marc harshman was born and raised in randolph county, indiana. growing up in a very rural area of indiana, books allowed harshman to imagine being in other places across the world. he attended bethany college, graduating in 1973. harshman then went on to earn a master of arts in religion from yale divinity school in 1975 and a master of arts from the university of pittsburgh in 1978. later on harshman received additional honorary doctorates from his alma mater, bethany college, and west liberty university for the recognition of his life's work.