First published in 1978, Celebration of Discipline emerged during a period of renewed spiritual searching within Western Christianity. The cultural landscape of the late 1970s was characterized by a mixture of post-1960s idealism and societal disillusionment; many believers were yearning for a deeper, more authentic connection with God amid pervasive materialism and social change. In American religious circles, the so-called “Jesus Movement” of the preceding decade had popularized informal worship styles, yet critics argued it left many lacking a structured pathway for mature spiritual growth. Richard Foster’s book, therefore, arrived at a strategic moment, proposing a historically rooted approach to the faith that was both deliberate and profound.

The text’s emphasis on The Transformative Power of Spiritual Disciplines—fasting, solitude, study, and so forth—responded to the acute hunger for depth in a world rapidly embracing quick-fix solutions. Foster’s Quaker background, with its stress on inner listening and corporate discernment, also appealed to an increasingly ecumenical environment: Mainline Protestants, evangelicals, and even some Catholics were open to cross-pollination of ideas. Meanwhile, new charismatic movements highlighted personal experience of the Holy Spirit but sometimes lacked long-term spiritual frameworks, leading many seekers to Celebration of Discipline for foundational grounding.