Infidel Geologists! The Cultural Context of Ellen White's Statements on Geological Science

Abstract

Ellen White’s repeated and strident denunciations of ‘infidel geologists’ and theirideas in her 1864 monograph “Spiritual Gifts” are well known. This early originsmaterial was invoked from time to time in her subsequent articles for Churchperiodicals, would be re-worked and expanded in her “Spirit of Prophecy” (1870)and was to see its final denouement in “Patriarchs and Prophets” (1890) withother associated material appearing in the “Great Controversy” (1888). Becauseof her accepted prophetic status Ellen White’s writings in this area have provedto be enduringly authoritative for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Further,they were enormously formative for George McCready Price and, through him,hugely influential for the world-wide recent creationism movement, beginning inthe 1960s. This paper explores the historical and theological contexts of White’spronouncements on geological themes, explores possible provocations and sources behind some of her ideas and notes differences in the manner in which she re-used this material in later publications. This study indicates that her statements on geological matters represented ideas which, while once commonly held, were no longer accepted by professionals involved with the rapid scientific progression of nineteenth century geology.