Clifford Goldstein: ‘A Safe Place’
@Professor Kent:

What is obvious is that you don’t know Cliff…

Sean Pitman
www.DetectingDesign.com

Clifford Goldstein: ‘A Safe Place’
I am in full agreement with my friend Cliff. The SDA Church should be a safe place for members who are struggling with evolutionary concepts and other theological issues to be able to ask and work through difficult questions without being judged on a moral basis or excluded from the Church community.

At the same time, as Cliff points out, our Church also needs to “be a safe place for our students.” It is indeed “heart-wrenching to think that, on occasion, young people in our Seventh-day Adventist colleges face teachers who, though professing to be Seventh-day Adventists, hold a view on evolution that nullifies that profession.”

So, while it is fine to have struggles over the meaning of mainstream science vs. the Biblical worldview, it is not fine to publicly promote, while on the payroll of the Church, various views on mainstream science that directly undermine the stated fundamental goals and ideals of the Church. Such activity is not a sign of a personal struggle, but of a dishonest struggle against the order and government of the SDA Church as an organization (i.e., in thinking to get paid while undermining what one was hired to do).

Sean Pitman
www.DetectingDesign.com

Conrad Vine Continues to Attack Church Leadership
I think that there can be a reasonable combination of the best of modern medicine as well as the best of healthful living and natural remedies such as exercise, sunlight, vitamin D, “forest bathing”, good sleep, vegan or at least a vegetarian diet, etc…

Conrad Vine Continues to Attack Church Leadership
You opted not to get vaccinated during the pandemic, for whatever reason, but did not advise others to do the same. That’s fine. I think you probably increased your own risk a bit, but that’s far better than giving medical advice to others when you don’t know for sure that you’re right – especially for those who were at higher risk than you. It’s also good that you supported others who did choose to get vaccinated.

As far as SDA hospitals and organizations, I agree that there has been some drift from the ideal. I’m not happy that so many non-SDAs are hired to work in and to be leaders. I’m also disappointed that there isn’t a lot more emphasis, direction, and teaching with regard to healthful living. There are some who are doing this, like Dr. Roger Seheult. However, there does seem to be a lack of an organized or official emphasis on how to living healthful so as to avoid having to use so many medications for chronic conditions that are largely self-inflicted. Now, I do sympathize that quick fixed and pills are what most patients want. Most doesn’t want to give up their back health habits, so doctors often just give up and give their patients what they want. Still, this does not excuse the lack of effort along these lines in our hospitals and medical schools. Also, more should be done to spread the Gospel Message in our hospitals as well…

Conrad Vine Continues to Attack Church Leadership
Thank you for your kind words and support. I really appreciate it very much!

Conrad Vine Continues to Attack Church Leadership
I’m fine with open dialogue, but that includes presenting and at least understanding things from the GC’s perspective and why the significant majority of SDAs and GC delegates believe that the GC did the right thing during the pandemic and with the original 2015 statement on vaccines.

Conrad Vine Continues to Attack Church Leadership
So, it’s impossible to be a doctor who promotes the best of modern medicine as well as the best natural remedies and still be a follower of Jesus? Really? Not even Ellen White could be saved then…