Perhaps not since president jimmy carter acknowledged niebuhrs influence in his 1976 campaign has the name been on so many peoples lips. A comparison of christian modern views of history 272 new york. Feb 05, 2010 niebuhr lived during an age of global calamities. A study in ethics and politics by reinhold niebuhr. As we shall see later, they differed significantly, while sharing the legacy of liberal theology and the social gospel. Reinhold niebuhr, christian realism, and just war theory 55 palpatterson003 102407 10. See all books authored by reinhold niebuhr, including moral man and immoral society. The irony of american history return to religiononline the irony of american history by reinhold niebuhr one of the foremost philsophers and theologians of the twentieth century, reinhold niebuhr was for many years a professor at union theological seminary, new york city. Books by reinhold niebuhr author of moral man and immoral.
Finally, he attended yale university, where he received his bachelor of divinity degree in 1914 and was a member of alpha sigma phi fraternity. Deweys most prominent opponent was reinhold niebuhr, who questioned his optimistic vision of that which governments and institutions could accomplish. Although he may be best remembered today as the author of the famed serenity prayer, reinhold niebuhr an outspoken americanborn pastor, writer, and political activist remains one of the most influential public theologians of our time. Reinhold niebuhr, christian realism, and just war theory a. Prophet to politicians new york, 1972 for the dangers of abstracting niebuhrs thought from its contexts pp. Reinhold niebuhr books list of books by author reinhold. Reinhold niebuhrs christian realism christian idealism. Letters exchanged by reinhold and ursula niebuhr during the 1930s comprise the bulk of the family correspondence and provide insight into niebuhrs political and social activities.
Presidents from barack obama to jimmy carter have credited his impact on their thinking, as. The reinhold niebuhr story is produced by journey films, inc. Stone is the john witherspoon professor emeritus of christian ethics at pittsburgh theological seminary and author of faith and politics. Reinhold niebuhr rose to prominenece in the 1930s and 1940s for his vociferous opposition both to nazism and to isolationism as an american response to that. God as will and personality is, therefore, the only ground of individuality. The niebuhr society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to historical, critical, and constructive study of the thought of reinhold niebuhr 18921971. Niebuhr was ordained as a minister in the german evangelical synod of north america, following which he pastored the middle class for almost years. Reinhold niebuhrs most popular book is moral man and immoral society. Addition iv also includes a significant group of family correspondence and professional files of ursula niebuhr.
Reinhold niebuhr, moral man and immoral society new york. How obamas favorite theologian shaped his first year in. Pdf the foregoing quip captures a realization that came to the young reinhold niebuhr in the 192os and that turned the liberal christian. This paragraph is similar to one in king, reinhold niebuhrs ethical dualism, pp. Reinhold niebuhr s serenity prayer remains one of the most quoted writings in american literature. Yet niebuhrs impact was far greater, as presidents and civil rights leaders like martin luther king jr. Shortly after the september 1958 publication of stride toward freedom, king inscribed a copy for theologian reinhold niebuhr. Reinhold niebuhr 18921971, dubbed americas theologian by the midtwentiethcentury media, had a host of critics during his lifetime. Carl young beuttler, fred reinhold niebuhr one of the foremost philosophers and theologians of the twentieth century, reinhold niebuhr was for many years a professor at union theological seminary, new york city. The reinhold niebuhr story a film by martin doblmeier prepared by tim shapiro, indianapolis center for congregations this study guide is prepared for people in congregations who have watched the journey films production. A study in ethics and politics return to religiononline moral man and immoral society.
