An epiphany of sorts has descended on me in reading (and perhaps in writing) some of the more recent (and perhaps provocative) Adventist Today blogs, and their subsequent commentary.

In my opinion, given our corporate eschatological view concerning the role that America will play in events immediately preceding the Second Coming, or more specifically, given the consensus Seventh-day Adventist "take" on Revelation 13 as delineated in The

It is often considered rude or at least somewhat ill-mannered to discuss politics or religion in polite society. I wonder if it is considered equally ill mannered to discuss politics within the context of [a] religion; or for that matter, if indeed this particular blog space should or should not be considered as part of polite society?

It's a nice feeling to be sure that you are right, whether in fact you actually are or not. That sense of certainty is at once powerful and empowering. On the other hand, not being positive that you are right, or telling those with whom you are generally in agreement that, alas, you are not sure that "we" are right, tends to be somewhat threatening...even dangerous in a sense.

For nearly 65 years now, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the United States have had what we refer to as Regional Conferences, comprised chiefly of Americans of African descent, i.e., black people.