text: Continued:
  
  The theological and prophetical rationale was stillborn in a cornfield one hundred forty five years ago. Adventism  has nothing particularly helpful to offer the world. And it is embarrassingly padlocked to a virtually  illiterate nineteenth century lady whose imagined connection to God cloaks anti-intellectualism in the costume of righteous fervor.
  
  Yes, I understand nostalgia, an important component of cultural heritage. But I don’t understand the intellectual compromise one must adopt to pretend to be a member in good standing. Smart people normally want to be on the leading edge of thought, unshackled  by vacuous shibboleths. And yet wise and smart people remain.
  
  So, someone, enlighten me! Could it be the value of established power bases are the real dirty little magnet operating out of sight, the real attraction? Speculation only, of course?