Stephen C. Smith (sociologist)

Stephen C. Smith is an American professor currently employed as faculty at BYU-Idaho, and serving as the Chair of the Sociology and Social Work Department. A social and religious theorist, he is an outspoken academic on a number of topics that traverse religion, economics, and sociology.[1]

Contents

Education

A notable member of the modern academia, Stephen has a Ph.D. in Family Studies from Purdue University, as well as a M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northern Illinois University, and a B.S. in Psychology from Brigham Young University.[2]
Stephen spent a large amount of time working with the ANASAZI Foundation helping troubled youth prior to teaching sociology. The company then requested Stephen to take the position of CEO years after he had left. He declined in favor of continuing teaching.

Publications

Stephen has been involved with publications involving modern social issues as seen from contemporary perspectives. In 2001 he was jointly credited for publishing on the relationship between families and work esp. in the 21st century.[3] The work on the emerging sociological issues appeared in Minding the time in family experience: Emerging perspectives and issues (2001).[4] His 2000 publication, The Meaning of Time for Reduced-load Workers and Their Families, on the relationship between working time and the meaning of time amongst families in the workforce was published by John Wiley and Sons, publisher of award-winning journals, encyclopedias, and books.[5] The research also explores the effects on gender roles, and shows that the social institutions of work and family are currently in flux.

In addition to John Wiley & Sons, Stephen's research has been published by Purdue University.[6][7]

Social theory

Dr. Smith is a self-proclaimed Marxist. In a unique blend of Christian theology and a critique of capitalism, Stephen has proposed that the Great and Abominable Church, or the Whore of Babylon, allegorical figures of evil mentioned in Christian scripture, are representations of the economic system of capitalism, especially corporate capitalism. Following that premise, the conclusion that capitalism contradicts true Christianity is implied.

Personally identifying with the Christian socialists, Stephen has expressed support for the beliefs of the liberation theology, and holds that exploitative capitalism is a fundamental cause of poverty and worldwide inequality as well as a sin. Along with other notable Christian socialists such as Helen Keller, co-founder of the ACLU, and Francis Bellamy, author of the Pledge of Allegiance, Stephen condemns the existing class conflict in society, linking it to the faults of exploitative capitalism.[8]

Analyzing BYUI, Stephen has called attention to the similarities between government welfare and the subsidization of tuition by tithing at private LDS universities .[9]

Stephen has been interviewed on the issue of marriage and courting, and is an advocate of pre-marital counseling.

Presentations

As a professional Sociologist, Stephen has presented for many notable academic conferences and organizations, including, but not limited to:

Personal life

Trivia

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.byui.edu/Catalog/2009-2010/Faculty.pdf
  2. ^ "Stephen C. Smith". Emp.byui.edu. http://emp.byui.edu/SmithS/vita.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-23. 
  3. ^ "Stephen C. Smith". Emp.byui.edu. http://emp.byui.edu/SmithS/vita.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-23. 
  4. ^ MacDermid, S. M., Lee, M. D., & Smith S. C. (2001). Forward into yesterday: Families and work in the 21st Century. In K. J. Daly (Ed.), Minding the time in family experience: Emerging perspectives and issues. New York: Elsevier Science.
  5. ^ Buck, M. L., Lee, M. D., MacDermid, S., & Smith S. C. (2000). Reduced load work and the experience of time among professionals and managers: Implications for personal and organizational life. In C. Cooper & D. Rousseau (Eds.), Trends in Organizational Behavior (Vol. 7). New York: John Wiley & Sons.
  6. ^ ""The meaning of time for reduced-load workers and their families" by Stephen C Smith". Docs.lib.purdue.edu. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/dissertations/AAI3033171/. Retrieved 2011-05-23. 
  7. ^ "ProQuest Login - ProQuest". Proquest.umi.com. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdlink?did=726064661&Fmt=2&VType=PQD&VInst=PROD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1284324220&clientId=79356. Retrieved 2011-05-23. 
  8. ^ "Helen Keller : Biography". Spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAkeller.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-23. 
  9. ^ "Welfare". Emp.byui.edu. http://emp.byui.edu/SmithS/interesting%20stuff/Welfare.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-23. 
  10. ^ Smith, S. C., & Rose, W. E. (2002, August). A postmodern course. Presentation at American Sociological Association, Chicago, IL.
  11. ^ Rose, W. E., & Smith, S. C. (1999, November). Teaching family science from a postmodern perspective. Presentation at National Conference of Family Relations, Irvine, CA.
  12. ^ Smith, S. C., & Rose, W. E. (1999, May). Teaching about postmodernism in family science courses. Paper presented at the Teaching Family Science Conference, Pine Mountain, GA.
  13. ^ Smith, S. C., MacDermid, S. M., & Lee, M. D. (1998, November). Time in families: A qualitative study. Paper presented in a symposium at National Conference of Family Relations, Milwaukee, WI.
  14. ^ Smith, S.C., & Rose, W. E. (1998, June). Issues on religious diversity in family science classes. Paper presented at the Teaching Family Science Conference, Salt Lake City, UT.
  15. ^ Rose, W. E., & Smith S. C. (1997, November). Managing religious diversity in family classes. Teaching Round Table at National Conference of Family Relations, Arlington, VA.
  16. ^ Norrell, J. E., & Smith, S. C. (1996). Family policies in higher education: Faculty perspectives. Paper presentation at the National Council on Family Relations, Kansas City, MO.
  17. ^ MacDermid, S. M., Williams, M. L., & Smith, S. C. (1996, November). The importance of workplace size for the relationships between work and personal life in a national sample of American workers. Paper presentation at the conference, Agenda for the 21st Century Labor Force: Implications of Changing Family Structure, diversity, and Jobs, Cincinnati, OH.
  18. ^ Norrell, J. E., & Smith, S. C. (1996, June). Lifespan development from a multicultural perspective: The Personal Profile Project. Paper presentation at the Teaching Family Science Conference and Workshop, Normal, IL.
  19. ^ Smith, S. C., & Norrell, J. E. (1995, November). Integrity, social support systems and the elderly: The relative importance of religion, family and friends. Paper presentation at the National Council on Family Relations, Portland, OR.
  20. ^ Smith S. C., & Wasberg, G. (1994, November). Textbooks, storybooks, daycare, and midnight oil: How to get a graduate degree without losing your mind or your family. Roundtable presentation at the National Council on Family Relations, Minneapolis, MN.
  21. ^ "Stephen C. Smith". Emp.byui.edu. http://emp.byui.edu/SmithS/vita.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-23. 
  22. ^ "BYU-Idaho - President David A. Bednar". Byui.edu. http://www.byui.edu/president/presbio.html. Retrieved 2011-05-23. 
  23. ^ "Stephen C Smith". Emp.byui.edu. http://emp.byui.edu/SmithS/professor.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-23. 

External links