Adventist Voices by Spectrum: The Journal of the Adventist Forum

Episode 2 unpacks the complex sources and component parts of prevailing conceptions of Adventist identity, and considers Tonstad's meditations on what lies at the heart of a biblical "remnant" identity and how an Adventist "remnant" community must move in the world.

Hey Daddy Gang, is Alex Cooper lying to you? That’s what Allie Beth Stuckey and other conservatives seem to be saying after Cooper announced her pregnancy. Cooper, who built a career talking openly about sex, dating, and hookup culture, is now married, pregnant, and seemingly happy. For some critics, that happy ending does not fit the story women are supposed to be told. This week, the Podly Women gather to talk about the expectations placed on women. Does doing everything “right” guarantee marriage, motherhood, stability, respectability, or success? And what does doing everything right even mean for a woman? Listen as three women from different stages of life discuss hookup culture, pregnancy rage, purity culture, the conservative and liberal expectations placed on women, and the troubling idea that a beautiful life must be earned. About our panel: Natalie Bruzon is a journalist, editor, and mom of two young kids, a Union Adventist University grad.  Trudy Morgan-Cole is a noted historical fiction author and a recently retired educator and Andrews University grad.  Sofia Lindgren is a fabulous twenty-five year old, office manager of SPECTRUM Magazine, and Pacific Union College grad.

In Episode 1 we introduce a number of key themes in the book, beginning with the ways in which ethnicity and culture shape religious identity and how tribal gods may resurface even after we have chosen a new identity in Christ. Shandelle Henson is an emeritus professor of mathematics and retired professor of ecology at Andrews University, and currently a co-mentor of Education for Ministry through the School of Theology at Sewanee, University of the South. Julius J. Nam is an attorney and an Adventist historian based in Loma Linda, California. Sigve Tonstad is a physician, specialist in internal medicine, New Testament scholar with a PhD from the University of St. Andrews, author of several books, and research professor of biblical interpretation at Loma Linda University.

Drawing on his education and healthcare admin experience, Michael Nixon discusses his SPECTRUM monthly column series, The VP Files, in which he shares important personal and professional moments in the recent history of Andrews University. We discuss his administrative work leading diversity and culture work on the campus, as well as the right and wrong ways to discuss politics and religion

The Podly Women return for part two of their conversation on modesty culture and beauty standards. In this episode, they unpack the beauty standards women are taught to chase and the ideals we all feel beholden to: the “prepubescent” look and where that trend comes from, the convergence of complementarianism and the “soft” aesthetic, aging gracefully, sacred bodies, and, yes, even the fascism of it all. Along the way, they ask the larger question: Is a woman’s purpose to be small and beautiful, or are we meant for more? Taglines: What happens when beauty standards, modesty culture, and theology all conspire to make women small? What if women were made for more than being small, pretty, and palatable? A conversation about sacred bodies, aging, beauty, control, and the systems that are telling women to disappear. The fascism behind beauty standards. Panel: Ezrica Bennett, a writer and graduate student at Claremont School of Theology, Oakwood University grad.  Natalie Bruzon, journalist, editor, and mom of two young kids, Union College grad.  Trudy Morgan-Cole, noted historical fiction book author and recently retired educator, Andrews University grad.  Ella Quijada, a writer and undergraduate studying science at Southern Adventist University