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 author in her own right. Opposed to theological modernism, Schaeffer promoted what he claimed was a more historic Protestant faith and a presuppositional approach to Christian apologetics, which he believed would answer the questions of the age.

Born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, he graduated with high honors from Hampden–Sydney College in 1935 and studied at Westminster and Faith Theological Seminaries. Schaeffer became the first graduate and ordained minister of the Bible Presbyterian Church and served pastorates in Pennsylvania and Missouri. In 1948, he moved with his family to Switzerland, where they founded the L’Abri community in 1955, which later expanded internationally.

Influenced by Cornelius Van Til, Herman Dooyeweerd, and Hans Rookmaaker, he argued that non-Christian worldviews are internally inconsistent and that Christianity offers a coherent foundation for truth, morality, and meaning. He called his method “Taking the roof off,” exposing contradictions in secular thinking to lead others toward Christianity. His published works include The God Who Is There, Escape from Reason, and He Is There and He Is Not Silent.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Schaeffer became a voice for evangelical political engagement, particularly around abortion and secular humanism. His 1981 book A Christian Manifesto encouraged Christians to challenge cultural pluralism while rejecting theocracy, influencing groups like Operation Rescue and shaping the Christian Right. He also co-founded the Seven Mountain Mandate, advocating Christian influence in society’s key spheres, such as education, media, and government.