Stephen T. Franklin
Encyclopedia
Stephen T. Franklin is a Christian theologian and philosopher, and president emeritus of Tokyo Christian University
. Franklin is one of the few evangelicals who is also a scholar of process theology; known for his research in the interaction of evangelical theology and process thought. Franklin is married to the former Martha Jean Evans, former associate professor of nursing at Shizuoka University
in Shizuoka Prefecture
, Japan.
) and graduated with a BA in Philosophy in 1965. He then moved on to the University of Chicago
to earn graduate degrees in Philosophy and Theology and was awarded a PhD in 1976 (by a dissertation committee comprising theologians Langdon Brown Gilkey
and David Tracy, and philosopher Paul Ricoeur
) for his work on Language and Religious Symbolism based on Alfred North Whitehead
's "philosophy of organism
."
.
Franklin's most significant accomplishment during his tenure as president was the creation of the ACTS-ES (Asian Christian Theological Studies for English Speakers) program -- a four year course leading to a BA degree which combines the liberal arts, theology, cross-cultural studies, East Asian studies, and practical Christian living. The course has been very successful, and has attracted students from the United States, Europe, and Africa, though it was originally designed for students from Asia.
Before joining the faculty of Tokyo Christian University, Franklin held professorships in Theology and Philosophy at Wheaton College Graduate School, Tsukuba University, and William Rainey Harper College. He has also been a visiting faculty member at St. James Bible College (Magadan, Russia), Seikei Theological Seminary (Tokyo), University of Maryland, and North Park University.
In addition to his publications in Theology and Process Thought, Franklin has also been the recipient of numerous invitations to speak at universities and academic institutions around the world.
Articles
Tokyo Christian University
is a private university in Inzai, Chiba, Japan, offering an undergraduate liberal arts degree in both Japanese and English.The English degree program is administered under the "Asian Christian Theological Studies Program for English Speakers" , which integrates the liberal arts with Bible and...
. Franklin is one of the few evangelicals who is also a scholar of process theology; known for his research in the interaction of evangelical theology and process thought. Franklin is married to the former Martha Jean Evans, former associate professor of nursing at Shizuoka University
Shizuoka University
Shizuoka University isa national university in Shizuoka, Japan.The university consists of six faculties; Humanities and Social Sciences, Education, Informatics, Science, Engineering and Agriculture...
in Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...
, Japan.
Education
Franklin attended North Park College (now North Park UniversityNorth Park University
North Park University is a four-year university located at 3225 W. Foster Avenue on the north side of Chicago, Illinois in the North Park neighborhood. It was founded in 1891 by the Evangelical Covenant Church and shares its campus with the denomination's only seminary...
) and graduated with a BA in Philosophy in 1965. He then moved on to the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
to earn graduate degrees in Philosophy and Theology and was awarded a PhD in 1976 (by a dissertation committee comprising theologians Langdon Brown Gilkey
Langdon Brown Gilkey
Langdon Brown Gilkey was an American Protestant Ecumenical theologian.- Early life and education :...
and David Tracy, and philosopher Paul Ricoeur
Paul Ricoeur
Paul Ricœur was a French philosopher best known for combining phenomenological description with hermeneutic interpretation...
) for his work on Language and Religious Symbolism based on Alfred North Whitehead
Alfred North Whitehead
Alfred North Whitehead, OM FRS was an English mathematician who became a philosopher. He wrote on algebra, logic, foundations of mathematics, philosophy of science, physics, metaphysics, and education...
's "philosophy of organism
Philosophy of Organism
Philosophy of Organism or Organic Realism is how Alfred North Whitehead described his metaphysics. It is now known as process philosophy....
."
Career
Franklin joined the faculty of Tokyo Christian University as Professor of Philosophy and Theology in 1991. He was later elected, by the faculty and board of Tokyo Christian Institute, as Dean of the Faculty for a two year period, and President of Tokyo Christian University in 1998. Franklin was re-elected President for a second term in 2002. He stepped down from this post in March 2006. Since stepping down as president, Franklin has been contributing to the advancement of higher education in Japan and the United States as Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Tokyo Christian University and Olivet Nazarene UniversityOlivet Nazarene University
Olivet Nazarene University is a Christian institution of higher education located in the Kankakee, Illinois village of Bourbonnais. Named for Olivet, Illinois, ONU was originally established as a grammar school in east-central Illinois in 1907...
.
Franklin's most significant accomplishment during his tenure as president was the creation of the ACTS-ES (Asian Christian Theological Studies for English Speakers) program -- a four year course leading to a BA degree which combines the liberal arts, theology, cross-cultural studies, East Asian studies, and practical Christian living. The course has been very successful, and has attracted students from the United States, Europe, and Africa, though it was originally designed for students from Asia.
Before joining the faculty of Tokyo Christian University, Franklin held professorships in Theology and Philosophy at Wheaton College Graduate School, Tsukuba University, and William Rainey Harper College. He has also been a visiting faculty member at St. James Bible College (Magadan, Russia), Seikei Theological Seminary (Tokyo), University of Maryland, and North Park University.
In addition to his publications in Theology and Process Thought, Franklin has also been the recipient of numerous invitations to speak at universities and academic institutions around the world.
Publications
Books- Faith, Learning, and Life: The Identity of the Christian Uni-versity in Japan. Japanese Trans. by Shin Toyokawa. (Tokyo: Inochi no Kotobasha, 2006).
- Speaking from the Depths: Alfred North Whitehead’s Hermenuetical Metaphysics of Propositions, Experience, Symbolism, Language, and Religion. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990. ISBN 0-8028-0370-9 (based on his Ph.D. dissertation)
Articles
- “God and Creativity: A Revisionist Proposal within a Whiteheadian Context.” Process Studies 29.2 (2001): 237-307.
- “Van Til on Autonomy.” Christ and the World 9 (March, 1999): 91-126.
- “Is Theology Dead?” Christ and the World 9 (March, 1999): 154-160.
- "Process Thought From an Evangelical Perspective: An Appreciation and Critique." Christian Scholar’s Review, vol. 28, no. 1 (Fall 1998) p. 71–89. abstract online
- “The Christian’s Guide to Islam: Part Two.” Japanese Trans. by Akio Ito. Christ and the World 6 (March, 1996): 21-56.
- “The Theological Foundations of the Christian Liberal Arts in Relation to the Distinctives of the Christian Liberal Arts College/University.” Christian Scholar’s Review XXIV:3 (March 1995): 253 - 77.
- “The Logic of Evangelical Theology.” Japanese trans. by Motomasa Murayama. Chap-ter 11 of Shukyo Tagen Shugi no Tankyu (Studies in Religious Pluralism). Ed. by Hisa-masa Mase and Hisakazu Inagaki. (Tokyo: Taimeido Publishers. 1995): 208-26.
- “The Christian’s Guide to Islam: Part One.” Japanese trans. by Akio Ito. Christ and the World 5 (March 1995): 16-46.
- “The Unique Christ as the Hope and Judgment of the World.” Evangelical Review of Theology 17 (January, 1993): 29-53.
- “Evangelism Among Japanese Evangelicals.” Japan Christian Review 58 (1992): 53-59.
- “Theological Education and the Liberal Arts.” Christ and the World 2 (March, 1992): 1-22.
- “Toward a Theology of Evangelizing World Class Cities.” The Japan Christian Quarterly 57 (Summer, 1991): 180-88.
External links
- Tokyo Christian University
- Bibliography at the Center for Process Studies