Jump to content

Richard Foster (theologian): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
stub
 
Adding local short description: "American theologian (born 1942)", overriding Wikidata description "American Quaker theologian"
 
(126 intermediate revisions by 87 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|American theologian (born 1942)}}
'''Richard Foster''' is a [[Christian]] author, best known for this books ''Celebration of Discipline'', which examines the place of disciplines in the Christian life, and ''Streams of Living Water'', which examines the place of the different spiritual traditions in Christianity.
{{Infobox academic
| name = Richard J. Foster
| image = Author Richard Foster.jpg
| caption = Foster speaking in 2023
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1942}}
| birth_place = {{Nowrap|[[New Mexico]], United States}}
| birth_name = Richard James Foster
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = {{Plainlist|
* [[George Fox University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
* [[Fuller Theological Seminary]] ([[Doctor of Pastoral Theology|PThD]])}}
| occupation = {{hlist | Quaker theologian | pastor | author}}
| known_for = ''Celebration of Discipline''; [[Renovaré]]
| networth =
| children =
| spouse = Carolynn
| parents =
| family =
| module = {{Infobox theologian
| embed = yes
| child_header = no
| period =
| notable_works =
| ordination =
| era =
| language =
| tradition_movement = {{hlist | [[Quakers|Quaker]]}}
| school_tradition =
| main_interests = {{hlist | [[Spiritual formation]] | [[Asceticism]]}}
| notable_ideas =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| signature_size =
}}
| website = {{URL|https://renovare.org/people/richard-foster/bio}}
| thesis_url = https://fuller.on.worldcat.org/oclc/4090682
| thesis_title = Quaker Concern in Race Relations: Then and Now
| thesis_year = 1970
}}
'''Richard James Foster''' (born 1942) is a [[Christian theology|Christian theologian]] and author in the [[Quaker]] tradition. His writings speak to a broad Christian audience. Born in 1942 in New Mexico, Foster spent the majority of his childhood growing up in Southern California. Foster has been a professor at [[Friends University]] and pastor of [[Evangelical Friends International|Evangelical Friends]] churches. Foster resides in [[Denver, Colorado]]. He earned his undergraduate degree at [[George Fox University]] in [[Oregon]] and his [[Doctor of Pastoral Theology]] at [[Fuller Theological Seminary]], and received an honorary doctorate from [[Houghton College]].<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/september/26.41.html
| title=A Life Formed in the Spirit
| first=Mark
| last=Galli
| authorlink = Mark Galli
| date=2008-09-17
| publisher=[[Christianity Today]]
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024184733/http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/september/26.41.html?paging=off
| archive-date=2012-10-24
| url-status=live
| access-date=2013-05-09}}</ref>


Foster is best known for his 1978 book ''[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/17983187 Celebration of Discipline]'', which examines the inward disciplines of [[prayer]], [[fasting]], [[meditation]], and [[Bible study (Christian)|study]] in the Christian life, the outward disciplines of [[simplicity]], [[solitude]], [[submission]], and service, and the corporate disciplines of [[confession (religion)|confession]], [[worship]], guidance, and celebration.<ref>{{cite book
{{stub}}
| title=Celebration of Discipline
| first=Richard J.
| last=Foster
| year=1978
| publisher=[[Harper & Row]]
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FR4z93ezwqwC
| isbn=9780061800399}}</ref> It has sold over one million copies. It was named by ''[[Christianity Today]]'' as one of the top ten books of the twentieth century. A work described as a sequel to ''Celebration'' is Foster's 1985 ''Money, Sex & Power''.<ref>{{cite book
| title=Money, Sex & Power
| first=Richard J.
| last=Foster
| year=1985
| publisher=Harper & Row
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kjDfeiyHAgYC
| isbn=9780060628352}}</ref> and associated study guide.<ref>{{cite book
| title=Money, Sex & Power Study Guide
| first=Richard J.
| last=Foster
| year=1985
| publisher=Harper & Row.
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=urVHjaEhpk4C
| isbn=9780062047953}}</ref>


He also published ''Freedom of Simplicity'' in 1981, which further explores the discipline of simple, [[simple living|intentional living]].<ref>{{cite book
[[Category:Christian writers|Foster, Richard]]
| title=Freedom of Simplicity
| first=Richard J.
| last=Foster
| year=1981
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tOWM_6iJ-ZoC
| publisher=[[HarperCollins]]
| isbn=9780060628253}}</ref> ''Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home'' (1992, {{ISBN|0-06-062846-4}}), which explores 21 different types of Christian prayer, edited ''Devotional Classics'' (1993, {{ISBN|0-06-066966-7}}), a devotional guide featuring Christian wisdom through the ages, and ''Streams of Living Water'' (2001, {{ISBN|0-06-062822-7}}), which examines the place of the different spiritual traditions - Contemplative: The Prayer-Filled Life; Holiness: The Virtuous Life; Charismatic: The Spirit-Empowered Life; Social Justice: The Compassionate Life; Evangelical: The Word-Centered Life; and Incarnational: The Sacramental Life - in Christianity. Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey Into Meditative Prayer

Foster (along with several others) also wrote the [[Bible study (Christian)|devotional]] ''Renovaré Spiritual Formation Bible'' (now published as ''[[The Life with God Study Bible]]''). Two editions of this [[NRSV]]-based [[study Bible]] exist, one with the [[apocryphal]]/[[deuterocanonical]] texts and one without.