The theology of reinhold niebuhr the martin luther. Moral man and immoral society, first published in 1932, is reinhold niebuhrs important study in ethics and politics. He agrees with niebuhrs critique of the most idealistic forms of perfectionism but criticizes his pessimism about the transforming power of agape. Americas role in the world and the policies that should shape and maintain it have been distorted by misguided decisions and by willful. Pdf this essay argues, contra niebuhrs critics, that he had a rich and theologically informed ecclesiology. A few went much further, doubting his belief in god. In addition to frankfurters engagement with niebuhr, justice blacks case files housed in the library of congress contain various clippings about the decisions from magazines including christian century, christianity and crisis, and the catholic journals america and commonweal. Dec 16, 2015 the irony of american history by reinhold niebuhr in djvu, epub, fb2 download ebook.
Reinhold niebuhr and the conflicted meaning of racial. Niebuhr detected a disquieting continuity between twentiethcentury socialgospel theory and a particular strand of eighteenthcentury enlightenment philosophy. Reinhold niebuhr was born in wright city, missouri, on june 21, 1892, the son of gustav and lydia niebuhr. Richard, and paul tillich, reinhold niebuhrs colleague at union theological seminary in new york city. Pdf reinhold niebuhr on the sect church researchgate. Reinhold niebuhr, christian realism, and just war theory a critique keith pavlischek t his chapter examines how reinhold niebuhrs christian realism departs in fundamental and profound ways from the classical just war tradition and explains why this matters. Pdf reinhold niebuhrs christian realism christian idealism. His father, gustav was an immigrant from germany and became a ordained minister of the german evangelical synod after graduating from eden seminary at st. The foregoing quip captures a realization that came to the young reinhold niebuhr in the 192os and that turned the liberal christian pastor away from pacifism and toward a more realist ethic of politics. Reinhold niebuhrs ethics of rhetoric lsu digital commons. In appreciation for your genuine goodwill, your great prophetic vision, your creative contribution to the world of ideas, and your unswerving devotion to the ideals of freedom and justice. Reinhold niebuhr is unseen force in 2008 elections by benedicta cipolla religion news service thirtysix years after his death, protestant theologian reinhold niebuhr seems more alive than ever.
Faith and politics in times of peace and war and editor of the library of americas reinhold niebuhr. Here it is worth noting that the classical pacifist rejection of the profession of soldiering, or armed police work, goes hand in glove with the rejection of. Numerous critics have observed that niebuhrs major work in systematic theology, the nature and destiny of man was really an exercise in applied anthropology and that all the. Author of the nature and destiny of man, moral man and immoral society, an interpretation of christian ethics, the children of light and the children of darkness, beyond tragedy, the irony of american history, leaves from the notebook of a tamed cynic, mans nature and his communities. According to this perspective, christians must live in opposition toward their culture. Facilitator guide forgiveness will not be possible until compassion is born in your heart. A study of ethics and politics, and the nature and destiny of man, vol 1. He preached and taught theology during the great depression and world war ii. The irony of american history by reinhold niebuhr in djvu, epub, fb2 download ebook. Niebuhrs hostility to biblical literalism extended beyond a mere critique of christian fundamentalism. Reinhold niebuhrs ethical dualism the martin luther.
Niebuhr claimed that human sympathy was made much more. Briddell, a member of the dialectical society, reported that during kings presentation he corrected it to the theology of reinhold niebuhr david w. The authentic prophet displays a duty to a higher authority than the state or society by being not file. For the handwritten essay, see king, draft, the theology of reinhold niebuhr, april ig53. Reinhold niebuhr, 1963 a fog of knownothing ideology, antiintellectualism, cronyism, incompetence, and cynicism has, for eight years, enveloped the executive branch of the united states government. Niebuhrs the irony of american history is in itself reassuring. Reinhold niebuhr biography childhood, life achievements. Perhaps not since president jimmy carter acknowledged niebuhr s influence in his 1976 campaign has the name been on so many peoples lips. Inspirational prose, poems, prayers, quotes, articles, lyrics. Elisabeth sifton is a writer and retired book publisher. Reinhold niebuhr attended elmhurst college, illinois where today stands a large statue of him, and graduated in 1910. He was born in missouri in 1892, the son of a germanborn minister.
