Stephen E. Robinson
Encyclopedia
Stephen Edward Robinson (born 1947) is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a Mormon
scholar and apologist.
since 1986, and he was appointed chairman of the Department of Ancient Scripture there in 1990. Robinson received a B.A. in English and Philosophy from BYU in 1971. He received a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Duke University
in 1978, and was tenured at Lycoming College
in 1984, after teaching religion there, at Hampden-Sydney College
, at UNC-Chapel Hill, and Duke. Robinson also served as chairman of the Scholars Program, of the Religion Department, and of the Faculty Senate at Lycoming. He has several popular books, Are Mormons Christians?, Believing Christ, [the "Best Book" Award-winner at ILDS Booksellers for 1995], Following Christ, [the "Best Book" at ILDSB for 1996], and How Wide the Divide? (with Craig Blomberg [a "Best Book" Award-winner at Christianity Today in 1997]).
(FARMS) and publisher Signature Books
, through his critical review of the writing of Dan Vogel
as being patterned after the teachings of Korihor
, an atheist orator in the Book of Mormon
. According to Daniel C. Peterson
, then editor of the FARMS Review, FARMS tried to quiet the attack by Signature Books down by emphasizing that the attack was on the writings and not the beliefs or character of the authors reviewed.
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
scholar and apologist.
Biography
Robinson was born and raised in Southern California (La Crescenta). He served a two-year mission for the LDS Church in the Northern States. He has been a member of the faculty at Brigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
since 1986, and he was appointed chairman of the Department of Ancient Scripture there in 1990. Robinson received a B.A. in English and Philosophy from BYU in 1971. He received a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in 1978, and was tenured at Lycoming College
Lycoming College
Founded in 1812, Lycoming College is located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. One of the 50 oldest colleges in America, Lycoming enrolls 1400 undergraduate students from over 28 states and 12 foreign countries. Eighty percent of the college's students live on campus...
in 1984, after teaching religion there, at Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
, at UNC-Chapel Hill, and Duke. Robinson also served as chairman of the Scholars Program, of the Religion Department, and of the Faculty Senate at Lycoming. He has several popular books, Are Mormons Christians?, Believing Christ, [the "Best Book" Award-winner at ILDS Booksellers for 1995], Following Christ, [the "Best Book" at ILDSB for 1996], and How Wide the Divide? (with Craig Blomberg [a "Best Book" Award-winner at Christianity Today in 1997]).
Controversy
Robinson came to the center of a conflict between the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon StudiesFoundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies
The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies is an informal collaboration of academics devoted to Latter-day Saint historical scholarship. The group is formally part of the Neal A...
(FARMS) and publisher Signature Books
Signature Books
Signature Books is a press specializing in subjects related to Utah, Mormonism, and Western Americana. The company was founded in 1980 by George D...
, through his critical review of the writing of Dan Vogel
Dan Vogel
Daniel Arlon Vogel is the author of a number of books related to early Mormon history. He is a former member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an atheist and a skeptic.- Joseph Smith biography :...
as being patterned after the teachings of Korihor
Korihor
Korihor is a skeptic mentioned in The Book of Mormon, in Alma . Korihor preached ...that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man...
, an atheist orator in the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
. According to Daniel C. Peterson
Daniel C. Peterson
Daniel C. Peterson is a professor of Islamic Studies and Arabic in the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages at Brigham Young University and currently serves as editor-in-chief of BYU's Middle Eastern Texts Initiative. He is a member of the executive council of the Neal A...
, then editor of the FARMS Review, FARMS tried to quiet the attack by Signature Books down by emphasizing that the attack was on the writings and not the beliefs or character of the authors reviewed.
Online writings
- Believing Christ, Ensign, Apr. 1992, 5
- The Doctrinal Exclusion: Trinity and the Nature of God, from his book Are Mormons Christians?, Chapter 7
- LDS Differences in Doctrine (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol.1, "Doctrine, LDS Differences")