Frank Schaeffer (born August 3, 1952) is an American author, film director, screenwriter, and public speaker. He is the son of theologian and author

Francis Schaeffer Francis August Schaeffer (January 30, 1912 – May 15, 1984) was an American evangelical theologian, philosopher, and Presbyterian pastor. He co-founded the L'Abri community in Switzerland with his wife Edith Schaeffer, , a prolific auth ...

. He became a Hollywood film director and author, writing several novels depicting life in a strict

evangelical Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes evangelism, or the preaching and spreading of th ...

household including ''Portofino'', ''Zermatt'', and ''Saving Grandma''. While Schaeffer was a

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

fundamentalist Fundamentalism is a tendency among certain groups and individuals that are characterized by the application of a strict literal interpretation to scriptures, dogmas, or ideologies, along with a strong belief in the importance of distinguishin ...

Christian in his youth, he has changed his views, becoming a

liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * Generally, a supporter of the political philosophy liberalism. Liberals may be politically left or right but tend to be centrist. * An adherent of a Liberal Party (See also Liberal parties by country ...

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

and a self-described Christian atheist. He lives north of

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

Life and career

Schaeffer was born in Switzerland in 1952, the son of American missionaries

Francis Francis may refer to: People and characters *Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church (2013–2025) *Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Francis (surname) * Francis, a character played by YouTuber Boogie2 ...

and

Edith Schaeffer Edith Rachel Merritt Schaeffer (née Seville; November 3, 1914 – March 30, 2013) was a Christian author and co-founder of L'Abri, a Christian organization which hosts guests. She was the wife of Francis Schaeffer, and the mother of Frank Schaeff ...

. He worked with his father and other members of the Religious Right in the 1970s making films, writing books, and speaking at churches and other venues. In the 1980s he continued to write on religious and political themes but also directed several Hollywood movies. He converted from

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...

Calvinism Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Christian, Presbyteri ...

Eastern Orthodox Christianity Eastern Orthodoxy, otherwise known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity or Byzantine Christianity, is one of the three main Branches of Christianity, branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholic Church, Catholicism and Protestantism ...

in 1990 and gave lectures on his reasons for rejecting conservative evangelical

Protestantism Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

. He has criticized the traditional positions of the Orthodox churches on matters of

sexual morality Sexual ethics (also known as sex ethics or sexual morality) is a branch of philosophy that considers the ethics or morality of Human sexual behaviour, sexual behavior. Sexual ethics seeks to understand, evaluate and critique interpersonal relatio ...

. Schaeffer's publishing house, Regina Orthodox Press, released ''Seraphim Rose: The True Story and Private Letters'', a 2000 biography of

hieromonk A hieromonk,; Church Slavonic, Slavonic: ''Иеромонахъ''; ; ; ; ; Albanian language, Albanian: ''Hieromurg'' also called a priestmonk, is a person who is both monk and Priest#Roman Catholic and Orthodox, priest in the Eastern Christianity ...

Seraphim Rose Seraphim Rose (born Eugene Dennis Rose; August 13, 1934 – September 2, 1982), also known as Seraphim of Platina, was an American priest and hieromonk of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia who co-founded the Saint Herman of Alaska Monas ...

by Rose's niece

Cathy Scott Cathleen Scott (born ) is a ''Los Angeles Times'' and ''New York Times'' bestselling American true crime author and investigative journalist who penned the biographies and true crime books '' The Killing of Tupac Shakur'' and '' The Murder of B ...

that included Rose's sexuality, which was a topic of controversy among some Eastern Orthodox faithful after the book was published. In 2006, Schaeffer published ''Baby Jack'', a novel about a

US Marine The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the Marines, maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expedi ...

killed in Iraq. He is also wrote non-fiction books related to the Marine Corps, including ''Keeping Faith: A Father-Son Story About Love and the United States Marine Corps'', co-written with his son John Schaeffer, and ''AWOL: The Unexcused Absence of America's Upper Classes from Military Service and How It Hurts Our Country'', co-authored with former

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton (né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician and lawyer who was the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, ...

presidential aide Kathy Roth-Douquet. In 2007, Schaeffer published his autobiography, ''Crazy for God: How I Grew Up As One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back'', in which he goes into detail about growing up in the Schaeffer family and around

L'Abri L'Abri (French for "the shelter") is an Evangelicalism, evangelical Christian organisation which was founded on June 5, 1955 by Francis Schaeffer and his wife Edith Schaeffer, Edith in Ollon, Huémoz-sur-Ollon, Switzerland. They opened their Alps, ...

