The book,  Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions On Doctrine was written to answer specific questions asked by certain scholars and representatives of other Christian denominations as to what we believed on certain major doctrinal points.  Thus it does not cover the full spectrum of SDA thought, but only those areas in which other Christians wanted explanation of things they had heard about our beliefs.

After lengthy visits between these representatives and leading scholars at General Conference headquarters, the responses to these questions were published in this book and distributed widely to SDA church members.

Soon after Questions On Doctrine came out, however, a retired SDA educator who had not been consulted on the book opposed it publicly on the grounds of his understanding of some of the things said about certain aspects of the sanctuary and the nature of the human nature of Christ.  As a direct result of the controversy thus stirred up, the book was not reprinted and most persons  have had no opportunity to examine it for themselves but are acquainted with it only through quotations and criticisms.

It is, however, still used and valued by many SDA scholars, educators, administrators, and pastors, as well as by those laymen fortunate enough to have a copy of their own, and we have had many requests to make it available to online readers.  We  believe that it will be especially valuable to any who wonder about some of the differences (or perceived differences) between SDA thought and that of other conservative Christians.

Since writing this inroduction in 2002, Questions On Doctrines has been reprinted, keeping all original pages, but adding over 100 pages of historical information and analysis.  See material and links elsewhere on our site in connection with the increased interest in the book since the new annotated edition has come out.  However, if you are unable to secure a copy of that book, here is the original so you can see for yourself what it is that so many have talked about for so long.