Stephen J. Stein
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Stephen Joseph Stein (March 22, 1940 - January 12, 2022) was an American academic, author, and educator. His writings focused on
religion in the United States Religion in the United States is both widespread and diverse, with higher reported levels of belief than other wealthy Western world, Western nations. Polls indicate that an overwhelming majority of Americans believe in a Deity, higher power ...
. He was the Chancellor's Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at
Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a state university system, system of Public university, public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. The system has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration o ...
in Bloomington, Indiana, and served as President of the
American Society of Church History The American Society of Church History (ASCH) was founded in 1888 with the disciplines of Christian denominational and ecclesiastical history as its focus. Today the society's interests include the broad range of the critical scholarly perspecti ...
. He is known especially for his writing on eighteenth-century religious thought, particularly the
Shakers The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, more commonly known as the Shakers, are a Millenarianism, millenarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian sect founded in England and then organized in the Unit ...
,
Jonathan Edwards Jonathan Edwards may refer to: Musicians *Jonathan and Darlene Edwards, pseudonym of bandleader Paul Weston and his wife, singer Jo Stafford *Jonathan Edwards (musician) (born 1946), American musician **Jonathan Edwards (album), ''Jonathan Edward ...
, and
new religious movements A new religious movement (NRM), also known as a new religion, is a religious or spiritual group that has modern origins and is peripheral to its society's dominant religious culture. NRMs can be novel in origin, or they can be part of a wider re ...
. His 1992 book ''The Shaker Experience in America'' won the
Philip Schaff Philip Schaff (January 1, 1819 – October 20, 1893) was a Swiss-born, German-educated Protestant theologian and ecclesiastical historian, who spent most of his adult life living and teaching in the United States. Life and career Schaff was ...
prize from the American Society of Church History and has been seen as a definitive work on the topic.


Early life and education

Stein was born on March 22, 1940, in
Chillicothe, Missouri Chillicothe is a city in the state of Missouri and the county seat of Livingston County, Missouri, Livingston County, Missouri, United States. The population was 9,107 at the United States Census, 2020, 2020 census. The name "Chillicothe" is Shaw ...
. His father was a
Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...
pastor A pastor (abbreviated to "Ps","Pr", "Pstr.", "Ptr." or "Psa" (both singular), or "Ps" (plural)) is the leader of a Christianity, Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutherani ...
and Air Force chaplain, and his mother was a teacher. Stein's family moved multiple times as he grew up because of his father's work. He attended high school at Concordia College in Austin, Texas, before transferring to St. Paul's College in Concordia Missouri, where he completed high school and two years of junior college. He then attended
Concordia Senior College Concordia Senior College was a liberal arts college located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and affiliated with the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS). It was founded in 1957 and closed in 1977. The senior college was a new type of institution fo ...
in Fort Wayne, Indiana, from which he graduated in 1962 before going on to
Concordia Seminary Concordia Seminary is a Lutheran seminary in Clayton, Missouri. The institution's primary mission is to train pastors, deaconesses, missionaries, chaplains, and church leaders for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS). Founded in 1839, t ...
in St. Louis. Stein began his career teaching at Lutheran High School North in St. Louise, where he realized he did not want to become a pastor. He then attended
Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...
to study American religious history under
Sydney E. Ahlstrom Sydney Eckman Ahlstrom (December 16, 1919 – July 3, 1984) was an American historian. He was a Yale University professor and a specialist in the religious history of the United States. Biography Ahlstrom was born on December 16, 1919, in Coka ...
. Ahlstrom suggested Stein's dissertation on
Jonathan Edwards Jonathan Edwards may refer to: Musicians *Jonathan and Darlene Edwards, pseudonym of bandleader Paul Weston and his wife, singer Jo Stafford *Jonathan Edwards (musician) (born 1946), American musician **Jonathan Edwards (album), ''Jonathan Edward ...
' "Notes on the Apocalypse". Stein graduated with a Ph.D. in 1970 and joined the Department of Religious Studies at
Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington (IU Bloomington, Indiana University, IU, IUB, or Indiana) is a public university, public research university in Bloomington, Indiana, United States. It is the flagship university, flagship campus of Indiana Univer ...
the same year.


