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Steve & Schaeffer on "Crazy for God"

Erik February 8th, 2008

Frank SchaefferNew York Times best-selling author Frank Schaeffer joins us on this edition of Steve Brown Etc. to talk about his book, 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. Use one of the options below to listen.

As the son of famous evangelists Francis and Edith Schaeffer, Frank grew up at L'Abri in Switzerland, and eventually helped to form the Religious Right.

As he worked with guys like Robertson, Falwell, and Dobson, he felt increasingly alienated. Then he chucked all (or almost all) of it. Listen to this from the dust cover of the book…

Schaeffer, whom Cal Thomas, Vice President of the Moral Majority, once introduced at a huge rally as "the best speaker in America," was reduced to stealing pork chops and smuggling them out of stores in his underwear rather than return to the fold to take on any more high-paying evangelical speaking gigs.

Man, you gotta really hate evangelical speaking gigs to smuggle pork chops in your skivvies. Either that, or you really like pork chops. Anyway, check out the show. It's a good one.

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10 Responses to “Steve & Schaeffer on "Crazy for God"”

Charles February 8th, 2008

Censor Cole Porter?

That was interesting.

I have been hard on Frank. I will get the book.

I have felt the same way in certain evangelical gatherings (wishing the ground would swallow you up).

I really enjoyed that interview. He sounds just like his Dad. Looks alot like him too.

Christov February 8th, 2008

I didn't hate this guest, and I thought I would.

Not because I'm some kind of dyed-in-the-wool Evangelical, but because every time I hear of some inaccessible-and-for-insiders-only-sounding "christian" group, activity, place, event (like, for example, L'Abri - um, is that a cheese? If you were an insider, you'd know) I want to urp.

So I expected to hear some oppositely puffed-up son of a famous guy pontificating about his counter-movement and how I should buy his book. Kind of like Dobson has his kids on his radio show flogging their puny books, only in reverse. Yes, I know Steve Brown isn't James Dobson in reverse and isn't your guest's dad…my analogy's imperfect.

Your man Frank was a pleasant surprise.

I probably won't spend a dime on his book, but may surreptitiously download it from a stolen books website in .pdf, or maybe check it out from the library. Anyway, I'm sort of glad this guy suffered and was so hungry he had to steal food (according to the excerpt from the dustcover Erik posted supra). There've been times when I've had to do that, too. Nice to know that while God makes the rain to fall on both the good and evil, and the sun to shine upon both the rich and the poor, suffering likewise sometimes befalls the winsome and the gnarly in equal measure.

Charles February 9th, 2008

I like Frank too.

But I have read all of his dad's books. The comparison of Francis Schaeffer to James Dobson is inaccurate. There is no comparison.

The only reason his dad got associated with those guys is because by the mid to late 70's, he got upset that the abortion was legal and common yet no evangelical had a problem with it or wouldn't talk about it. He was also upset over the trend toward euthanasia and considered us going down a bad path and poured his energy into the public arena. Looking back, maybe he contributed to a monster, rather than a solution. But Schaeffer was nothing at all like Dobson, Falwell, etc.

Read "The God Who Is There" or "He Is There and He Is Not Silent" and tell me if it reads like a Focus on the Family book.

I envy anyone who hasn't yet read a page of Schaeffer's works. They are in for a real trip.

Charles February 9th, 2008

And even though I haven't read a page of Frank' stuff, my guess is that I am in for a trip myself.

Derek February 10th, 2008

This was a fascinating interview. Great to hear how close his is with his mother…

BillyD February 10th, 2008

I read "The God Who Is There" about 16 years ago, recently I thought about going thru it again but my old copy of is almost completely highlighted, think I need a new copy. I enjoyed the interview with Frank…

Steve Brown Etc. » Blog Archive » America's New God: When Politics Trumps Faith February 18th, 2008

[…] hasn’t done us much good yet. As Frank Schaeffer, author of Crazy for God, pointed out in a recent editorial, “In 2000, we elected a president who claimed he believed God […]

JacquelinePenney March 8th, 2008

Your interview with Shaeffer was great!!! Loved it

Drake Owen April 9th, 2008

I heard the interview and am reading the book. I have so many mixed emotions. On one hand I can relate to what Frank is saying since I was a member of a Christian community for fifteen years that was so Crazy. It was coming to an understanding of the true gospel through the writings of Martin Luther that I was able to experience true reformation that set my conscience free from the bondage and manipulations of controling Christian authority figures.
On the other hand I have some unsettled feelings about what Frank writes, only because I wonder if he has lost the true reality of the gospel withing the context of the madness he experienced. I don't know for sure but it might be the case.

Drake Owen April 12th, 2008

Since I wrote my first comment on Frank's book I have finished the book and listened interviews and book talks. His book has been very helpful to me and I believe he is a Christian who has detoxed from a very intense environment. I know first hand that it takes many years to unwind from such intensity and sort things through.
Thank you Frank for your honesty.

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