In 2008, he co-authored with [[Gayle Beebe]], the book ''Longing for God''.

In 1988 Foster founded ''[[Renovaré]]'', a Christian renewal [[Parachurch organization|para-Church]] organization.

In recent years he has allowed his hair to grow, wearing it in a long pony tail. He says this is his way of honoring the portion of his heritage which is [[Ojibwe]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Patterson|first1=Sean|title=Finding Foster|url=http://www.georgefox.edu/journalonline/summer14/feature/finding-foster.html|website=George Fox Journal|publisher=[[George Fox University]]|access-date=5 March 2015}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite web
| url=http://www.quakerinfo.com/foster.shtml
| title=Richard Foster: Quaker Writer on Christian Spirituality
| first=Bill
| last=Samuel
| date=2001-07-01
| publisher=quakerinfo.com}}
{{Fuller Theological Seminary}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foster, Richard}}
[[Category:American Quakers]]
[[Category:Quaker evangelicals]]
[[Category:Quaker ministers]]
[[Category:Quaker theologians]]
[[Category:Quaker writers]]
[[Category:American religious writers]]
[[Category:American spiritual writers]]
[[Category:American theologians]]
[[Category:American Evangelical writers]]
[[Category:American Christian mystics]]
[[Category:Friends University people]]
[[Category:Fuller Theological Seminary alumni]]
[[Category:George Fox University alumni]]
[[Category:Protestant mystics]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Christian mystics]]
[[Category:20th-century Quakers]]
[[Category:21st-century Christian mystics]]
[[Category:21st-century Quakers]]

Latest revision as of 00:19, 1 August 2024

Richard J. Foster
Foster speaking in 2023
Born
Richard James Foster

1942 (age 81–82)
New Mexico, United States
Occupations
  • Quaker theologian
  • pastor
  • author
Known forCelebration of Discipline; Renovaré
SpouseCarolynn
Academic background
Education
ThesisQuaker Concern in Race Relations: Then and Now (1970)
Theological work
Tradition or movement
Main interests
Websiterenovare.org/people/richard-foster/bio

Richard James Foster (born 1942) is a Christian theologian and author in the Quaker tradition. His writings speak to a broad Christian audience. Born in 1942 in New Mexico, Foster spent the majority of his childhood growing up in Southern California. Foster has been a professor at Friends University and pastor of Evangelical Friends churches. Foster resides in Denver, Colorado. He earned his undergraduate degree at George Fox University in Oregon and his Doctor of Pastoral Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary, and received an honorary doctorate from Houghton College.[1]

Foster is best known for his 1978 book Celebration of Discipline, which examines the inward disciplines of prayer, fasting, meditation, and study in the Christian life, the outward disciplines of simplicity, solitude, submission, and service, and the corporate disciplines of confession, worship, guidance, and celebration.[2] It has sold over one million copies. It was named by Christianity Today as one of the top ten books of the twentieth century. A work described as a sequel to Celebration is Foster's 1985 Money, Sex & Power.[3] and associated study guide.[4]

He also published Freedom of Simplicity in 1981, which further explores the discipline of simple, intentional living.[5] Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home (1992, ISBN 0-06-062846-4), which explores 21 different types of Christian prayer, edited Devotional Classics (1993, ISBN 0-06-066966-7), a devotional guide featuring Christian wisdom through the ages, and Streams of Living Water (2001, ISBN 0-06-062822-7), which examines the place of the different spiritual traditions - Contemplative: The Prayer-Filled Life; Holiness: The Virtuous Life; Charismatic: The Spirit-Empowered Life; Social Justice: The Compassionate Life; Evangelical: The Word-Centered Life; and Incarnational: The Sacramental Life - in Christianity. Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey Into Meditative Prayer

Foster (along with several others) also wrote the devotional Renovaré Spiritual Formation Bible (now published as The Life with God Study Bible). Two editions of this NRSV-based study Bible exist, one with the apocryphal/deuterocanonical texts and one without.

In 2008, he co-authored with Gayle Beebe, the book Longing for God.

In 1988 Foster founded Renovaré, a Christian renewal para-Church organization.

In recent years he has allowed his hair to grow, wearing it in a long pony tail. He says this is his way of honoring the portion of his heritage which is Ojibwe.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Galli, Mark (2008-09-17). "A Life Formed in the Spirit". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
  2. ^ Foster, Richard J. (1978). Celebration of Discipline. Harper & Row. ISBN 9780061800399.
  3. ^ Foster, Richard J. (1985). Money, Sex & Power. Harper & Row. ISBN 9780060628352.
  4. ^ Foster, Richard J. (1985). Money, Sex & Power Study Guide. Harper & Row. ISBN 9780062047953.
  5. ^ Foster, Richard J. (1981). Freedom of Simplicity. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780060628253.
  6. ^ Patterson, Sean. "Finding Foster". George Fox Journal. George Fox University. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Richard_Foster_(theologian)&oldid=1237887536"