Kimball, Charles

Charles Kimball is an American scholar of comparative religion and Baptist minister who has made significant contributions to understanding religious extremism and interfaith dialogue. Educated at Harvard Divinity School where he studied under Wilfred Cantwell Smith, Kimball earned his Th.D. from Harvard University in 1982. He served as director of the Middle East office at the National Council of Churches and has taught at Wake Forest University and the University of Oklahoma. His influential work "When Religion Becomes Evil" (2002) identifies five warning signs of corrupted religion: absolute truth claims, blind obedience, establishing the ideal time, the end justifies any means, and declaring holy war. Kimball's scholarship bridges academic religious studies and practical interfaith work, offering crucial insights into how authentic religious faith can be distinguished from dangerous fundamentalism. His work contributes to contemporary discussions about religious violence, pluralism, and the role of religion in public life.