Many current Adventists hold on to their belief in Ellen White because of her alleged insights into good health. Many claim that she was ahead of her time because she gave us original counsel as to what is good health.
As a physician interested in good health, I have had to analyze the teachings of Ellen White with regard to health to see if she had any special insight. Ron Numbers wrote an excellent book on this topic by the title of this thread.
As far as I can tell, the only two good pieces of advice that she gave on health is 1.) the harms of excessive sugar, and 2.) smoking.
What is the old saying? A stopped clock is right twice a day!
Scientific research today, virtually says that she was wrong on so many issues. I would like to give some examples. I have thought of a lot of examples today, and will share some of these as time permits. I would also appreciate other thoughts on this.
The first and most obviously false teaching on health was the area of masturbation. She taught that those who practiced this would become insane or blind and any number of other disorders. There is no science to support any of this nonsense.
The following is my favorite quote from Ellen White on the “crime” of masturbation that she further referred to as a “soul-destroying...solitary vice ...secret indulgence...self-indulgence...self-destruction...secret vice” that results in “moral pollution.” Interestingly, in Victorian America, her stance on masturbation actually made her look very good. However, today her anti-masturbaton crusade is considered outrageous, ridiculous, and medically-flawed. Moreover, her anti-masturbation statements reflect her dependence upon the thought leaders of her day.
“Such are just as surely self-murderers as though they pointed a pistol to their own breast, and destroyed their life instantly.” [Excerpt taken from AN APPEAL TO MOTHERS, Steam Press of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association; Battle Creek, Michigan, 1864] Amazingly, she equates masturbation with suicide in this statement that supposedly came directly from the throne of God. This mind-boggling statement was written during the American Civil War, with its immense toll of human suffering in sickness and disease on many battlefields, yet in the midst of all this death and suffering, God was supposedly concerned primarily about masturbation.
She was sometimes inconsistent with regards to the use of wine. She actually advised a PREGNANT woman to take some wine. But for the most part she spoke of the harmful effects of alcohol. She did say that the Bible no where condoned the use of wine..Just check out Deuteronomy 14 and Paul’s advice to Timothy.
There are more and more medical studies showing the health benefits of wine and beer used in MODERATION.
Ellen White was behind the unbiblical temperance rule of complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages.
Ellen White also taught total abstinence from tea and coffee, even pronouncing that partaking of these beverages was a sin
There is no medical proof that moderate amounts of tea and coffee cause any real harm, unless a person has a propensity to cardiac rhythm disturbances. There are numerous references detailing the benefits of green tea. Coffee also has health benefits in the antioxidants, however this only appears to be true in the caffeinated rather than Decaf. Coffee in moderation may also protect against Alzheimer’s disease and other benefits.
Ellen White also taught that meat eating was harmful and stimulated the “animal propensities”, and equated abstaining from meat with being more spiritual.
There is no proof that vegetarianism is a more healthy lifestyle than a meat diet. The problem with a lot of meat diets is that they are combined with a lot of potatoes and other sugars and carbohydrates. This is why a diet high in animal fats is harmful. But if you leave out the bad carbs, then a high protein, low carbohydrate diet will produce better cholesterol and lipid levels.
There is also no evidence that meat diets cause cancer. Greg might have more information on this.
Adventists pride themselves on their longevity studies. However, some of these studies are flawed.
A vegetarian diet will not help you live longer, but it will certainly make your life SEEM longer.
Ellen White also condemned mustard, ketchup, and pepper and spices. I guess these stimulated the animal passions also. Yes, some of these items might improve your sex life, as if this is supposed to be bad.
Mustard has many health benefits, as does cayenne pepper, which will stimulate the circulation in vital organs.
She also condemned eating between meals as being a sin.
Again no scientific evidence supporting any of this stuff.
You would be better off doing the opposite of everything she promotes as health advice. Again the only exceptions would be sugar and smoking.
Our Mormon friends rightfully claim that the Adventists stole their health message--at least in part. The Mormons were against drinking coffee, tea, caffeinated drinks, and alcoholic beverages long before the Adventists took up the crusade. Further commonalities included extrabiblical writings, strict tithing enforcement, and a LIVING prophet (until 1915 when the SDA prophetess died). Since the death of Ellen White, dozens of Adventists have claimed the prophetic gift. Currently, at least three Seventh-day Adventists are claiming the role of a prophet in the United States alone. Likewise, the Millerite movement was plagued with several competing visionaries--notably young girls. This greatly annoyed William Miller.
Ellen White also condemned mustard, ketchup, and pepper and spices. I guess these stimulated the animal passions also. Yes, some of these items might improve your sex life, as if this is supposed to be bad.
Mustard has many health benefits, as does cayenne pepper, which will stimulate the circulation in vital organs.
She also condemned eating between meals as being a sin.
Again no scientific evidence supporting any of this stuff.
You would be better off doing the opposite of everything she promotes as health advice. Again the only exceptions would be sugar and smoking.
Stan
I’ve been reading a lot of accusations but little or no sources to back up the claims.
Ellen White also condemned mustard, ketchup, and pepper and spices. I guess these stimulated the animal passions also. Yes, some of these items might improve your sex life, as if this is supposed to be bad.
Mustard has many health benefits, as does cayenne pepper, which will stimulate the circulation in vital organs.
She also condemned eating between meals as being a sin.
Again no scientific evidence supporting any of this stuff.
You would be better off doing the opposite of everything she promotes as health advice. Again the only exceptions would be sugar and smoking.
Stan
I’ve been reading a lot of accusations but little or no sources to back up the claims.
Here is an interesting web link showing why Ellen White was not a unique prophetess of health:
Here is a link to a book written by Dr. Greg Hunt, a physician who documents Ellen’s bad health advice, and points out how following her advice could be very dangerous to your health:
To find the exact references, you can also go directly to the official EGW website (http://www.ellenwhite.com) and enter the key words and phrases that are mentioned in this thread (i.e., eating between meals, two meals a day, pepper, mustard, cinnamin, secret vice, coffee, tea, lower passions, solitary vice, vinegar, moral pollution, etc.). These are topics that Ellen White greatly delighted in talking about (e.g., she wrote two booklets dealing with masturbation and marital excesses).
She truly reflected the thoughts of others in her day. Moreover, in her younger days, these bizarre health-related claims and prohibitions were very popular. During the nineteenth century, her health advice actually made her look very good. However, even a casual inquiry will quickly reveal that Ellen White’s so-called “health message” and/or health visions did not originate in heaven.
If you dislike the idea of visiting the official EGW website, simply visit the links that Stan provided. By visiting these links, you can see the many references (not merely one or two) that verify our conclusions. Truth always invites examination.
