| Robert Hutchinson | |
| Birth Date: | 12 November 1957 |
| Birth Place: | Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Writer, author |
| Language: | English, French, Hebrew |
| Education: | MA, theology, BA, philosophy |
| Alma Mater: | Seattle University |
| Years Active: | 1995–present |
| Genre: | History, Travel, Religion |
| Notableworks: | The Dawn of Christianity, Searching for Jesus: New Discoveries in the Quest for Jesus of Nazareth, When in Rome: A Journal of Life in Vatican City |
| Spouse: | Glenn Ellen (m. 1990) |
| Children: | 5 |
| Awards: | Society of Professional Journalists, Associated Church Press, Catholic Press Association |
Robert J. Hutchinson (born November 12, 1957) is an American writer[1] essayist and author. He has been a contributor to Catholic and evangelical publications, including the National Catholic Register, Christianity Today, and Aleteia. Hutchinson is the author of numerous books of popular history, most notably Searching for Jesus: New Discoveries in the Quest for Jesus of Nazareth (2015)[2] [3] and The Dawn of Christianity (2018). His book When in Rome is one of the books on Italy recommended by the Lonely Planet travel guide.[4] Additionally, in 2020 Hutchinson debuted the What Really Happened series, the first about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the second about the death of Adolf Hitler (in light of claims of the dictator's survival). He writes a regular column on philosophical and religious topics, Disputed Questions, on Substack and Patheos.com.
Hutchinson was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, where he attended Catholic schools[5] and earned a degree in philosophy at Seattle University.
In 1979, Hutchinson moved to Israel where he completed a series of uplanim––intensive six-month language courses for new Israeli immigrants –– and developed a lifelong interest in the Jewish roots of Christianity.[6] [7]
In addition to his time in Israel, Hutchinson has also lived in Rome, Italy, and in Hawaii, where he worked as the managing editor of Hawaii Magazine.[8]
In 2004, Hutchinson earned a Master of Arts degree in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.[9]
He has contributed essays and syndicated columns to such outlets as Fox News,[10] Townhall,[11] Blaze Media, Newsmax, and Mercatornet.[12]
In a series of books, Hutchinson challenges longstanding academic views on Jesus of Nazareth and early Christianity that have held sway for over a century, sparking debate.[13]
Hutchinson claims recent archaeological discoveries and New Testament scholarship now undermine older notions that Jesus believed the world would end in his lifetime or that he was sympathetic to violent revolutionaries. Leading secular scholars at elite universities are increasingly dismissing these century-old ideas, he argues.
He also argues that the Bible's philosophical concepts formed the bedrock of Western civilization and helped pave the way for experimental science, the abolition of slavery, the development of limited government and the recognition of universal human rights.[14] [15]
In addition to in-person lectures, Hutchinson has appeared on a number of TV shows, including "Fox News" "Spirited Debate" with Lauren Green and the Christian Broadcasting Network.[16] Hutchinson has been a guest on nationally syndicated radio talk shows and podcasts, including Handel in the Morning, Point of View with Kirby Anderson and The Bottom Line with Roger Marsh.[17] [18]
| Year | Title | Publisher | ISBN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Gambling | |||
| 1996 | The Book of Vices: A Collection of Classic Immoral Tales | |||
| 1998 | When in Rome: A Journal of Life in Vatican City | |||
| 2004 | Czech translation of When in Rome: Tajnosti Vatikánu – Průvodce zákulisím | |||
| 2007 | The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Bible | |||
| 2015 | Searching for Jesus: New Discoveries in the Quest for Jesus of Nazareth | |||
| 2017 | The Dawn of Christianity: How God Used Simple Fishermen, Soldiers, and Prostitutes to Transform the World | |||
| 2017 | French translation of Searching for Jesus: Enquête sur le Jésus historique | Salvator | ||
| 2018 | French translation of The Dawn of Christianity: Enquête sur le début du Christianisme | Salvator | ||
| 2020 | The Lincoln Assassination: What Really Happened | Regnery History | ||
| 2020 | The Death of Hitler: What Really Happened | Regnery History |