. In 2011, he published another memoir, ''Sex, Mom, and God'', in which he discusses growing up with his parents and their role in the rise of the American religious right and argues that the root of the "insanity and corruption" of this force in US politics, and specifically of the religious right's position on abortion, is a fear of

female sexuality Human female sexuality encompasses a broad range of behaviors and processes, including female sexual identity and sexual behavior, the physiological, psychological, social, cultural, political, and spiritual or religious aspects of sexual activ ...

. The two memoirs form the first and third book of what Schaeffer calls his "God trilogy". The second one, ''Patience with God: Faith for People Who Don't Like Religion (or Atheism)'' (2010), describes his spirituality as it exists since abandoning conservative evangelicalism. The first half contains critiques of both the

New Atheists New Atheism is a perspective shared by some atheist academics, writers, scientists, and philosophers of the 20th and 21st centuries, intolerant of superstition, religion, and irrationalism. New Atheists advocate the antitheist view that the v ...

and of

Christian fundamentalism Christian fundamentalism, also known as fundamental Christianity or fundamentalist Christianity, is a religious movement emphasizing biblical literalism. In its modern form, it began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries among British an ...

. Starting with his 2014 book ''Why I Am an Atheist Who Believes in God'', he has described himself as an

atheist Atheism, in the broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the existence of deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there no ...

, saying that even though he attends church every weekend and prays, "I do not always believe, let alone know, if God exists. I do not always know he, she, or it does not exist either, though there are long patches in my life when it seems God never did exist." Schaeffer has stated that one of his goals of his book is to "unhook oung Evangelicalsfrom allegiance to the Bible".

Political views

Schaeffer has gone from being a

Republican to becoming a

. When Schaeffer was young, he and his

father A father is the male parent of a child. Besides the paternal bonds of a father to his children, the father may have a parental, legal, and social relationship with the child that carries with it certain rights and obligations. A biological fat ...

attended meetings with

Jack Kemp Jack French Kemp (July 13, 1935 – May 2, 2009) was an American politician, professional Gridiron football, football player, and U.S. Army veteran. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party from New York, he served a ...

, as well as presidents

Gerald Ford Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. (born Leslie Lynch King Jr.; July 14, 1913December 26, 2006) was the 38th president of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, Ford assumed the p ...

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...

, and

George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker BushBefore the outcome of the 2000 United States presidential election, he was usually referred to simply as "George Bush" but became more commonly known as "George H. W. Bush", "Bush Senior," "Bush 41," and even "Bush th ...

. Schaeffer has stated that he helped produce Reagan's book '' Abortion and the Conscience of a Nation''. Schaeffer has written: "In the mid 1980s I left the Religious Right, after I realized just how very anti-American they are (the theme I explore in my book ''Crazy For God'')." He added that he was a Republican until 2000, working for

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

John McCain John Sidney McCain III (August 29, 1936 – August 25, 2018) was an American statesman and United States Navy, naval officer who represented the Arizona, state of Arizona in United States Congress, Congress for over 35 years, first as ...

in that year's

primaries Primary elections or primaries are elections held to determine which candidates will run in an upcoming general election. In a partisan primary, a political party selects a candidate. Depending on the state and/or party, there may be an "open pri ...

, but that after the

2000 election The following elections occurred in the year 2000. Africa * 2000 Ethiopian general election * 2000 Ghanaian presidential election * 1999–2000 Guinea-Bissau general election * 2000–01 Ivorian parliamentary election * 2000 Ivorian presidentia ...

he re-registered as an

independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...

