Chris Stedman
{{short description|American writer and activist}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Chris Stedman
|image = Chris_Stedman_photo.jpg
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|4|9|mf=y}}
|birth_place = Robbinsdale, Minnesota, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|education = Augsburg University (BA)
University of Chicago (MA)
}}
Christopher Stedman (born April 9, 1987) is an American writer who teaches in the department of religion and philosophy at Augsburg University.{{Cite web |url=https://www.augsburg.edu/interfaith/2021/08/25/welcome-to-chris-stedman-as-the-inter-religious-resource-coordinator/ |title=Welcome to Chris Stedman as the Inter-Religious Resource Coordinator |date=25 August 2021 |access-date=2022-02-25 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226010644/https://www.augsburg.edu/interfaith/2021/08/25/welcome-to-chris-stedman-as-the-inter-religious-resource-coordinator/ |url-status=live }} He was previously the founding executive director of the Yale Humanist Community at Yale University and a humanist chaplain at Harvard University.{{Cite web |url=http://yalehumanists.com/about/meet-the-chaplain/ |title=Meet Chris « Yale Humanist Community |access-date=2014-08-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115601/http://yalehumanists.com/about/meet-the-chaplain/ |archive-date=2014-08-26 |url-status=dead }}
Biography
Stedman was born in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. He was raised in a secular household, but converted to Evangelical Christianity at the age of eleven, because he was attracted by its stability during his parents' divorce.{{cite web |last1=Toth |first1=Katie |title=Atheist Chris Stedman, former evangelical, on being interfaith |url=https://broadview.org/atheist-pushes-for-interfaith-inclusion/ |website=Broadview}}
Stedman struggled for years to reconcile his gay sexual orientation with his Christian faith and declared himself an atheist in college.{{cite web | url = http://www.augsburg.edu/now/2011/04/01/talking-about-faith-and-values/ | title = Talking About Faith and Values | accessdate = 2012-11-16 | last = Wheeler | first = Wendi | date = April 1, 2011 | work = Augsburg NOW | publisher = Augsburg University | archive-date = 2013-03-17 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130317141342/http://www.augsburg.edu/now/2011/04/01/talking-about-faith-and-values/ | url-status = live }} Stedman studied Religion at Augsburg University, Meadville Lombard Theological School at the University of Chicago, obtaining baccalaureate and master's degrees prior to joining Harvard at the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard.{{cite web | url = http://harvardhumanist.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=141:meet-our-new-interfaith-and-community-service-fellow-&catid=6:latest-news&Itemid=38 | title = Meet Our New Interfaith and Community Service Fellow | accessdate = 2011-10-01 | work = The Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard | archive-date = 2011-09-05 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110905080238/http://harvardhumanist.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=141:meet-our-new-interfaith-and-community-service-fellow-&catid=6:latest-news&Itemid=38 | url-status = dead }} Following his time at Harvard, he founded the Yale Humanist Community.{{Cite web|url=https://yalealumnimagazine.com/articles/4330-true-nonbeliever|title=True nonbeliever|access-date=2022-02-26|archive-date=2022-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226021315/https://yalealumnimagazine.com/articles/4330-true-nonbeliever|url-status=live}}
He is the author of IRL and Faitheist, and host of the narrative podcast Unread, named one of the best podcasts of 2021 by the Guardian,[https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/dec/24/the-20-best-podcasts-of-2021 The 20 best podcasts of 2021] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815141236/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/dec/24/the-20-best-podcasts-of-2021 |date=2022-08-15 }}. Retrieved February 25, 2022. Vulture,[https://www.vulture.com/article/best-podcasts-of-2021.html The Best Podcasts of 2021] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320171234/https://www.vulture.com/article/best-podcasts-of-2021.html |date=2023-03-20 }}. Retrieved February 25, 2022. HuffPost,[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/podcasts-we-loved-in-2021_n_61a63f98e4b044a1cc1a9bab 19 Podcasts We Loved In 2021] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226011723/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/podcasts-we-loved-in-2021_n_61a63f98e4b044a1cc1a9bab |date=2022-02-26 }}. Retrieved February 25, 2022. Bello Collective,[https://bellocollective.com/bello-100-best-podcasts-2021-4c2dd383b4c8 100 Outstanding Podcasts From 2021] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719132058/https://bellocollective.com/bello-100-best-podcasts-2021-4c2dd383b4c8 |date=2022-07-19 }}. Retrieved February 25, 2022. Mashable,[https://mashable.com/article/best-new-podcasts-2021 Best new podcasts of 2021] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025014009/https://mashable.com/article/best-new-podcasts-2021 |date=2022-10-25 }}. Retrieved February 25, 2022. and the CBC.