Historical Dictionary of the Seventh-Day Adventists: (Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements Series)

Seventh-day Adventism was born as a radical millenarian sect in nineteenth-century America. It has since spread across the world, achieving far more success in Latin America, Africa, and Asia than in its native land. In what seems a paradox, Adventist expectation of Christ’s imminent return has led the denomination to develop extensive educational, publishing, and health systems. Increasingly established within a variety of societies, Adventism over time has modified its views on many issues and accommodated itself to the “delay” of the Second Advent. In the process, it has become a multicultural religion that nonetheless reflects the dominant influence of its American origins. This second edition of Historical Dictionary of the Seventh-Day Adventists covers its history through a chronology, an introductory essay, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 600 cross-referenced entries on key people, cinema, politics and government, sports, and critics of Ellen White. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Seventh-day Adventism.

Table of Contents:
Editor’s Foreword by Jon Woronoff Acknowledgments Reader’s Note Acronyms and Abbreviations Chronology Introduction The Dictionary Bibliography

About the Author :
Gary Land passed away April 26, 2014. He was professor emeritus at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan. He was a member of The Historical Society, the Conference on Faith and History, and the Association of Seventh-day Adventist Historians. Land was a founding editor of Adventist Heritage: A Journal of Adventist History and served for several years as a consulting editor for Spectrum: The Journal of the Association of Adventist Forums.

Review :
This will be a useful resource for anyone wishing to learn about the Seventh-Day Adventists... Land’s broad range of knowledge regarding Seventh-day Adventism enabled him, as the sole author, to produce an impressive dictionary that is written with a non-Adventist audience in mind. It took years of experience and research to produce such a work. Each of the entries is short and to the point, yet very informative. In addition, Land’s nine-page overview of Seventh-day Adventist history, which serves as an introduction to the book, is excellently written—a miniature masterpiece. The author truly captured the essence of Adventism and Adventist history in these few pages. This Historical Dictionary is currently the most up-to-date dictionary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. . . .[I]t is important to stress the significance of this publication. Land has presented Adventism and Adventist history well and has created an important reference tool for interested persons. His perceptive interpretation of people and events stands permanently within Adventist historiography; the Historical Dictionary is a credible sourcebook and will remain useful for years to come. Likewise, Rowman & Littlefield is commended for publishing an excellent volume that ‘will remove some of the mystery’ of Seventh-day Adventism through Land’s well-informed inside perspective and ability to write ‘in terms that can be readily understood by outsiders’ (xi). In short, Land’s Historical Dictionary receives my full recommendation.