Seventh-Day Adventists and the Civil Rights Movement

An exploration of the ways in which a conservative, Millenialist denomination reacted to a national, secular crisis Seventh-day Adventists and the Civil Rights Movement is the first in-depth study of the denomination"s participation in civil rights politics. It considers the extent to which the denomination"s theology influenced how its members responded. This book explores why a brave few Adventists became social and political activists, and why a majority of the faithful eschewed the movement. Samuel G. London, Jr., provides a clear yet critical understanding of the history and theology of the Seventh-day Adventist Church while highlighting the contributions of its members to political reform. Community awareness, the example of early Adventist pioneers, liberationist interpretations of the Bible, as well as various intellectual and theological justifications motivated the civil rights activities of some Adventists. For those who participated in the civil rights movement, these...