Chalcedon Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Chalcedon Foundation is a Christian Reconstructionist
organization founded by Rousas John Rushdoony
. Named for the Council of Chalcedon
, it has also included well-known theologians such as Gary North, who later founded his own organization, the Institute for Christian Economics.
The Chalcedon Foundation was officially founded by R. J. Rushdoony in the summer of 1965. In 1971, Gary North was hired part time, and two years later North was hired full-time while Greg Bahnsen
was also hired. Rushdoony founded Ross House Books in 1976, the same year in which North and Bahnsen left the Foundation to pursue careers elsewhere. In 1977, the Foundation's first office building was built. A decade later, the organization's Newsletter became a magazine, the Chalcedon Report. On February 8, 2001, founder R. J. Rushdoony died. He was succeeded by his son Mark Rushdoony, who continues to run the organization. In 2004, Ross House Books merged with Chalcedon, and in 2005, the Chalcedon Report was renamed Faith for All of Life.
In presenting a theonomic view of biblical law, the foundation is often referred to as promoting theocracy
and dominionism
. According to the group's web site:
The Chalcedon Foundation has been listed as a hate group
by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Christian Reconstructionism
Christian Reconstructionism is a religious and theological movement within Evangelical Christianity that calls for Christians to put their faith into action in all areas of life, within the private sphere of life and the public and political sphere as well...
organization founded by Rousas John Rushdoony
Rousas John Rushdoony
Rousas John Rushdoony was a Calvinist philosopher, historian, and theologian and is widely credited as the father of Christian Reconstructionism and an inspiration for the modern Christian homeschool movement...
. Named for the Council of Chalcedon
Council of Chalcedon
The Council of Chalcedon was a church council held from 8 October to 1 November, 451 AD, at Chalcedon , on the Asian side of the Bosporus. The council marked a significant turning point in the Christological debates that led to the separation of the church of the Eastern Roman Empire in the 5th...
, it has also included well-known theologians such as Gary North, who later founded his own organization, the Institute for Christian Economics.
The Chalcedon Foundation was officially founded by R. J. Rushdoony in the summer of 1965. In 1971, Gary North was hired part time, and two years later North was hired full-time while Greg Bahnsen
Greg Bahnsen
Greg L. Bahnsen was an influential Calvinist philosopher, apologist, and debater. He was an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and a full time Scholar in Residence for the Southern California Center for Christian Studies.-Early life and education:He was the first born of two...
was also hired. Rushdoony founded Ross House Books in 1976, the same year in which North and Bahnsen left the Foundation to pursue careers elsewhere. In 1977, the Foundation's first office building was built. A decade later, the organization's Newsletter became a magazine, the Chalcedon Report. On February 8, 2001, founder R. J. Rushdoony died. He was succeeded by his son Mark Rushdoony, who continues to run the organization. In 2004, Ross House Books merged with Chalcedon, and in 2005, the Chalcedon Report was renamed Faith for All of Life.
In presenting a theonomic view of biblical law, the foundation is often referred to as promoting theocracy
Theocracy
Theocracy is a form of organization in which the official policy is to be governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or simply pursuant to the doctrine of a particular religious sect or religion....
and dominionism
Dominionism
Dominionism is a term used to describe politically active conservative Christians that are believed to conspire and seek influence or control over secular civil government through political action, especially in the United States, with the goal of either a nation governed by Christians, or a nation...
. According to the group's web site:
We believe that the whole Word of God must be applied to all of life. It is not only our duty as individuals, families and churches to be Christian, but it is also the duty of the state, the school, the arts and sciences, law, economics, and every other sphere to be under Christ the King. Nothing is exempt from His dominion. We must live by His Word, not our own.
The Chalcedon Foundation has been listed as a hate group
Hate group
A hate group is an organized group or movement that advocates and practices hatred, hostility, or violence towards members of a race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or other designated sector of society...
by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
See also
- List of organizations designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as hate groups