Wilfred Cantwell Smith

The Reverend
Wilfred Cantwell Smith
OC FRSC
The Reverend Wilfred Cantwell Smith OC FRSC
Born	21 July 1916; Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died	7 February 2000 (aged 83); Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Other names	W. C. Smith
Spouse	Muriel Struthers (m. 1939)
Children	Arnold; Julian; Heather; Brian; Rosemary;
Ecclesiastical career
Religion	Christianity (Presbyterian)
Church	Church of North India; United Church of Canada;
Ordained	1944
Academic background
Alma mater	University of Toronto; Princeton University;
Thesis	The Azhar Journal: Analysis and Critique (1948)
Doctoral advisor	Philip K. Hitti
Other advisors	Sir H. A. R. Gibb; H. H. Farmer;
Influences	H. H. Farmer; John Macmurray; H. B. Sharman; Ernst Troeltsch; Gregory Vlastos;
Academic work
Discipline	Religious studies
Sub-discipline	Comparative religion; Islamic studies;
Institutions	McGill University; Harvard University; Dalhousie University; Trinity College, Toronto;
Main interests	Religious pluralism
Notable works	The Meaning and End of Religion (1961)
Influenced	Diana L. Eck; Charles Taylor;

Wilfred Cantwell Smith OC FRSC^[15] (July 21, 1916 – February 7, 2000) was a Canadian Islamicist, comparative religion scholar,^[16] and Presbyterian minister.^[17] He was the founder of the Institute of Islamic Studies at McGill University in Quebec and later the director of Harvard University's Center for the Study of World Religions. The Harvard University Gazette said he was one of the field's most influential figures of the past century.^[18] In his 1962 work The Meaning and End of Religion he notably questioned the modern sectarian concept of religion.^[19]

^ Asad 2001, p. 205.
^ ^a ^b Ferahian 1997, p. 27.
^ ^a ^b ^c Ferahian 1997, p. 28.
^ Ferahian 1997, p. 33.
^ Ferahian 1997, p. 28; Stevens 1985, p. 10.
^ Cameron 1997, p. 10.
^ Cameron 1997, pp. 10, 35.
^ Cameron 1997, pp. 35, 38.
^ Cameron 1997, pp. 32, 38.
^ Cameron 1997, p. 14.
^ Cameron 1997, pp. 23, 38.
^ Cameron 1997, pp. 28, 38.
^ Eck 2017, pp. 22–23.
^ Bhargava, Rajeev (29 November 2016). "How the Secular Diversity of India Informed the Philosophy of Charles Taylor". Newslaundry. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
^ "Deaths". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. 9 February 2000. p. A18.
^ Fallers 1967, p. 120.
^ Shook 2016, p. 905.
^ Putnam, Hilary; Eck, Diana; Carman, John; Tu Wei-Ming; Graham, William (29 November 2001). "Wilfred Cantwell Smith: In Memoriam". Harvard University Gazette. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
^ Smith 1991.

The Reverend Wilfred Cantwell Smith OC FRSC
Born	(1916-07-21)21 July 1916 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died	7 February 2000(2000-02-07) (aged 83) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Other names	W. C. Smith^[1]
Spouse	Muriel Struthers (m. 1939) ^[2]
Children	Arnold Julian Heather Brian Rosemary^[2]


Ecclesiastical career
Religion	Christianity (Presbyterian)
Church	Church of North India^[3] United Church of Canada^[4]
Ordained	1944^[3]




Academic background
Alma mater	University of Toronto Princeton University
Thesis	The Azhar Journal: Analysis and Critique^[5] (1948)
Doctoral advisor	Philip K. Hitti^[3]
Other advisors	Sir H. A. R. Gibb^[6] H. H. Farmer^[7]
Influences	H. H. Farmer^[8] John Macmurray^[9] H. B. Sharman^[10] Ernst Troeltsch^[11] Gregory Vlastos^[12]
Academic work
Discipline	Religious studies
Sub-discipline	Comparative religion Islamic studies
Institutions	McGill University Harvard University Dalhousie University Trinity College, Toronto
Main interests	Religious pluralism
Notable works	The Meaning and End of Religion (1961)
Influenced	Diana L. Eck^[13] Charles Taylor^[14]