In my September newsletter I wrote about Ellen G. White’s twice-daily eating pattern. Here’s my article, for your convenience: http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?tz_newsletter Most of you who commented were quite positive. But two email responses to this article warrant my own reply. One correspondent wrote: “Since you like research so much, why don't you do some research about Ellen G. White? Ellen G. White was a plagiarist.” This writer referred me to the article Ellen G. White: Prophet or Profit? on the website: http://www.ellenwhiteexposed.com:80/egw25.htm Another email said: “Please be careful when quoting Ellen White...[A]s a former SDA for 28 years, I, too, believed that her writings were her own and totally embraced and followed her writings...[H]owever, in the year 2000, I was directed to a web site called www.truthorfables.com.

One thing you can be sure of: I do my homework thoroughly and painstakingly. Before I sent my September newsletter, I had visited these very websites. The home page of www.truthorfables.com states “TRUTH OR FABLES provides resource material documenting the false doctrines of the SDA Church as well as the Bible contradictions, failed visions and non-scientific (italics is mine) health reform messages of their prophetess Ellen G. White.” Not only had I visited the websites my two critics mentioned, but I had also read the response to this criticism from Ellen White’s estate’s official website. Their explanation for plagiarism I found at least partially plausible. I also read Herbert E. Douglass’s book Messenger of the Lord, which presents eyewitness testimonials and addresses contemporary criticism. Let me encourage you to read material on both sides of the debate concerning Ellen White. Whichever side an individual chooses to stand on, we need to listen to the other. If you want to know, here’s my take…Ellen G. White wrote copiously. Apparently, it’s quite true that Ellen White’s writings do contain some “borrowings” from other authors. As to the propriety or illegitimacy of such borrowings, I’ll remain silent, however. Here’s why…My interests are the fields of health and beauty. I’m interested neither in supporting nor in disparaging the belief systems of others. It’s simply not my field. My research interest in Ellen White’s writings is limited simply to her health message, and even more narrowly to her practice of eating twice per day. Arguments, pro or con, about White’s character or about the virtues or faults of her denomination aren’t what I or this newsletter is about. Readers, please stay on point. I will not be distracted by criticisms or comments that do not pertain to my mission of trying to improve and substantiate the eating habits on the raw food lifestyle. Plagiarist or not, Ellen White simply stands as an example of a well known individual who practiced certain eating habits I believe to be sound. Her remarks struck me when I read them and I felt compelled to share her ideas with my readers. I intended to discuss only the parts of her lifestyle that relate to my beliefs and practices in matters of nutrition and health. Let’s go back to one of the quotations from White that I presented in September: I have written this to give you some idea of how we live. I never enjoyed better health than I do now, and never did more writing. I rise at three in the morning, and do not sleep during the day. The quotations I offered present the ring of authenticity. Only someone who’s done it, who’s followed such a lifestyle would, I submit, likely make claims about eating twice daily or not eating after one in the afternoon. ‘Plagiarism’ is irrelevant to such a claim—there is no property in ideas. Besides, what reason would anyone have to lie about such an unpopular idea? How do I know Ellen White is telling the truth? Because I am writing these lines at 3 AM. And I did not eat anything after 1 PM yesterday. You begin to need less sleep only when you follow this eating pattern for some time. Not just for a few days. So Ellen White’s experience, on this point, is precious, whatever fault folk may find with her in other respects. Issues of “plagiarism” are irrelevant to this statement about eating practices. Accounts of people in history eating frugally are so limited that I cannot disregard such valuable experiences. My first correspondent wrote that Ellen White “also ate meat and lived quite luxuriously while preaching against such a lifestyle.” Perhaps she did. Who is without sin? Remember, too, that White’s teachings spanned the 19th century (1827 to 1915). No doubt, her eating practices changed during that time. Often during her traveling, it was either meat or nothing. My first correspondent concluded with: “[White] was a false prophet who was in it for the money and money alone.” What does that have to do with my message? To tell people to eat less to avoid diseases and reverse or delay aging is as popular of a remedy as asking to give up your darling 10 year old child for adoption to avoid dealing with adolescence. To advocate “less eating” is the most unpopular theme there is. And it appears again and again in White’s writings. Scientists, who know calorie restriction works, continue to hunt for any solution that does not require eating less. There is a great deal about Ellen White that I don’t know. But I do know this: Ellen White, during some phase of her life, did have two small meals per day. This is the aspect of her life that interests me. Nor do my arguments or my message depend upon any famous “frugal eaters” for their truth. Ellen White, Pythagoras and others are merely examples of methods I recommend now. Aging is tough. Not everyone wins. The way my hips are now, I am an orthopedic miracle. I am determined to become an anti-aging miracle, as well. I am going to tell you what really works. My message is not for the faint of heart. If you would rather hear a sweet tale about taking a pill, drinking a magic potion, kissing a frog or saying magic words, you might as well unsubscribe. I have nothing to offer you. But since you still seem to be here…Dear friends, are you listening to the message or are you trying to find an excuse not to listen? Are you letting yourself be sidetracked—as were those of my correspondents looking for incidents of plagiarism? If you do not like the message you can’t shoot the messenger, most of us know well enough. So we go after anyone, anything ….. A few of my favorites, my lecture organizers shared with me: She had something done to her face… Her waist has been photo shopped; for sure…She probably raids the fridge at 3 AM. Anything to keep from acknowledging that if they were following the message, they might be in the same place. Talk if you will. But know that the talk doesn’t affect the messenger. It only delays the benefits of the message.

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