The Voice of The Spirit

Offensive Expressions About Other Religions

This story begins around the year 1913, when the leaders of the church in Europe consulted Ellen White about certain expressions in the book The Great Controversy that might be offensive to members or the leaders of the Catholic faith. Elder William White responded on his mother’s behalf: VOTS 88.1

Regarding the anticatholic character of “Great Controversy,” we must admit that our critics are correct in an intimation that the anti-Catholic character of the book is not to be found in a few places only, but that the spirit permeates a large portion of the book.... But we could modify, with the author’s consent, several of those passages which are most objectionable to our Roman Catholic critics. ¹³ VOTS 88.2

This statement by Elder White, the prophet’s son and her main assistant at the time, is very important because Ellen White was still alive, and still capable of making her own decisions about authorizing changes that would avoid offending other religious groups. This decision was consistent with a line of thought that she herself had suggested in regard to the way in which we should treat other religious denominations: VOTS 88.3

Over and over the message has been given to me that we are not to say one word, not to publish one sentence, especially by way of personalities, unless positively essential in vindicating the truth, that will stir up our enemies against us, and arouse their passions to a white heat.... VOTS 88.4

It is true that we are commanded to “cry aloud, spare not, lift up the voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1. This message must be given, but while it must be given, we should be careful not to thrust and crowd and condemn those who have not the light that we have. We should not go out of our way to make hard thrusts at the Catholics. Among the Catholics there are many who are most conscientious Christians, and who walk in all the light that shines upon them, and God will work in their behalf. ¹⁴ VOTS 89.1

Following this recommendation, there are today two Spanish versions of The Great Controversy in existence. The original version, left without modifications, is published for countries where the majority of the population is not Roman Catholic. The other version, published in Catholic countries, has been revised, taking into consideration the suggestions made by the author herself in 1913, changing expressions and phrases that could unnecessarily offend not only the members of other religions but also the governments of those countries. VOTS 89.2