Richard L. Evans Chair of Religious Understanding
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| Established | 1975 |
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| Directors |
Brent L. Top (2013–present) Terry B. Ball (2006–2013) Andrew C. Skinner (2001–2005) Robert L. Millet (1992–2000) Donald Q. Cannon, acting (1991) Robert J. Matthews (1982–1990) Ellis T. Rasmussen (1976–1981) Jeffrey R. Holland (1975–1976) |
| Faculty | BYU Religious Education faculty |
| Location | Brigham Young University |
| Address | 185 Heber Grant Building Provo, Utah 84602 |
| Website | https://rsc.byu.edu/ |
The Religious Studies Center (RSC) is the research and publishing arm of Religious Education at Brigham Young University (BYU), sponsoring scholarship on Latter-day Saint (LDS) culture, history, scripture, and doctrine. The dean of Religious Education serves as the RSC’s director, and an associate dean oversees the two branches of the RSC: research (housed in room 370 of the Joseph Smith Building) and publications (housed in room 185 of the Heber J. Grant Building).
The RSC (sometimes called the Center for Religious Studies in its early years) was founded in 1975 by Jeffrey R. Holland, dean of Religious Education at BYU. Upon the recommendation of the president of BYU, Dallin H. Oaks, the establishment of the RSC was approved by the BYU Board of Trustees in early 1976. Holland became the RSC's first director, with Keith H. Meservy, assistant professor of ancient scripture, as administrator. In 1976, Holland was appointed Commissioner of Church Education, and Ellis T. Rasmussen replaced him as dean of Religious Instruction and general director of the RSC.
The RSC brought together several earlier BYU institutions. It became the home of the Richard L. Evans Chair of Christian Understanding, which had been founded in 1973 with Truman G. Madsen as its first occupant. Madsen became a professor emeritus in 1994, and the position was renamed the Richard L. Evans Chair of Religious Understanding, reflecting the hope that holders would extend the hand of friendship to all people, not just Christians. The RSC also assumed and expanded upon the activities of the Institute of Mormon Studies, which was founded to study Mormon history and doctrine under Daniel H. Ludlow in 1961 and Truman G. Madsen in 1966. Likewise, the RSC absorbed the Book of Mormon Institute, a center for research on the Book of Mormon, with Daniel H. Ludlow as its first director in 1965, followed by Paul R. Cheesman in 1968.
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