The reinhold niebuhr story is directed, written and narrated by martin doblmeier, the creator of dozens of provocative, awardwinning films on faith including. It would be hard to think of another book from the 1950s that retains, nearly sixty years later, both its compulsive readability and so much of its relevance. The daughter of reinhold and ursula niebuhr, she is the author of the serenity prayer. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Mar 31, 2017 author of the nature and destiny of man, moral man and immoral society, an interpretation of christian ethics, the children of light and the children of darkness, beyond tragedy, the irony of american history, leaves from the notebook of a tamed cynic, mans nature and his communities. Thich nhat hanh in the power of forgiveness four conversations about forgiveness. The theology of reinhold niebuhr the martin luther king. Beyond tragedy by reinhold niebuhr media sabda org.
Niebuhr considers the scene before him, surrounded by iconic images. In recognition of his contribution to american life, reinhold niebuhr was awarded the presidential medal of freedom in 1964. The conjunction of the adjectivepessimisticwith the nounoptimistmay initially sound like doubletalk. He is the author of many classics in their field, including the nature and destiny of man, moral man and immoral society, the children of light. Additional funding provided by the arthur vining davis foundations. The political realism of reinhold niebuhr springerlink. Download pdf reinhold niebuhr free online new books in. The title of the version is simply reinhold niebuhr, but david w. God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. Reinhold niebuhr 18921971, the american theologian, ethical philosopher, public commentator, and former professor at union theological seminary. Reinhold niebuhrs serenity prayer remains one of the most quoted writings in american literature. The reinhold niebuhr story is directed, written and narrated by martin doblmeier, the creator of dozens of provocative, awardwinning films on faith including chaplains and bonhoeffer. Reinhold niebuhr has 56 books on goodreads with 15092 ratings.
Karl paul reinhold niebuhr june 21, 1892 june 1, 1971 was a protestant theologian best known for his study of the task of relating the christian faith to the reality of modern politics and diplomacy. Reinhold niebuhr quotes author of moral man and immoral society. Reinhold niebuhr, the nature and destiny of man, vol. Prophet to politicians new york, 1972 for the dangers of abstracting niebuhr s thought from its contexts pp. Congregational study guide an american conscience the. Niebuhr was one of americas leading public intellectuals for several decades of the 20th century and received the presidential medal of freedom.
The film premieres on public televisions world channel on easter sunday, april 16, 2017, 9. Yet niebuhr s impact was far greater, as presidents and civil rights leaders like martin luther king jr. Reinhold niebuhr was a well known american theologian and intellectual who earned great fame and admiration of the masses. The elegance, strength, and charm of niebuhrs writing invite quotation at every turn. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, taking, as jesus did, this sinful world. Reinhold niebuhr, christian realism, and just war theory. Karl paul reinhold niebuhr 18921971 was an american reformed theologian, ethicist, commentator on politics and public affairs, and professor at union theological seminary for more than 30 years. Louis, the training school for ministers of the deutsche evangelical synod of north.
Richard niebuhr taught at the yale divinity school. Forthright and realistic, it discussed the inevitability of social conflict, the brutal behaviour of human collectives of every sort, the inability of rationalists and social scientists to even imagine the realities of collective power, and, ultimately, how individual. The irony of american history by reinhold niebuhr pdf. A study in ethics and politics by reinhold niebuhr one of the foremost philsophers and theologians of the twentieth century, reinhold niebuhr was for many years a professor at union theological seminary, new york city. The irony of american history by reinhold niebuhr pdf free. A comparison of christian and modern views of history new york. From then until his death in 1971, niebuhr was to remain always a liberal christian of realist bent. In this essay for dewolfs seminar in systematic theology, king examines niebuhrs views both on the role of love and justice in society and on the tension between individual and corporate ethics.
744 567 456 554 814 41 1170 685 728 785 74 390 1400 1052 1408 1514 1416 735 633 602 330 728 291 1261 150 594 33 298 270 1253 1314 354