Stephen H. Webb (1961-2016)

Stephen Howe Webb was a theologian and philosopher of religion best known for his work on animal rights… He is recognized for being a leader of the animal theological movement and in the field of religious rhetoric in the late20th/early 21st century.

He was born on the 13th March 1961 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

His local church was Eaglewood Christian Church, an evangelical church in the Restoration Movement. He wrote about his experiences there in Taking Religion to Schooland an essay *Recalling: A Theologian Remembers his Church.

He changed churches several times. At college he joined the Disciples of Christ. Foe a brief time he was a Lutherian. On Easter Sunday 2007 he officially came into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

Stephen graduated form Wabash College in 1983 and earned his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago.

He taught at Wabash College as Professor of Religion and Philosophy from 1988 to 2012 ( 24 years). Besides theology he also taught on Bob dylan, men and masculinity and existentialism. He also delivered lectures all over the USA (See ‘Lectures’). He was on leave from the college 2012/13 and retired early to pursue writing opportunities full-time.

He was known for his scholarship and journalism on animals, vegetarianism and diet. He wrote the book On God and Dogs; A Christian Theology of compassion for Animals(1998) and has been listed as one of the leaders of the animal theological movement. (See ‘Oh God and Dog’)

He co-founded the Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA) in 1999 with Nathan Braun. (See notes on CVA).

Stephen also contributed to The Other Journal founded in 2003 which was to provide space for Christian graduate students to share their work in
a spirit of dialogue and mutual criticism. (See notes ‘The Other Journal’)

He was also known for what he called theo-acoustics or theology of sound.
The Divine Voice: Christian proclamation and the Theology of Sound (2004)
was named Christianity Today Top 10 Book for 2004, and the Religious Communication Association’s Book of the Year 2005.

Stephen wrote about C.S. Lewis in The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy (2005).
Dylan Redeemed: From Highwat 61 to Saved (2006) focused on Dylan’s mid-life conversion to Christianity.

He also wrote many essay on the intersection of rhetoric and religion. In 2008 Andrea Lunsford lists him as a leader in the field of religious rhetoric ( the study of using language effectively). ( See ‘Bibliography’ for a list books)

After a long struggle with depression Stephen committed suicide on 5th March 2016 just before his 55th birthday. He left behind the love of his life, Diane Timmerman, who he had married on 16th July 1988 and their five children. A very sad lose to his family and the Christian community.

Sources used
Amazon
Google knygos
The Indianapolis Star
The Other Journal
Wikipedia