Party switch

On February 7, 2008, Schaeffer endorsed Senator

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...

for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, in an article entitled "Why I'm Pro-Life and Pro-Obama." The next month, prompted by the controversy over remarks by the pastor of Obama's church, he wrote: " en my late father – Religious Right leader Francis Schaeffer – denounced America and even called for the violent overthrow of the US government, he was invited to lunch with presidents

Ford Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party and became an important figure in ...

and Bush, Sr." After the 2008 Russian-Georgian War, Schaeffer described Russia as a resurgent Orthodox Christian power, paying back the West for its support of Muslim Kosovar secessionists against Orthodox Serbia. On October 10, 2008, a public letter to Senator John McCain and

Sarah Palin Sarah Louise Palin (; Heath; born February 11, 1964) is an American politician, commentator, and author who served as the ninth governor of Alaska from 2006 until her resignation in 2009. She was the 2008 Republican vice presidential nomi ...

from Schaeffer was published in the ''

Baltimore Sun ''The Baltimore Sun'' is the largest general-circulation daily newspaper based in the U.S. state of Maryland and provides coverage of local, regional, national, and international news. Founded in 1837, the newspaper was owned by Tribune Publish ...

'' newspaper. The letter contained an impassioned plea for McCain to arrest what Schaeffer perceived as a hateful and prejudiced tone of the Republican Party's election campaign. Schaeffer was convinced that there was a pronounced danger that fringe groups in America could be goaded into pursuing violence. "If you do not stand up for all that is good in America and declare that Senator Obama is a patriot, fit for office, and denounce your hate-filled supporters... history will hold you responsible for all that follows." Soon after Obama's inauguration, Schaeffer criticized Republican leaders: In an interview on October 23, 2009, Schaeffer said his and his father's (Francis) position on abortion was co-opted by people looking for an issue that could shift political power within America. In 2012, Schaeffer criticized the Republican Party's opposition to abortion rights, something which received criticism from

Rod Dreher Ray Oliver Dreher Jr. (born February 14, 1967), known as Rod Dreher, is an American conservative writer and editor living in Hungary. He was a columnist with ''The American Conservative'' for 12 years, ending in March 2023, and remains an edito ...

and other conservative Christians.

Works

Books

* ''Confronting Christofacism: Healing the Evangelical Wound'', (co-authored with Carolyn Baker), Apocryphile Press, 2021. * ''Fall in Love, Have Children, Stay Put, Save the Planet, Be Happy'', Health Communications, Incorporated, 2021. * ''Letter to Lucy: A Manifesto of Creative Redemption—In the Age of Trump, Fascism and Lies'', self-published, 2017. * ''Why I Am an Atheist Who Believes in God: How to Give Love, Create Beauty and Find Peace'', self-published, 2014. * ''And God Said, "Billy"'', Colorado: Outskirts Press, 2013. * ''Sex, Mom, and God: How the Bible's Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics—and How I Learned to Love Women (and Jesus) Anyway'', Cambridge: Da Capo Press, 2011. * ''Patience with God: Faith for People Who Don't Like Religion (or Atheism)'', Cambridge: Da Capo Press, 2009. * ''How Free People Move Mountains: A Male Christian Conservative and a Female Jewish Liberal on a Quest for Common Purpose and Meaning'' (with Kathy Roth-Douquet), New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2008. * ''Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back'', New York: Carol & Graf Publishers (September) 2007. * ''Baby Jack: A Novel'', New York: Carol & Graf Publishers, (October) 2006. * ''AWOL: The Unexcused Absence of America's Upper Classes from Military Service—and How It Hurts Our Country'' (with Kathy Roth-Douquet), New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2006. * ''Voices from the Front: Letters Home From American's Military Family'', New York: Carol & Graf Publishers, 2004. (Third of Military Trilogy) * ''Faith of Our Sons: Voices From the American Homefront — The Wartime Diary of a Marine's Father'', New York: Carol & Graf Publishers, 2004. (Second of Military Trilogy) * ''Zermatt: A Novel'', New York: Carol & Graf Publishers, 2003. (Third of Calvin Becker Trilogy) * ''Keeping Faith: A Father–Son Story About Love and the U.S. Marine Corps'' (with son John Schaeffer), New York: Carol & Graf Publishers, 2002. (First of Military Trilogy) * ''Saving Grandma: A Novel'', New York: Berkley Books, 1997. (Second of Calvin Becker Trilogy) * ''Letters to Father Aristotle'', Salisbury, MA: Regina Orthodox Press, 1995. * ''Dancing Alone: The Quest for Orthodox Faith in the Age of False Religion'', Brookline, MA: Holy Cross, 1994. * ''

Portofino Portofino (; ) is a ''comune'' located in the Metropolitan City of Genoa on the Italian Riviera. The town is clustered around its small harbour, and is known for the colourfully painted buildings that line the shore. Since the late 19th centur ...

