Ellen G. White Estate contests book and AI avatar technology

The book ‘Reclaiming the Prophet’ (Resgatando a Profetisa), edited by Eric Anderson, has become the center of an editorial controversy within the Seventh-day Adventist community. The work features essays from various historians and scholars, including George R. Knight and Jonathan Butler, who attempt to defend the prophetic ministry of Ellen G. White by viewing her as a historical and fallible human rather than an infallible authority.

Following its official publication by Pacific Press, the Ellen G. White Estate’s Board of Trustees formally contested the book on June 5, 2025. Subsequently, Pacific Press reportedly decided to cease distribution and reimprinting of the work following consultations, a move the White Estate expressed gratitude for. This has led to accusations of censorship and the suppression of academic discourse regarding White’s historical writings and use of literary sources.

In addition to the controversy surrounding the book, concerns have been raised regarding the use of artificial intelligence to create a digital ‘avatar’ of Ellen G. White. Critics argue that using AI to simulate a responsive personality capable of answering questions shifts the technology from a research tool into a theological issue, potentially creating a psychological experience of dialogue with a deceased figure.