Career

Stein taught religious studies and history at
Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a state university system, system of Public university, public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. The system has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration o ...
, with a specialization in eighteenth-century religious thought. He served as editor of ''The Works of Jonathan Edwards'' published by Yale University Press in two volumes, ''Apocalyptic Writings'' (1977) and ''Notes on Scripture'' (1998), as well as a scholarly edition of Edwards' "Blank Bible".
Edwin Gaustad Edwin Scott Gaustad (November 14, 1923 – March 25, 2011) was a professor of history at the University of California, Riverside. He achieved fame with his study of the genealogy of religion in the United States, ''Historical atlas of religion in ...
has said of Stein's editing work that "It would be difficult to exaggerate Stein's diligence, thoroughness, and prodigious scholarship." Stein also published various works on religion including ''Letters from a Young Shaker: William S. Byrd at Pleasant Hill'' (1985); ''The Shaker Experience in America: A History of the United Society of Believers'' (1992); ''Alternative American Religious'' (2000); and ''Communities of Dissent: A History of Alternative Religions in America'' (2003); and was editor of ''Apocalypticism in the Modern Period and the Contemporary Age'', volume 3 in ''The Encyclopedia of Apocalypticism'' (1998). He contributed to works such as ''Critical essays on Jonathan Edwards'' (1980); ''The Apocalypse in English Renaissance thought and literature'' (1984); ''Perspectives on American religion and culture'' (1999); ''Pietism in Germany and North America 1680-1820'' (2009); and ''The Columbia guide to religion in American history'' (2012). His research has included religious diversity and dissenting religious communities in America, as well as the role of apocalyptic literature, and the implications of the religious clause of the First Amendment. Stein's ''The Shaker Experience in America'' is widely regarded as the definitive study of the religion and culture of the
Shakers The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, more commonly known as the Shakers, are a Millenarianism, millenarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian sect founded in England and then organized in the Unit ...
, and received the
Philip Schaff Philip Schaff (January 1, 1819 – October 20, 1893) was a Swiss-born, German-educated Protestant theologian and ecclesiastical historian, who spent most of his adult life living and teaching in the United States. Life and career Schaff was ...
prize from the
American Society of Church History The American Society of Church History (ASCH) was founded in 1888 with the disciplines of Christian denominational and ecclesiastical history as its focus. Today the society's interests include the broad range of the critical scholarly perspecti ...
.
William Sims Bainbridge William Sims Bainbridge (born October 12, 1940) is an American sociologist who currently resides in Virginia. He is co-director of Cyber-Human Systems at the National Science Foundation (NSF).
wrote: "Stein's superb book is a revelation in at least three ways. First, it reminds us that historical research and writing can be performed at a very high level of skill and thoroughness, something we may have forgotten if the history we read is limited to small religious movements. Second, it casts the pre-twentieth-century Shakers in a substantially new light, through fact-based revision of the untrustworthy accounts by earlier writers. Third, it brings their story up to the present day, with an enlightening synopsis of the closure of most Shaker colonies and the precarious survival of the
Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. The city has a mild oceanic climat ...
and Sabbathday Lake communities." Another review called it "an unusually comprehensive and eminently readable chronicle of more than two centuries of Shaker life;" and Marilyn J. Westerkamp called it "religious history at its best". From 1994 to 1995, Stein served as president of American Society of Church History, he was awarded fellowships from the
National Endowment for the Humanities The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent federal agency of the U.S. government, established by thNational Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965(), dedicated to supporting research, education, preserv ...
, and received Indiana University's College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Faculty Award and the Tracy M. Sonneborn Award for Excellence in Teaching and Research. He was Director of American Studies at Indiana University from 1981 to 1984, and chaired the Religious Studies department from 1990 to 1998. He served as co-editor along with
Catherine L. Albanese Catherine L. Albanese (born 1940) is a religious studies scholar, professor, lecturer, and author. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Chestnut Hill College in 1962. She earned ...
of the "Religion in North America" series put out by
Indiana University Press Indiana University Press, also known as IU Press, is an academic publisher founded in 1950 at Indiana University that specializes in the humanities and social sciences. Its headquarters are located in Bloomington, Indiana. IU Press publishes ...
. He also served on the National Advisory Board of
The Joseph Smith Papers ''The Joseph Smith Papers'' (or Joseph Smith Papers Project) is a documentary editing project to collect, research, and publish all documents created by, or under the direction of, Joseph Smith (1805–1844), the founder of the Latter Day Saint m ...
along with other scholars such as Terryl L. Givens, Harry S. Stout,
Richard Lyman Bushman Richard Lyman Bushman (born June 20, 1931) is an American historian and Gouverneur Morris Professor Emeritus of History at Columbia University, having previously taught at Brigham Young University, Harvard University, Boston University, and the ...
, and
Dean C. Jessee Dean Cornell Jessee (born 1929) is a historian of the early Latter Day Saint movement and leading expert on the writings of Joseph Smith Jr. Biography Jessee was one of the sons of Phillip Cornell Jessee and Minerva Boss. He was raised in Springv ...
. Stein retired from teaching in 2005. He died in 2022 at the age of 81.


