Rousas John Rushdoony
Rousas John Rushdoony (1916-2001) was a minister best known through his extensive literary output. His writings cover a broad spectrum of subjects because his belief was that every area of life and thought should be understood in terms of a world view that assumes God’s Word is both true and authoritative. He is best known for leadership role in Christian education (day and homeschool), his revival of theonomy (Biblical law), and Christian Reconstruction (a term he coined to denote a neglected aspect of the Christian responsibility and response to sin in the culture.)
Why He Started Chalcedon
Rushdoony started Chalcedon (aka The Chalcedon Foundation®) in 1965 because he felt the modern church had truncated the Christian faith by presenting it as merely an insurance policy against hell. The responsibilities of the redeemed man in Christ were reduced to a vague and ultimately subjective Christianity. Rushdoony did not believe the Christian life was to be understood as an other-worldly pursuit of spirituality but one of self-conscious obedience to God’s Word. (Grayce was instrumental in encouraging Rousas to move to Los Angeles in 1965. And in the founding of Chalcedon.)
His Life
We've been asked many times who R.J. Rushdoony was as a person and the experiences and motivations for his life work. Rushdoony was the son of immigrants who were well familiar with the realities of genocide and statist oppression. His mother and father escaped the Armenian genocide in 1915 and arrived in the US in time to give birth to him in April of 1916.
Homeschooling
This multi-faceted man has been called the Father of the modern Christian and home school movements because of his emphasis on the importance of a distinctively Christian philosophy of education. (CLICK TO READ TRANSCRIPT)
The Family
Rushdoony gave priority to the Biblical family and its vital role in the formation of the godly society. Rush was just as likely to appear in court to defend the Constitutional rights of parents and churches as he was to answer his own phone and engage with callers, answering their questions and providing counsel.
How to keep learning from or about Rushdoony
Visit the Resources section of this website to access books, articles, audio recordings, and videos of Dr. Rushdoony. Visit our Connect section to find study groups and ways to get your questions answered.