Rev 14 (The Open Remnant 25)– Some have wondered why I stop with the monotheistic religions. What about Buddhists, Hindus, and the many followers of Confucius and Lao Tse? What about secular people and agnostics? Will the message of the remnant have no application to them? In an email dated June 30, 2007, Andrews University professor Duane Covrig suggested that I expand the trio to include a fourth element that will be reached by the eschatological remnant, the secular. He argued that most secular people today have three central values that are at the heart of SDA faith: 1) The Adventist emphasis on religious liberty connects well with the secular imperative for tolerance and acceptance. 2) The Adventist emphasis on the whole person is shared in secularism’s appreciation of the whole body. For the monotheisms, the spiritual trumps the other aspects of life, often marginalizing the full nature of human beings. Adventists and seculars emphasize the importance of both body and mind to full humanity. 3) The Adventist view of creation and Sabbath should lead to respect and care for the environment, one of the key emphases of the secular culture today. It has also led Adventists to be more open to scientific tools of investigation than most religious perspectives, a point of contact with secular culture. A reasoned study of Scripture is the best safeguard against end-time deceptions. The monotheistic religions can benefit greatly from a more rigorous and scientific analysis of how sacred texts are used to support beliefs.
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 13:00:15 +0000
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