Douglas A. Foster
Author of The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement
About the Author
Douglas A. Foster served as professor of church history and director of the Center for Restoration Studies at Abilene Christian University for twenty-seven years and now serves as scholar-in-residence. He coedited The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement and The Stone-Campbell Movement: A show more Global History and has published several books and articles on Stone-Campbell history and racism in American Christianity. show less
Works by Douglas A. Foster
Renewal for Mission: A Concise History of Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (2009) 30 copies, 1 review
Associated Works
Restoration Studies XIV: Theology and Culture in Community of Christ and the Latter Day Saint Movement (2013) — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Foster, Douglas A.
- Legal name
- Foster, Douglas Allen
- Gender
- male
- Short biography
- Douglas Foster is Professor of Church History in the Graduate School of Theology and Director of the Center for Restoration Studies at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. He also serves as Charis Professor (Center for Heritage and Renewal in Spirituality) working with ACU administration on matters of heritage for the University community. Foster's scholarly work has centered on understanding the place of the Stone-Campbell Movement in the larger context of American Christianity, and understanding the idea of Christian unity that was integral to formation of the Movement.
Members
Reviews
A generally clear-eyed exploration into the life of one of the great reformers in Christian history and a major driving force of the Restoration Movement, often known today as the Stone-Campbell Movement.
I am not sure there is any religious "group" that has a more fraught and complex relationship with one of their great leaders/visionaries as the S-C/RM has with Campbell. And this book does a good job to explain why and how.
The author describes Campbell's origins in Ireland and the religious show more heritage in which he developed. He sets forth Campbell's journey to America, out of Presbyterianism, among many of the Baptists in what was then the West, and then quite self-consciously the catalyst for his own reform movement which he preferred to go by Disciples of Christ. The author very much explores the various debates and controversies into which Campbell waded, both within the greater world of Christendom and within his own movement.
No one will consider this any kind of "hagiography," but we already have that for Campbell from the past. But that does not mean Foster is overly critical or harsh; he portrays Campbell with all of his strengths as a thinker and expositor and the faults that very easily came forth because of those strengths.
Ever since the movement has attempted to figure out what it is: whether full of dogmatic warriors against sectarianism, or those seeking an irenic way of being Christian only but not necessarily the only Christians. In Campbell we can find both impulses. In Campbell we see perhaps an over-reliance on the positivism of the Enlightenment and a naive postmillennial American apocalyptic hope. It is ironic that "Campbellite" has become the standard slur used against participants in the S-C/RM, for pretty much everyone in the movement has significant disagreements or qualms with Campbell on various issues and levels. But it was his force of personality and rhetorical skill that catalyzed the movement in many ways.
A very good resource to help understand Alexander Campbell. show less
I am not sure there is any religious "group" that has a more fraught and complex relationship with one of their great leaders/visionaries as the S-C/RM has with Campbell. And this book does a good job to explain why and how.
The author describes Campbell's origins in Ireland and the religious show more heritage in which he developed. He sets forth Campbell's journey to America, out of Presbyterianism, among many of the Baptists in what was then the West, and then quite self-consciously the catalyst for his own reform movement which he preferred to go by Disciples of Christ. The author very much explores the various debates and controversies into which Campbell waded, both within the greater world of Christendom and within his own movement.
No one will consider this any kind of "hagiography," but we already have that for Campbell from the past. But that does not mean Foster is overly critical or harsh; he portrays Campbell with all of his strengths as a thinker and expositor and the faults that very easily came forth because of those strengths.
Ever since the movement has attempted to figure out what it is: whether full of dogmatic warriors against sectarianism, or those seeking an irenic way of being Christian only but not necessarily the only Christians. In Campbell we can find both impulses. In Campbell we see perhaps an over-reliance on the positivism of the Enlightenment and a naive postmillennial American apocalyptic hope. It is ironic that "Campbellite" has become the standard slur used against participants in the S-C/RM, for pretty much everyone in the movement has significant disagreements or qualms with Campbell on various issues and levels. But it was his force of personality and rhetorical skill that catalyzed the movement in many ways.
A very good resource to help understand Alexander Campbell. show less
The churches of Christ in North America is especially known for its distinctive of not using musical instruments in worship services. It also is known for its tendency to fracture over numerous beliefs and practices relating to its concept of the church.
This book reviews, in brief, some of the events, beliefs, and personalities associated with the various divisions in the churches of Christ, and leads readers to think about breaking this cycle of division.
The author shares that "Deep show more respect and love for my religious heritage and its roots in Scripture and the Spirit of Scripture prompted the writing of this book." (Preface, p. v)
Although the book is over twenty years old, it may be used as a source of information to better understand the churches of Christ in North America.
There is no index. show less
This book reviews, in brief, some of the events, beliefs, and personalities associated with the various divisions in the churches of Christ, and leads readers to think about breaking this cycle of division.
The author shares that "Deep show more respect and love for my religious heritage and its roots in Scripture and the Spirit of Scripture prompted the writing of this book." (Preface, p. v)
Although the book is over twenty years old, it may be used as a source of information to better understand the churches of Christ in North America.
There is no index. show less
This is a very important work which was contributed to by many scholars from all three streams of the Stone-Campbell religious heritage. It covers many leaders, publications, institutions, and issues. It is a book that anyone interested in the Stone-Campbell religious heritage should have in their library.
As good as it is, I wish that the book would have included articles on more people and institutions, but they are left to the next time.
As good as it is, I wish that the book would have included articles on more people and institutions, but they are left to the next time.
Renewal For Mission - A Concise History of Christian Churches and Churches of Christ by Dennis W. Helsabeck Jr.
This book could serve as a starting point for persons desiring to learn something of the history of an American Christian restoration movement group known as the "independent" Christian Church or Church of Christ. The Christian Church/Church of Christ is one of three main "streams" of what makes up the Stone-Campbell religious heritage. (Other "streams" are the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and churches of Christ.)
The book contains 13 short chapters, with questions for discussion at show more the end of each.
The first nine chapters cover the the Stone-Campbell religious heritage from its beginning to 1906, the year in which the churches of Christ were listed separately in the US census of religious institutions, apart from the Disciples of Christ. The final four chapters cover the history of the sect from 1907 forward, the period in which the Christian Church/Church and the Disciples of Christ split into two streams.
Sources for further study are included at the end of each chapter, and reflect the work of authors from all three streams of the Stone-Campbell religious heritage.
Two of the authors, Holloway and Foster, are members of the churches of Christ. Helsabeck is part of the Christian Church/Church of Christ stream. show less
The book contains 13 short chapters, with questions for discussion at show more the end of each.
The first nine chapters cover the the Stone-Campbell religious heritage from its beginning to 1906, the year in which the churches of Christ were listed separately in the US census of religious institutions, apart from the Disciples of Christ. The final four chapters cover the history of the sect from 1907 forward, the period in which the Christian Church/Church and the Disciples of Christ split into two streams.
Sources for further study are included at the end of each chapter, and reflect the work of authors from all three streams of the Stone-Campbell religious heritage.
Two of the authors, Holloway and Foster, are members of the churches of Christ. Helsabeck is part of the Christian Church/Church of Christ stream. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 8
- Also by
- 1
- Members
- 331
- Popularity
- #71,752
- Rating
- 4.5
- Reviews
- 4
- ISBNs
- 14