DO SOULS SLEEP by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 6, 1868

DO SOULS SLEEP.

By James White

The Church Advocate commences an article against the faith of the Adventists on this subject, under the above head, in the following manner:

“Had this inquiry been proposed in the semi-heathen ages of Grecian philosophy or Roman mythology, the inquirer would have incurred the maledictions of the priest and people; but in the noon-tide blaze of this nineteenth century, the question can be asked, (and the dogma believed,) without evincing any great amount of heterodoxy.”

Well considered, indeed! It is not often that we see the doctrine of the immortality of the soul referred so directly to its origin by its advocates. The “sleep of the soul,” was very offensive to “Grecian philosophy and Roman mythology,” in the “semi-heathen ages,” when they bore such sway over the minds of men, says the writer; and he who questions the soul’s immortality was sure to incur “the maledictions of the priests” of these heathenish systems! Well, the times are not much changed in this respect. The “priests,” who prefer the teachings of “Grecian philosophy” to the Bible,—who attach more weight to the sophistries of Plato, than to the words of divine revelation,—are yet hurling their “maledictions” against those who deny this dogma of heathen philosophy. We were never a whit surprised that “Grecian philosophy and Roman mythology” should endeavor to protect their offspring; but it is surprising that those professing to believe and teach the Bible, should adopt, and be so solicitous for the welfare of this child of heathen superstition. The “Reformation” is not fully accomplished yet.

J. H. W.