Richard Foster (theologian)
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 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.
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]
- ^ 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.
- ^ Foster, Richard J. (1978). Celebration of Discipline. Harper & Row. ISBN 9780061800399.
- ^ Foster, Richard J. (1985). Money, Sex & Power. Harper & Row. ISBN 9780060628352.
- ^ Foster, Richard J. (1985). Money, Sex & Power Study Guide. Harper & Row. ISBN 9780062047953.
- ^ Foster, Richard J. (1981). Freedom of Simplicity. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780060628253.
- ^ Patterson, Sean. "Finding Foster". George Fox Journal. George Fox University. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
External links[edit]
- Samuel, Bill (2001-07-01). "Richard Foster: Quaker Writer on Christian Spirituality". quakerinfo.com.
- 20th-century Christian mystics
- 20th-century Quakers
- 21st-century Christian mystics
- 21st-century Quakers
- American evangelicals
- American Christian mystics
- American Quakers
- American religious writers
- American spiritual writers
- American theologians
- Christian writers
- Friends University people
- Fuller Theological Seminary alumni
- George Fox University alumni
- Protestant mystics
- Quaker evangelicals
- Quaker ministers
- Quaker theologians
- Quaker writers
- Living people
- 1942 births
Richard J. Foster
 | Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by — published 1978 — 67 editions | |
 | Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home by — published 1992 — 37 editions | |
 | Streams of Living Water: Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith by — published 1989 — 22 editions | |
 | Devotional Classics: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups by — published 1993 — 3 editions | |
 | Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World by — published 1981 — 12 editions | |
 | Life with God: Reading the Bible for Spiritual Transformation by — published 2008 — 13 editions | |
 | Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey Into Meditative Prayer by — published 2011 — 13 editions | |
 | Spiritual Classics: Selected Readings on the Twelve Spiritual Disciplines by — published 1999 — 4 editions | |
 | The Challenge of the Disciplined Life: Christian Reflections on Money, Sex, and Power by — published 1985 — 14 editions | |
 | Longing for God: Seven Paths of Christian Devotion by — published 2009 — 15 editions |
