Biographical Text
Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Religion James W. Stines (January 21, 1934-) was born in Asheville, North Carolina. He and his wife, Joyce, also an Appalachian State University retiree, have two children, Stephanie and Tracie. The couple also has three grandsons and two granddaughters. Stines attended Wake Forest University, where he earned a B.A. degree in English (1954). He received a B.D. degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1958, and earned his Ph.D. degree in religion with a minor in philosophy (1970), from Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. His dissertation was titled "Phenomenology of Language in the Thought of Soren Kierkegaard." Stines began his career in 1956 as a social case worker at children's reception centers in Louisville and Jefferson County in Kentucky, serving in this position until 1958. From 1955 to 1958, he was pastor of New Liberty Baptist Church in Henryville, Indiana, and was Baptist chaplain at the University of Florida from 1958 to 1961. From 1961 to 1964, he was Baptist chaplain at Duke University and guest lecturer at the Duke Divinity School (1963). He became a part-time instructor in Duke's Department of Religion before joining the faculty of Campbell College in 1967 as an assistant professor. Stines came to Appalachian State in 1968 as an assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion, serving that department as associate and later as full professor until his retirement in 1996. Prior to his service to Appalachian State, Stines was the co-founder of the Christian Faith and Life Community at the University of Florida in Gainesville, and at Duke University. He was president of the University Pastors' Association at the University of Florida and of the North Carolina College and University Chaplains' Association. He also was co-founder of the Duke University's Project Nicaragua. During his tenure at Appalachian State, Dr. Stines was the chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion (1972-74), director of the General Honors Program (1982-89), and chair of the University Admissions Committee, the Student Welfare Committee, the General Education Review Committee, and the Educational Objectives Subcommittee for Self-Study, and a member of the faculty senate. Among his other accomplishments, Stines was a co-founder of Watauga College, a HEW Triple-T fellow, and humanities coordinator for the Triple-T Project. Additionally, he was the chair of the Department of International Studies Committee, which conducted summer studies programs, with centers in Vienna, London, and Athens. He also team taught courses with faculty from eleven departments. Dr. Stines filled the position of chair of the Philosophy of Religion-Theology Section in the American Academy of Religion Southeast and was convenor and/or organizer-coordinator for at least four symposia on religion and culture, the most recent of which occurred in July of 1994 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. His other professional affiliations included the American Philosophical Association, the Institute on Religion in an Age of Science, the Kierkegaard Society, and the Polanyi Society. Dr. Stines is also a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa. In addition to his university service, Dr. Stines was also active in his community, sitting on the advisory board of New River Mental Health and on the Wesley Foundation Board of Directors; he was, as well, a member of the Baptist Student Union Partners in Ministry Committee. He was chair of the Blowing Rock Planning and Zoning Board for two terms and chair of the board of deacons of the First Baptist Church of Blowing Rock for several terms. Dr. Stines' publications include: • "Theory of Language and Hermeneutics in the Thought of Horace Bushnell." Perspectives in Religious Studies (Summer 1980). • "Vocation Re-Called: Personal Knowledge and Cosmic Re-Enchantment." Tradition and Discovery 12.1 (Fall 1984). • "I Am the Way: Michael Polanyi's Taoism." Zygon (1985). • "Time, Chaos Theory and the Thought of Michael Polanyi." Perspectives in Science and Christian Faith (1992). • "Timing the Print and Recovering the Voice." (Invited Review Essay). The Personalist Forum 9.2 (Fall 1992). Dr. Stines also published The Primacy of Persons and the Language of Culture, (University of Missouri Press, 1993, edited and introductory essay with James Nickell). He was guest editor of Tradition and Discovery, (the American-United Kingdom journal of the Polanyi Society), Fall 1994, and guest editor of Research News, (Appalachian State University) Summer, 1983. He was, as well, the author of many papers for national and international professional associations and for regional professional groups. Among his honors, Dr. Stines has been listed in Who's Who in Religion, Who's Who in American Education, International Who's Who in Education, Who's Who in Science and Theology, and International Men of Achievement. He was also voted by Watauga College students as one of the top five teachers in the college during its first years. A nominee for the Excellence in Teaching Award in 1990 and 1996, Stines taught in the honors program from the year of its inception (1970) until 1994. Since retirement, Dr. Stines has been a Sunday School teacher, chair of the ministry council, and moderator at First Baptist Church in Blowing Rock, and he has served on the board of directors of the Blowing Rock Historical Society and of Resort Area Ministries. He and his wife, Joyce, reside in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Sources: Appalachian State University files and long association. -Dr. Richard D. Howe
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