Navigating faith and identity

: religious commitment, departure, and belief negotiation within the Seventh-day Adventist community

Abstract

This research explores the complex process of navigating faith and identity within the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) community, with particular focus on individuals considering disaffiliation. It examines the negotiable and non-negotiable aspects of Adventist identity, practice, and worldview, highlighting how these elements shape decisions to remain within or leave the faith tradition. Unlike conventional models of religious change that emphasize external transitions, this study underscores the significance of internal faith identity negotiation, driven by the interplay between personal beliefs and communal expectations.

Through qualitative methodologies, including interviews with former and current SDA members and regional church leaders from England, Hungary, and Romania, the study uncovers key factors influencing faith retention, navigation, or departure. The findings reveal that disaffiliation often arises from internal conflicts rather than the appeal of alternative religious traditions. Many individuals navigate a reworking of their Adventist worldview, maintaining core elements such as the Cosmic Conflict narrative while reevaluating flexible aspects of doctrine and practice.

Worldview theory serves as a crucial framework in understanding the negotiation of belief within Adventism, particularly the tension between personal conviction and institutional identity. By exploring the dynamics of conversion, deconversion, and religious switching, this research highlights how flexible elements within belief systems influence faith transitions. The study situates these processes within the broader context of SDA theology and community life, revealing how worldview negotiation impacts both personal and communal spiritual identities.

This research also critiques SDA leadership’s insufficient recognition of growing disillusionment within the community, calling for a more empathetic and inclusive approach to address diverse spiritual experiences. By framing disaffiliation as a process of spiritual evolution rather than rejection, the study illuminates the transformative potential of belief negotiation. It contributes to religious studies by providing a nuanced understanding of intra-denominational change, faith retention, and the dynamics of belief transformation within Adventism.

Date of Award	2 Jul 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of St Andrews
Supervisor	Eric Stoddart (Supervisor)