242Leadership WORKS WIEWORA Associate professor of history Dr. Nathaniel Wiewora wrote and published the book “Sins of Christendom.” He worked with an editor at the University of Illinois Press who guided the project from the proposal stage to the publishing stage. “I first submitted a manuscript to the press in the fall of 2021,” Wiewora said. “The manuscript was reviewed by several expert reviewers. The process is blind review, in the sense that I do not know the reviewers. When their comments came back, I submitted a revised manuscript. That was then copyedited and designed, and became the final book, which was published in March 2024.” After years of hard work, Dr. Nathaniel Wiewora wrote and published his book “Sins of Christendom.” Written by Randi Tubbs by The book was based around evangelical criticism of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “This book uses the diverse animus expressed by evangelicals to illuminate how they used an imaginary Church as a proxy to disagree, attack, compromise, and settle differences among themselves,” Wiewora said. “The evangelical practice to contrast itself with the emerging faith not only encompassed but also went beyond religious matters. Wiewora explored similar conflicts expressed by attacks on the Latter-day Saints, the Book of Mormons and Nauvoo ideas. The main audience for the book was for historians of evangelicalism, Mormonism and religious intolerance. It appealed to audiences and readers interested in both evangelicalism and Mormonism, as well as the broader American crowds. Chair of the History Department, Dr. Shawn Fisher worked with Wiewora during his writing. “Dr. Wiewora has taught me a lot about anti-Mormonism in the antebellum period and about the ways evangelicals defined themself to some degree through comparisons with Mormons,” Fisher said. “He is speaking to professional historians, but it is a useful book for anyone interested in the development of Christianity in America.” Fisher expressed the importance of continued education and exploration of academic professions. “Academics should be constantly working to seek the truth,” Fisher said. “This is an arduous journey, and sometimes, we discover things we would like to share with others. We historians do this mostly by writing. Dr. Wiewora has worked hard in the field to establish himself as an authority, and that process produces the kind of discipline and competency that pays off in the classroom, too.” Wiewora served as visiting faculty on the Harding University in Greece abroad program in fall 2023 with sophomore Abby Davidson. Davidson admired Wiewora’s character and teaching. “Wiewora was amazing,” Davidson said. “He really understood the balance of work and rest that was needed for a semester abroad and was very flexible to the students’ needs throughout. Due to the small group we had, we became very close like family. He is an incredible role model. He is the kind of teacher that makes sure his students are engaged, and are understanding the material. He would allow for a space of conversation where we could discuss the sights seen and our feelings about them.” Wiewora hoped that his book would introduce a topic that would leave readers inquiring about how their own religion or the ones discussed can influence lives. “As a historian of American religion, I am interested in the ways that religion influences people’s lives,” Wiewora said. “This book is about the myriad ways people use religious intolerance to advance their own religious consequences and the unexpected consequences that follow.” Hot Off the Press | Associate Professor of History and Political Science Nathaniel Wiewora poses with a newly minted copy of his published book “Sins of Christendom.” The book was published in March 2024. Photo courtesy of Kristen Wiewora
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==