exegetic anomalies in her writings?
Sadly it could be argued that carte blanche credulity is what Sister White herself appears to promote. Attempting to show that she admitted to being subject to mistakes and welcomed unbiased scrutiny, we cite her sweeping admonition, “If the Testimonies (her writings) speak not according to the word of God, reject them. Christ and Belial cannot be united.” Yet the not-so-subliminal message here is that her writings are either entirely true or entirely false. In context it reads,

"And now, brethren, I entreat you not to interpose between me and the people, and turn away the light which God would have come to them. Do not by your criticisms take out all the force, all the point and power, from the Testimonies. Do not feel that you can dissect them to suit your own ideas, claiming that God has given you ability to discern what is light from heaven and what is the expression of mere human wisdom. If the Testimonies speak not according to the word of God, reject them. Christ and Belial cannot be united." —EGW, Testimonies Vol 5, p.691, par. 2.

Staunchly asserting the authority of those Testimonies, she insisted in a 1907 letter,

“The Bible must be your counselor. Study it and the testimonies God has given (her writings); for they NEVER CONTRADICT His Word” —Selected Messages Book 3 (1980), p.32, par. 3, emphasis supplied].

In other words, in terms of Biblical accuracy her writings are infallible. For this premise to be maintained, it must be understood that, whenever any statement of hers appears to conflict with scripture, the problem has to be with the reader’s misperception either way, not with any error on her part.
Thus, any hesitancy regarding Sister White’s accuracy on any point is frowned on, not only by us, but by the prophetess herself. Simply accept her inerrancy or be viewed as a Skeptic.

Don Tucie
Could it be that faith simply ought not to be rational?

Al Wright - Fri, 07/15/2011 - 09:11

Is this dissertation focused on Steps To Christ, or was that just the launching pad for a much broader study?

Al Wright - Fri, 07/15/2011 - 09:19

Never mind. I got my answer: it was just the launcher.