William Landon Oliphant
William Landon Oliphant | |
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| Born | February 23, 1900 |
| Died | May 7, 1947 (aged 47) |
William Landon Oliphant (23 February 1900 – 7 May 1947) was an American Protestant preacher and polemicist.[1][2]
Biography
[edit]William was born into a non-religious family, his parents were named Edgar and Ida. During his studies at High School, William's family changed their place of residence several times: Oklahoma, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oaks. While in New Mexico, William found a copy of the Bible in a shepherd's hut. His family began to study the book, after which they began to lead a religious life. After graduating from High School at Oaks, Olyphant attended Western Oklahoma Christian College. Later William went to the University of Oklahoma, where he did Pre-Law work, eventually graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas, Texas, and was accepted into the State Bar of Texas.[3] A year later, Thomas Jefferson High School awarded him a JD degree.
He married Bertha Thorp (15 November 1899–16 November 1996) on 4 October 1817. They had two daughters: Eleana Mae Oliphant, and Landa Lois McCool. Oliphant was a Minister, Oak Cliff Church of Christ, Dallas, Texas.[4]
Oliphant is known for his debates on the topic of religion. When he was about 15 years old, he conducted his first debate with a Jehovah's Witness. In January 1935 in Dallas, Oliphant held a debate with John Richard Rice, a Baptist evangelist and pastor.[5] Most notably, he debated Charles Lee Smith, President of the American Association for the Advancement of Atheism of New York City, on August 15 and 16, 1929.[6] This debate was published four times in book form from 1929 to 2013.
Works
[edit]- The way of truth. / by Horace W Busby, W L Oliphant. 1927
- A Debate Between W. L. Oliphant, Minister, Oak Cliff Church of Christ, Dallas, Texas and Charles Smith, President, American Association for the Advancement of Atheism, New York City: Held in the Church of Christ, Shawnee, Oklahoma, August 15 and 16, 1929 / F. L. Rowe, 177 p. 1929.
- 2nd edition: Gospel Advocate Company, Nashville, Tennessee. 177 p. 1952.
- 3rd edition: M. Lynwood Smith Publications, Wesson, Mississippi. 177 p. 1983
- 4th edition: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. 180 p. 2013
- The Oliphant-Rice Debate On 1. Return Of The Jews To Jerusalem, 2. Personal Reign Of Christ At Jerusalem, 3. Baptism For Remission Of Sins, 4. Apostasy : Conducted At Dallas, Texas, January 15-18, 1935 And January 22-25, 1935; Stenographically Reported By / By W. L. Oliphant; John R. Rice. 572 p. – Hardcover, 1935
- What is God like? : And other sermons. / Austin, Texas: Firm Foundation Pub. House, [1937?]
- Sermons of W.l. Oliphant Volume 1, DeHoff Publications, 172 p. (January 1, 1957)
- "Truth in love" / Dallas, Texas : [publisher not identified], [195-?]
References
[edit]- ^ W. L. Oliphant (1900–1947)
- ^ Gospel Preachers of Yesteryear, by Loyd L. Smith, pages 257-261
- ^ William Landon Oliphant
- ^ Gospel Preachers of Yesteryear, by Loyd L. Smith, pages 257-261
- ^ The Encyclopedia of Religious Debates Volume 3 (M - S), 2019 / р.123
- ^ A Debate Between W. L. Oliphant ... and Charles Smith