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The Christian Research Institute (CRI) is an evangelical Christian apologetics ministry.〔Walter Martin, "Christian Research Institute," ''The Christian Librarian'', Volume 14, number 1 October 1970, pp. 15-18.〕〔(www.equip.org, Christian Research Institute official web site ) 〕 It was established in October 1960 in the state of New Jersey by Walter Martin (1928–1989).〔Douglas E. Cowan, ''Bearing False Witness? An Introduction to the Christian Countercult'', Westport: Praeger, 2003, p. 102.〕 In 1974 Martin relocated the ministry to San Juan Capistrano, California.〔"Christian Research Institute" in Peter D. Dresser ed. ''Research Centers Directory'', 12th ed, Volume 2 Detroit: Gale Research, 1988, p. 1193.〕 The ministry's office was relocated in the 1990s near Rancho Santa Margarita. In 2005 the organization moved to its present location in Charlotte, North Carolina. ==Background== The establishment of CRI in 1960 is closely linked to Walter Martin. It represents one of the pioneering organizations in what is called the Christian countercult movement, but also relates to the wider history of Evangelical Christian apologetics in the mid-Twentieth century.〔J. Gordon Melton, "The counter-cult monitoring movement in historical perspective," in ''Challenging Religion: Essays in Honour of Eileen Barker'', edited by James A. Beckford & James T. Richardson, Routledge, London, 2003, pp. 102-113.〕 Martin is considered one of the first full-time career apologists to have specialized in Christian countercult apologetics.〔Douglas Groothuis, "Walter R. Martin" in ''Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions'', ed. A. Scott Moreau, Grand rapids: Baker Books, 2000, p. 601.〕 In 1949 Martin began his forays into the theological analysis of various groups, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, Mormonism and Spiritualism. Much of this early work coincided with his tertiary studies at Shelton College and New York University during the 1950s. In 1953 Martin became acquainted with the Presbyterian radio Bible teacher Donald Grey Barnhouse.〔Margaret N. Barnhouse, ''That Man Barnhouse'', Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1983, p. 283.〕 Barnhouse was the founding editor (1950) of the monthly periodical ''Eternity'' magazine.〔C. Allyn Russell, "Donald Grey Barnhouse: Fundamentalist Who Changed" ''Journal of Presbyterian History'', Volume 59, number 1 Spring 1981, pp. 33-57.〕 Stephen Board, in his study of the history of evangelical periodicals, has observed that during its first decade of publishing ''Eternity'' was built around Barnhouse's personality and his own particular causes.〔Stephen Board, "Moving the World With Magazines: A Survey of Evangelical Periodicals" in ''American Evangelicals and the Mass Media'', ed. Quentin J. Schultze, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1990, p. 123.〕 In 1954 Barnhouse invited Martin to be a columnist in ''Eternity'' magazine, and then between 1955 and 1960 Martin served as a regular contributing editor. Martin wrote a number of articles about cults, which formed the embryonic texts for various books he wrote. However, Martin also wrote book reviews, examined general apologetics and doctrinal issues, and also considered social questions such as alcoholism. The early 1950s witnessed the publication of several books that Martin wrote, or co-wrote with Norman Klann, such as ''Jehovah of the Watchtower'' (1953), ''The Christian Science Myth'' (1954), ''The Rise of the Cults'' (1955) and ''The Christian and the Cults'' (1956). Barnhouse wrote the foreword to ''The Christian Science Myth'', and his support for Martin's ministry was crucial in legitimating countercult apologetics to the wider church constituency.〔Barnhouse, ''That Man Barnhouse'', pp.224-225〕 In 1960 Barnhouse died from a brain tumour only a few weeks before Martin formally established CRI.〔The diagnosis, and Barnhouse's death are described in Barnhouse, ''That Man Barnhouse'', pp.390-403.〕 By that time Martin had become an emerging apologist whose ministry and reputation was gaining recognition in para-church organizations like the American Tract Society, Evangelical Theological Society, National Association of Evangelicals, and National Religious Broadcasters.〔"Dr. Walter R. Martin" ''The Christian Librarian'', Volume 13, number 4 April 1970, p.3.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Christian Research Institute」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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