: A Novel'', New York: Macmillan, 1992 (first of Calvin Becker Trilogy) * ''Sham Pearls for Real Swine'', Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, 1990-05-02. * ''Is Capitalism Christian?'' (editor), Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1985. * ''Bad News for Modern Man'' as Franky Schaeffer, Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1984. * ''A Modest Proposal'' (with Harold Fickett), Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1984. * ''A Time for Anger: The Myth of Neutrality'', Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1982. * '' Addicted to Mediocrity: 20th Century Christians and the Arts'', Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1982.

Films

*'' How Should We Then Live? The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture'' (1976). Frank Schaeffer produced his father Francis Schaeffer's film series, which was released with a book by the same title. *''Whatever Happened to the Human Race? '' (1979). A Christian response to abortion,

euthanasia Euthanasia (from : + ) is the practice of intentionally ending life to eliminate pain and suffering. Different countries have different Legality of euthanasia, euthanasia laws. The British House of Lords Select committee (United Kingdom), se ...

, and

infanticide Infanticide (or infant homicide) is the intentional killing of infants or offspring. Infanticide was a widespread practice throughout human history that was mainly used to dispose of unwanted children, its main purpose being the prevention of re ...

, narrated by Francis Schaeffer and former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop; it was released with a book by the same title. * '' Wired to Kill'' (1986). Writer/director. Post-apocalyptic action film starring Devin Hoelscher, and with

Merritt Butrick Merritt R. Butrick (September 3, 1959 – March 17, 1989) was an American actor, known for his roles on the teen sitcom ''Square Pegs'' (1982), in two ''Star Trek'' feature films, and a variety of other acting roles in the 1980s. Early life an ...

. * ''Headhunter'' (1989). Director. Occult horror film starring John Fatooh, June Chadwick, and

Steve Kanaly Steven Francis Kanaly (; born March 14, 1946) is an American actor, best known for his role as Ray Krebbs on the CBS primetime soap opera ''Dallas (TV series), Dallas''. Early life and career Kanaly was born in Burbank, California, and grew up ...

. * ''Rising Storm'' (1990). Director. Futuristic action film starring

Zach Galligan Zachary Wolfe Galligan (born February 14, 1964) is an American actor. He is best known for starring as Billy Peltzer in the comedy-horror films ''Gremlins'' (1984) and '' Gremlins 2: The New Batch'' (1990). Early life and education Galligan was ...

and

June Chadwick June Chadwick (born 30 November 1951, Warwickshire) is an English film and television actress. Her best-known television roles are as Lydia in the science fiction TV series '' V: The Series'', and as Lt. Joanna Parisi on the third season of the s ...

. * ''Baby on Board'' (1992). Director. Slapstick comedy starring

Judge Reinhold Edward Ernest "Judge" Reinhold Jr. (born May 21, 1957) is an American actor who is best known for his work in Hollywood films during the 1980s. He has starred in several popular films such as '' Stripes'' (1981), '' Fast Times at Ridgemont High' ...

and

Carol Kane Carolyn Laurie Kane (born June 18, 1952) is an American actress. She gained recognition for her role in '' Hester Street'' (1975), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She became known in the 1970s and 1980s in ...

References

Notes

External links

Official Frank Schaeffer websiteFrank Schaeffer blog
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Schaeffer, Frank 1952 births 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American non-fiction writers 20th-century American novelists 21st-century American male writers 21st-century American non-fiction writers 21st-century American novelists American atheists Film directors from Massachusetts American male non-fiction writers American male novelists American male screenwriters American people of English descent American people of German descent Christian bloggers Converts to Eastern Orthodoxy from Protestantism Former evangelicals American LGBTQ rights activists Living people American male bloggers American bloggers Novelists from Massachusetts People from Valais Screenwriters from Massachusetts Massachusetts Republicans Massachusetts Democrats