Southern professor Jud Lake talks about his new book that tells the story of the American Civil War from the unique perspective of Ellen G. White's visions. Lake explains how Adventist history cannot be correctly understood outside its larger historical context.
Back about 1963 a Madison College professor, EUSEY, did a dissertation at Andrews on that battle that Ellen White says that she “saw” the Angel confuse the north and south and the south was routed.
Perhaps you might want to look that one up if you can find it.
I did 3 Quarters of American History by Prof Eusey, and he was a great historian on the Civil War. I enjoyed his classes very much. [I took it because it was Upper Division history and wanted it for Upper Division graduation credits.]
Let me recommend for our readers Drew Gilpin Faust’s groundbreaking Civil War study: THIS REPUBLIC OF SUFFERING. Theological concepts that now dominate evangelical/fundamentalist thought emerged out of that conflict. One burning question for me about divine explanations for the outcome of the war is this: Why so much carnage to arrive at God’s intended outcome?
EGW indicates that the nation was to “suffer” for the sin of slavery–both sides. Really?
Or was such a costly war in human lives the natural result of both sides believing firmly that God was on its side (as Lincoln averred in his 2nd inaugural) and then using that view to justify the absolute immorality of how the war was conducted on both sides?
Just asking . . .
Are people aware that Joseph Smith “predicted” in 1832…
The war would begin with South Carolina
It would cause the death and misery of many souls
The Southern States would be divided against the Northern States
The Southern states would call upon the assistance of other countries, including Great Britain
DR. WILFRED J. AIREY, PH.D. , was a professor of history for 45 years at La Sierra University and taught all his students the significance of the Civil War. He was passionate about this subject and reading this review of the book, A Nation In God’s Hands, brought back the scenarios of partisanship, political context of the divisions in our country. I looked up my notes from one his lectures about the lessons of the Civil War and what he said in 1969, rings very true today. {from my notes}
“What can we learn from the Civil War that will help us navigate our ideas today? The political process has become so polarized that democratic compromise is almost impossible Our politics are more polarizing today Christianity can drive a wedge between conservative and liberal interests. It intrudes into the political process so that there is no middle ground. There is only good and evil. We need to avoid being swept up by extreme rhetoric and ideology” These divisions are even more prominent today. The broad counsel and modus operandi that Ellen G. White suggested for that time is applicable today as well. Judd Lake’s counsel is wise for all of us as we observe the news today. What he says is worth repeating:
“Now, I am convinced that Adventist history, including Ellen White, cannot be correctly understood without seeing the interaction between Adventist history, American history, and even world history. This approach is one of the main features of A Nation in God’s Hands.”