Ellen White’s Visions Versus Partial Complex Seizures

In describing Ellen White’s mental state while in vision, Hodder and Couperus state respectively that she “lost consciousness” ^{2Hodder, p. 33.} or “was unaware of her surroundings” ^{3Couperus, p. 22.} The record also shows that although she was usually amnesic concerning some of the content of her visions immediately upon regaining consciousness, she was later able to recall what she had seen in great detail. ^{4Gifts, vol. 2, pp. 292, 293.} This is not true of partial complex seizures. In the latter case amnesia for most of the attack is a classic feature.ViOSe 17.2

Ellen White’s critics state that the ability of patients later to recall what they hallucinated during a seizure is “typical” ^{5Couperus, p. 22.} or “characteristic” ^{6Hodder, p. 33.} of partial complex seizures. This is incorrect. Victims of this type of seizure may be at least partially aware of their environment during portions of their spell, yet rarely remember any formed, organized, or meaningful hallucination, if such occurred. It is common, however, for them to recall such things as strange, usually disagreeable odors or distortions of their environment or have the impression that they had a very unpleasant or frightening experience, the details of which are rarely, if ever, recalled.ViOSe 17.3

Had Ellen White’s critics had a better understanding of this kind of seizure disorder, they would have realized that their own statements virtually eliminate partial complex seizures as an explanation for her visions.ViOSe 18.1