[https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastplaylist/the-best-podcasts-of-2021-1.6273183 The Best Podcasts of 2021] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905073520/https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastplaylist/the-best-podcasts-of-2021-1.6273183 |date=2022-09-05 }}. Retrieved February 25, 2022. Stedman's writing advocates outreach to seek "common moral ground between theists and atheists," and proposes achieving that aim by expanding interfaith dialogue to include atheists.[http://www.twincities.com/life/ci_22055279/books-twin-cities-native-seeks-atheist-religious-common "Twin Cities native seeks atheist/religious common ground", St. Paul Pioneer Press, November 28, 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112222223/http://www.twincities.com/life/ci_22055279/books-twin-cities-native-seeks-atheist-religious-common |date=January 12, 2014 }}. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
Awards
Stedman is a past awardee of the 2011 Billings Prize for Most Outstanding Scholastic Achievement.{{cite web | url = http://www.thenewhumanism.org/authors/christopher-stedman | title = Author Bio: Christopher Stedman | accessdate = 2011-10-02 | work = The New Humanism | publisher = The Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard | archive-date = 2011-03-20 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110320113811/http://thenewhumanism.org/authors/christopher-stedman | url-status = dead }}
In 2018, Augsburg University selected Stedman for the Decade Award, which recognizes alumni "who have made significant progress in their professional achievements and contributions to the community" in their first decade after graduating.[https://www.augsburg.edu/alumni/2018/09/25/meet-first-decade-award-winner-chris-stedman-08/ Meet First Decade Award Winner Chris Stedman ‘08] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226012336/https://www.augsburg.edu/alumni/2018/09/25/meet-first-decade-award-winner-chris-stedman-08/ |date=2022-02-26 }}. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
In 2022, Stedman was honored by the Webby Awards in the Podcasts - Best Writing category for his podcast Unread.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20770140/awards/ Unread (Podcast Series 2021) - Awards - IMDb]. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
Reception
Stedman's advocacy for inclusive interfaith dialogue and tolerance has found support from other atheists and interfaith advocates in the Millennial generation,[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/23/faitheist-chris-stedman_n_2174563.html "Chris Stedman is a Faitheist: Atheists Involved in Interfaith Dialogue", The Huffington Post, November 24, 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130062734/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/23/faitheist-chris-stedman_n_2174563.html? |date=November 30, 2012 }}. Retrieved November 24, 2012. as well as pluralistic rationalist communities.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160202185413/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/nonprophetstatus/2011/11/09/be-sane-be-very-sane/ Burton, Frank H. (2011-11-09). "Be Sane, Be VERY Sane", "NonProphet Status"]. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
Stedman has received some criticism for his open embrace of religion from the broader atheist community.{{Cite web | url=http://www.skepticblog.org/2012/11/27/thoughts-on-chris-stedmans-faitheist/ | title=Skepticblog » Thoughts on Chris Stedman's Faitheist | access-date=2017-02-08 | archive-date=2017-02-11 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211075358/http://www.skepticblog.org/2012/11/27/thoughts-on-chris-stedmans-faitheist/ | url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/hallq/2012/11/why-faitheist-chris-stedman-is-so-obnoxious/ |title=Why "faitheist" Chris Stedman is so obnoxious |access-date=2017-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211142917/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/hallq/2012/11/why-faitheist-chris-stedman-is-so-obnoxious/ |archive-date=2017-02-11 |url-status=dead }}
References
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Category:American political consultants
Category:American atheism activists
Category:Augsburg University alumni
Category:University of Chicago alumni
Category:American LGBTQ rights activists
Category:People from Robbinsdale, Minnesota
Category:American former Christians
Category:LGBTQ people from Minnesota