Recently-retired Max Stanton was much more than a teacher during his years at BYU–Hawaii. Initially a student at Church College of Hawaii, then professor of Education, Sociology, Anthropology, Religion, and Tourism, and head of the Sociology Department for three years, Stanton’s work at BYU–Hawaii has been vast and varied.
Occupied as he was with his work within the university, Stanton still found time for extensive outside research in his field: Anthropology. Stanton’s wife, Marge, says that because of her husband’s interests, “Our lives have never been dull.” Until the 1980’s, much of his work was with the Pacific Island people of Samoa, Fiji, and Easter Island. In 1984, Stanton made a major shift in his studies and began to gather research about the Hutterites, a lesser-known religious group that literally follows the example of the apostles in Acts 4:32 by living a communal lifestyle.
Stanton’s first chance encounter with the Hutterite people occurred in Cardston, Alberta, Canada. There he met Reverend Joseph Waldner, who was known for being the most conservative minister in the area. Stanton confesses that if he had known he had just stepped foot into the most conservative colony of Hutterites, he wouldn’t have stayed long. However, with the help of his fluent German, the language of the Hutterites, Stanton talked with “Reverend Joe” for nearly five hours. The two men eventually became close friends. This influential encounter opened doors and hearts to receive Stanton, who since then has spent over 500 nights in Hutterite homes, which is a significant fact for any outsider, especially a researcher.
Stanton’s unique relationship with the Hutterite people has made his findings priceless, which is why he decided four years ago to write a book entitled The Hutterites in North America with fellow researcher Rod Janzen. Published by Johns Hopkins Press, the book was released earlier this year. The Hutterites in North America is a combination of academic research and personal anecdotes. According to Stanton, it is designed to update the academic world on the last 25 years of Hutterite life and to clear up any misconceptions of a broader audience. “I wanted to show that the Hutterites are real people; they have real lives. Hutterites are different, but they are very human,” he says.
Stanton is the first to admit that the endless hours of research and writing could not been done without the help of his wife and four children. Regarding his wife, Stanton says, “Marge’s research…was invaluable. Her insights and intuition have enhanced my own observations beyond measure.” Stanton was frequently accompanied by his wife or children on his trips to visit the Hutterite people, and he attributes much of his success to their contributions.
Through a lifetime of work, research, and accomplishments, Max Stanton reflects fondly upon his experience at BYU–Hawaii. He is grateful for the significant support he received throughout his career from the University administration, faculty, and students. Stanton believes that one of the most important experiences of his professional life has been to interact with his students at BYU–Hawaii. “I think about them every day,” he says sincerely.
[See clips from an interview with Max and Marge Stanton] http://youtu.be/BOBqLOslaIc