William McElwee Miller
Encyclopedia
William McElwee Miller was an American missionary
to Persia, and author of several books.
Born in Middlesboro
, Kentucky
, Miller received a M.A. in 1913 from Washington and Lee University
, and a B.D.
in 1919 from Princeton Theological Seminary
. He went to Persia (Iran
) as a missionary of the Presbyterian Church and, except for a short period around 1932, he remained in Persia until 1962.
As a part of his missionary work, he learned Persian
and strove to genuinely understand Islam
, particularly Shi'a Islam
, Persia and Persian culture. During his missionary work in Persia, he also encountered the Bahá'ís
, a large religious minority there. Much of his ministerial work involved developing Christian apologetic
responses to these religions.
With respect to the Bahá'í Faith, his 1931, Baha'ism, Its Origin, History and Teachings was the first of two books, and several apologetics articles on the subject. Along with Earl E. Elder he translated Bahá'u'lláh
's Kitáb-i-Aqdas
, one of the central books of the religion; this translation was published by the Royal Asiatic Society
in 1961. In 1974, a new follow-up, The Baha'i Faith: Its History and Teachings added additional material not available previously. These works are widely regarded, but only among evangelical Christians.
This latter book was also critically reviewed by academics. One reviewer noted:
In 1976 this latter book was also reviewed (and its distortions debunked) by Douglas Martin; see the References below for the details.
After 1962, he retired with his wife to Mount Airy
, Pennsylvania
, where he lived until she died, and then went to live in a retirement home until his own death in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
in 1993.
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
to Persia, and author of several books.
Born in Middlesboro
Middlesborough, Kentucky
Middlesboro, also spelled Middlesborough, is a city in Bell County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 10,384 at the 2000 census. The estimated July 1, 2009 population of the city is 14,835. The entire micropolitan area has a population of 69,060 which includes all of Bell County...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, Miller received a M.A. in 1913 from Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
, and a B.D.
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
in 1919 from Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
. He went to Persia (Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
) as a missionary of the Presbyterian Church and, except for a short period around 1932, he remained in Persia until 1962.
As a part of his missionary work, he learned Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
and strove to genuinely understand Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, particularly Shi'a Islam
Shi'a Islam
Shia Islam is the second largest denomination of Islam. The followers of Shia Islam are called Shi'ites or Shias. "Shia" is the short form of the historic phrase Shīʻatu ʻAlī , meaning "followers of Ali", "faction of Ali", or "party of Ali".Like other schools of thought in Islam, Shia Islam is...
, Persia and Persian culture. During his missionary work in Persia, he also encountered the Bahá'ís
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
, a large religious minority there. Much of his ministerial work involved developing Christian apologetic
Apologetics
Apologetics is the discipline of defending a position through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers Apologetics (from Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense") is the discipline of defending a position (often religious) through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers...
responses to these religions.
With respect to the Bahá'í Faith, his 1931, Baha'ism, Its Origin, History and Teachings was the first of two books, and several apologetics articles on the subject. Along with Earl E. Elder he translated Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh , born ' , was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of Bábism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shí‘ism, but in a broader sense claimed to be a messenger from God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity, and...
's Kitáb-i-Aqdas
Kitáb-i-Aqdas
The Kitáb-i-Aqdas is a central book of the Bahá'í Faith written by Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the religion. The work was written in Arabic under the Arabic title , but it is commonly referred to by its Persian title, Kitáb-i-Aqdas , which was given to the work by Bahá'u'lláh himself...
, one of the central books of the religion; this translation was published by the Royal Asiatic Society
Royal Asiatic Society
The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was established, according to its Royal Charter of 11 August 1824, to further "the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia." From its incorporation the Society...
in 1961. In 1974, a new follow-up, The Baha'i Faith: Its History and Teachings added additional material not available previously. These works are widely regarded, but only among evangelical Christians.
This latter book was also critically reviewed by academics. One reviewer noted:
- "The title suggests (and this impression is supported by the "blurbs" on the back cover) that we have in our hands a "standard" work on Bahá'ísm ... In fact what we are presented with is an all-out attack on, a merciless tirade against, Bahá'ísm, but treated not, as one might expect from the author's credentials (Presbyterian missionary in Iran for 40-odd years), from the Christian, but from the Azali point of view....Of course Dr. Miller may argue that he and his collaborators have done little more than present facts, from which only certain conclusions can be drawn. But contrary to common belief, the mere accumulation of facts is no guarantee of impartiality."
- (Elwell-Sutton, 1976)
In 1976 this latter book was also reviewed (and its distortions debunked) by Douglas Martin; see the References below for the details.
After 1962, he retired with his wife to Mount Airy
Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mount Airy is a neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania.-Boundaries:Mount Airy is bounded on the northwest by the Cresheim Valley, which is part of Fairmount Park. Beyond this lies Chestnut Hill. On the west side is the Wissahickon Gorge, which is also part of Fairmount...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, where he lived until she died, and then went to live in a retirement home until his own death in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
in 1993.
Works
- 'Translation of Al-Babu'l-Hadi' Ashar by Al-Hilli, a treatise on the theological doctrine of Shi'ite Muslims'; London, Royal Asiatic Society, 1928.
- Baha'ism, Its Origin, History and Teachings. New York: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1931.
- A Christian's Response to Islam; Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1976
- Ten Muslims Meet Christ. Grand Rapids, Michigan; Cambridge, UK: Eerdmans. 1969.
- My Persian Pilgrimage, ISBN 0-87808-214-X; William Carey LibraryWilliam Carey LibraryWilliam Carey Library is a book publishing company based in Pasadena, California. It was one of the first companies to publish mission resources exclusively. William Carey Library is part of the U.S. Center for World Mission and was named after William Carey, known as the "father of modern...
, 1989
- Tales of Persia: A Book for Children, ISBN 0-87552-292-0; Presbyterian and Reformed Pub Co, 1988
- Tales Of Persia: Missionary Stories From Islamic Iran, ISBN 0-87552-615-2, Presbyterian and Reformed Pub Co, 2005