Selected works


Books

* ''The Cambridge History of Religions in America, 3 Volume Set'', edited by Stephen Stein (Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press Cambridge University Press was the university press of the University of Cambridge. Granted a letters patent by King Henry VIII in 1534, it was the oldest university press in the world. Cambridge University Press merged with Cambridge Assessme ...
, 2012) *
The Cambridge Companion to Jonathan Edwards
' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007) * ''The “Blank Bible,” vol. 24, Parts 1 and 2'', in the
Yale Yale University is a private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and one of the nine colonial colleges ch ...
Edition of ''The Works of Jonathan Edwards'' (New Haven:
Yale University Press Yale University Press is the university press of Yale University. It was founded in 1908 by George Parmly Day and Clarence Day, grandsons of Benjamin Day, and became a department of Yale University in 1961, but it remains financially and ope ...
, 2006) *
The Continuum History of Apocalypticism
', edited by Bernard McGinn,
John J. Collins John Joseph Collins (born 1946, County Tipperary) is an Irish-born American biblical scholar, the Holmes Professor of Old Testament Criticism and Interpretation at Yale Divinity School. He is noted for his research in the Hebrew Bible, as wel ...
, and Stephen J. Stein (New York:
Continuum International Publishing Group Continuum International Publishing Group was an academic publisher of books with editorial offices in London and New York City. It was purchased by Nova Capital Management in 2005. In July 2011, it was taken over by Bloomsbury Publishing. , all n ...
, 2003) *
Communities of Dissent: A History of Alternative Religions in America
' (New York:
Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the publishing house of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world. Its first book was printed in Oxford in 1478, with the Press officially granted the legal right to print books ...
, 2003) *
Alternative American Religions
' (New York: Oxford University Press, 2000) * ''Apocalypticism in the Modern Period and the Contemporary Age, vol 3'', in
The Encyclopedia of Apocalypticism
', edited by John J. Collins, Bernard McGinn, and Stephen J. Stein (New York: Continuum Publishing Company, 1998) * ''Notes on Scripture, vol. 15'', in the Yale Edition of ''The Works of Jonathan Edwards'' (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1998) *
The Writings of Jonathan Edwards: Text, Context, Interpretation
' (Bloomington:
Indiana University Press Indiana University Press, also known as IU Press, is an academic publisher founded in 1950 at Indiana University that specializes in the humanities and social sciences. Its headquarters are located in Bloomington, Indiana. IU Press publishes ...
, 1996) *
The Shaker Experience in America: A History of the United Society of Believers
' (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1992
loth Loth may refer to: People Given name *King Lot, figure in Arthurian legend * Loth Schout (1600–1655), Dutch brewer Surname * Agnete Loth (1921–1990), editor and translator of Old Icelandic texts * Andreas Loth (born 1972), German ice hockey ...
1994 aper *
Letters from a Young Shaker: William S. Byrd at Pleasant Hill
' (Lexington: The
University Press of Kentucky The University Press of Kentucky (UPK) is the scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and was organized in 1969 as successor to the University of Kentucky Press. The university had sponsored scholarly publication since 1943. In 194 ...
, 1985) * ''Apocalyptic Writings, vol. 5'', in the Yale Edition of ''The Works of Jonathan Edwards'' (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1977)


Articles and other writings

* "Gender and Authority: Women in Shaker History," in ''Rivista di Storia del Cristianesimo'' * "Historical Reflections on Mormon Futures," The Tanner Lecture, ''
Journal of Mormon History The Mormon History Association (MHA) is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the study and understanding of all aspects of Mormon history to promote understanding, scholarly research, and publication in the field. MHA was founded in ...
'', 33, no. 1 (Spring 2007), 39-64 * "'Taking up the Full Cross’: The Shaker Challenge to the Western Christians," ''Discipliana: The Quarterly Historical Journal of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society'' 65, no. 3 (Fall 2005), 93-110 * "American Millennial Visions: Toward Construction of a New Architectonic of American Apocalypticism," ''Imagining the End: Visions of Apocalypse from the Ancient Middle East to Modern America'',
Abbas Amanat Abbas Amanat (; born November 14, 1947) is an Iranian-born American historian, scholar, author, editor, and university professor. He serves as the William Graham Sumner Professor of History Emeritus at Yale University and Director of the Yale Pr ...
and Magnús T. Bernhardsson, eds., (London: Palgrave, 2001), 187-211 * "Religion/Religions in the United States: Changing Perspectives and Prospects," ''
Indiana Law Journal The ''Indiana Law Journal'' is a general law review founded in 1925. It is published quarterly by students of the Indiana University Maurer School of Law at the flagship Bloomington campus. One of the ten most-cited law review articles of all ti ...
'' 75, no. 1 (2000), 37-60 * * * * *


Awards and honors

* National Endowment for the Humanities Research Fellowships, 1974, 1985 * Indiana University Distinguished Teaching Awards, 1981 * Indiana University College of Arts & Sciences Distinguished Faculty Award, 1991 * President of the
American Society of Church History The American Society of Church History (ASCH) was founded in 1888 with the disciplines of Christian denominational and ecclesiastical history as its focus. Today the society's interests include the broad range of the critical scholarly perspecti ...
, 1994 * Chancellor’s Professorship in Teaching and Research, 1995 * Indiana University's Tracy M. Sonneborn Award for Excellence in Teaching and Research, 1995 * Indiana University Trustees Award for Teaching Excellence, 2003 * Indiana University Chancellor's Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies, 2005


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stein, Stephen J. 1940 births 2022 deaths American historians of religion People from Chillicothe, Missouri Concordia Seminary alumni Yale University alumni Indiana University Bloomington faculty