The Foundations of Social Order: Studies in the Creeds and Councils of the Early Church
Overview
This text explores the notion that every social order rests on a creed—a concept of life and law—and represents a religion in action. The basic faith of a society means growth in terms of that faith. Rushdoony argues that because of its indifference to its creedal basis in biblical Christianity, Western civilization is today facing death in its struggle with humanism. Just as when a foundation is provided, the general form of a building is determined, when a creed is accepted, a social order is determined. Rushdoony goes on to suggest that there can be no reconstruction of the Christian civilization of the West except on Christian creedal foundations.
For the entire set, see R.J. Rushdoony Culture and Ethics Collection (7 vols.).
- Explores how every social order rests on a creed
- Contends that the creedal foundation of a society determines its social order
- Demonstrates how the progress of a society also advances the growth of its creddal foundation
Top Highlights
“If the two natures of Christ were confused, it meant that the door was opened to the divinizing of human nature; man and the state were then potentially divine. If the human nature of Christ were reduced or denied, His role as man’s incarnate savior was reduced or denied, and man’s savior again became the state.” (Page 54)
“This hatred of roots and of certainty is basic to revolutionary activity. The revolutionist destroys things of value precisely because they have a value apart from him.” (Page 17)
“The divinity has been located in the people, in the masses, in democracy, so that ‘the people’ are in theory the power and the glory.” (Page 33)
“First, the early councils had as their primary purpose the defense and establishment of truth, not unity” (Page 18)
“Man could become god, but God could not become man” (Page 41)
- Title: The Foundations of Social Order: Studies in the Creeds and Councils of the Early Church
- Author: Rousas John Rushdoony
- Edition: Third Edition
- Publisher: Ross House Books
- Print Publication Date: 1998
- Logos Release Date: 2014
- Pages: 197
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Creeds, Ecumenical › History and criticism; Councils and synods, Ecumenical
- ISBNs: 1879998122, 9781879998124
- Resource ID: LLS:FNDTNSSCLRD3RDED
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T00:01:16Z
Rousas John Rushdoony (1916–2001) was was a well-known American scholar, writer, and author of over thirty books. He earned degrees from the University of California, received theological training at the Pacific School of Religion, and received an honorary Doctorate from Valley Christian University for his book The Philosophy of the Christian Curriculum.
Rushdoony was an ordained minister and served as pastor at two California churches. He served for almost nine years as a missionary to the Shoshone and Paiute Indians in a remote area of Nevada. It was during this time as a missionary that Rushdoony began writing. The Institutes of Biblical Law and Commentary on the Pentateuch are just a few of the titles that Rushdoony has penned.
The Chalcedon Foundation, an educational organization devoted to research, publishing, and cogent communication of a distinctively Christian scholarship to the world at large, was founded by Rushdoony in 1965. He served as the editor of The Chalcedon Report, the monthly magazine of the Chalcedon Foundation.
Rushdoony also published the Journal of Christian Reconstruction and was an early board member of the Rutherford Institute which was founded by John W. Whitehead.