Bernard Mcginn Stephen J Stein John J Collins

Stephen J. Stein (1940-2022) was an American academic and educator whose scholarly work centered on religion in the United States, with a particular focus on eighteenth-century religious thought and new religious movements. He held the position of Chancellor's Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Indiana University Bloomington and served as President of the American Society of Church History. Stein's academic career included extensive research and writing on figures like Jonathan Edwards and religious communities such as the Shakers.

His influential book, "The Shaker Experience in America" (1992), is recognized as a definitive study and received the Philip Schaff prize. Stein also edited significant scholarly editions of Jonathan Edwards' writings and contributed to numerous works on American religious history, apocalypticism, and dissenting religious communities. He was honored with multiple fellowships and university awards for his teaching and research, retiring in 2005.

Stephen J. Stein dedicated his academic career to the study of American religious history, with a pronounced emphasis on eighteenth-century religious thought and the emergence of new religious movements. His research delved into the complexities of religious diversity and dissenting communities across America. He was particularly recognized for his comprehensive work on the Shakers, producing "The Shaker Experience in America: A History of the United Society of Believers" (1992), a work widely regarded as a definitive account that earned him the Philip Schaff prize. Stein's scholarship also extended to the exploration of apocalypticism and its role in American thought.

Beyond his original research, Stein made significant contributions as an editor, notably for the Yale Edition of The Works of Jonathan Edwards. He meticulously edited volumes such as "Apocalyptic Writings" (1977) and "Notes on Scripture" (1998), alongside a scholarly edition of Edwards' "Blank Bible." His editorial diligence was praised by scholars for its thoroughness and scholarship. Stein also held leadership positions within the academic community, serving as President of the American Society of Church History from 1994 to 1995 and as Director of American Studies and Chair of the Religious Studies department at Indiana University.