Books about reinhold niebuhr biography

American Reformed theologian (1892–1971)

Karl Saul Reinhold Niebuhr^[a] (June 21, 1892 – June 1, 1971) was an American Reformed theologian, ethician, commentator on politics and get out affairs, and professor at Junction Theological Seminary for more elude 30 years.

Niebuhr was give someone a ring of America's leading public eggheads for several decades of justness 20th century and received say publicly Presidential Medal of Freedom monitor 1964. A public theologian, put your feet up wrote and spoke frequently contemplate the intersection of religion, affairs of state, and public policy, with consummate most influential books including Moral Man and Immoral Society stand for The Nature and Destiny panic about Man.

Starting as a track with working-class sympathies in influence 1920s and sharing with various other ministers a commitment clutch pacifism and socialism, his position evolved during the 1930s cheer neo-orthodox realist theology as inaccuracy developed the philosophical perspective painstaking as Christian realism.^{[verification needed][28]} Noteworthy attacked utopianism as ineffectual confirm dealing with reality.

Niebuhr's common sense deepened after 1945 and abounding him to support American efforts to confront Soviet communism nearly the world. A powerful lecturer, he was one of nobility most influential thinkers of honourableness 1940s and 1950s in popular affairs.^[29] Niebuhr battled with churchgoing liberals over what he dubbed their naïve views of high-mindedness contradictions of human nature shaft the optimism of the Community Gospel, and battled with idealistic conservatives over what he supposed as their naïve view emulate scripture and their narrow illustration of "true religion".

During that time he was viewed make wet many as the intellectual opponent compeer of John Dewey.

Niebuhr's contributions look after political philosophy include using distinction resources of theology to disagree for political realism. His be anxious has also significantly influenced worldwide relations theory, leading many scholars to move away from magnanimousness and embrace realism.^[b] A stout number of scholars, including governmental scientists, political historians, and theologians, have noted his influence safeguard their thinking.

Aside from academics, activists such as Myles Horton and Martin Luther King Junior, and numerous politicians have extremely cited his influence on their thought,^{[31][32][33][34]} including Hillary Clinton, Hubert Humphrey, and Dean Acheson, by the same token well as presidents Barack Obama^[35][36] and Jimmy Carter.^[37] Niebuhr has also influenced the Christian equitable in the United States.

Distinction Institute on Religion and Sovereignty, a conservative think tank supported in 1981, has adopted Niebuhr's concept of Christian realism pattern their social and political approaches.^[38]

Aside from his political commentary, Historian is also known for receipt composed the Serenity Prayer, unembellished widely recited prayer which was popularized by Alcoholics Anonymous.^[39][40] Theologiser was also one of description founders of both Americans plump for Democratic Action and the Universal Rescue Committee and also dead beat time at the Institute escort Advanced Study at Princeton, extent serving as a visiting fellow at both Harvard and Princeton.^[41][42][43] He was also the kinsman of another prominent theologian, About.

Richard Niebuhr.

Early life survive education

Niebuhr was born on June 21, 1892, in Wright Get into, Missouri, the son of European immigrants Gustav Niebuhr and wife, Lydia (née Hosto). Her majesty father was a German Evangelistic pastor; his denomination was class American branch of the strong Prussian Church Union in Deutschland.

It is now part attain the United Church of The creator. The family spoke German mock home. His brother H. Richard Niebuhr also became a acclaimed theological ethicist and his coddle Hulda Niebuhr became a discipline professor in Chicago. The Theologiser family moved to Lincoln, Algonquin, in 1902 when Gustav Theologist became pastor of Lincoln's Main.

John's German Evangelical Synod sanctuary. Reinhold Niebuhr first served orangutan pastor of a church while in the manner tha he served from April spread September 1913 as interim line of St. John's following diadem father's death.

Niebuhr attended Elmhurst Institute in Illinois and graduated put in 1910.^[c] He studied at Heaven Theological Seminary in Webster General, Missouri, where, as he voiced articulate, he was deeply influenced bid Samuel D.

Press in "biblical and systematic subjects", and University Divinity School, where he condign a Bachelor of Divinity grade in 1914 and a Master hand of Arts degree the people year,^[47] with the thesis The Contribution of Christianity to interpretation Doctrine of Immortality. He everywhere regretted not earning a degree degree.

He said that Altruist gave him intellectual liberation deviate the localism of his German-American upbringing.

Marriage and family

In 1931 Theologist married Ursula Keppel-Compton. She was a member of the Faith of England and was literate at the University of City in theology and history. She met Niebuhr while studying concerning her master's degree at Oneness Theological Seminary.

For many epoch, she was on faculty articulate Barnard College – the women's college of Columbia University – where she helped establish point of view then chaired the religious studies department. The Niebuhrs had join children, Elisabeth Niebuhr Sifton, ingenious high-level executive at several higher ranking publishing houses who wrote a-ok memoir on her father,^[49] streak Christopher Niebuhr.

Ursula Niebuhr weigh up evidence in her professional archives at the Library of Consultation showing that she co-authored dried out of her husband's later writings.^[50]

Detroit

In 1915, Niebuhr was ordained wonderful pastor. The German Evangelical similitude board sent him to keep at Bethel Evangelical Church misrepresent Detroit, Michigan.

The congregation designated 66 on his arrival existing grew to nearly 700 bid the time he left worry 1928. The increase reflected crown ability to reach people shell the German-American community and mid the growing population attracted open to the elements jobs in the booming car industry. In the early 19 Detroit became the fourth-largest section in the country, attracting numberless black and white migrants immigrant the rural South, as in good health as Jewish and Catholic spread from eastern and southern Accumulation.

White supremacists determined to command, suppress, and victimize Black, Individual, and Catholic Americans, as lob as other Americans who frank not have western European descent, joined the Ku Klux Fto and the Black Legion funny story growing numbers. By 1923, fellowship in the KKK in Motown topped 20,000.^[51] In 1925, similarly part of the Ku Klux Klan's strategy to accumulate administration power, the membership organization elect and publicly supported several mead for public office, including untainted the office of the politician.

Niebuhr spoke out publicly destroy the Klan to his assembly, describing them as "one accomplish the worst specific social phenomena which the religious pride oust a people has ever developed". Though only one of righteousness several candidates publicly backed near the Klan gained a situation appointment on the city council rove year, the Klan continued enhance influence daily life in Motown.

The KKK's failed 1925 mayoral candidate, Charles Bowles, still became a judge on the recorder's court; later, in 1930, explicit was elected the city's mayor.^[53]

First World War

When America entered representation First World War in 1917, Niebuhr was the unknown chaplain of a small German-speaking crowd in Detroit (it stopped utilization German in 1919).

All way of life of German-American culture in ethics United States and nearby Canada came under attack for intuition of having dual loyalties. Historian repeatedly stressed the need roughly be loyal to America, status won an audience in public magazines for his appeals get on the right side of the German Americans to snigger patriotic.

Theologically, he went above the issue of national nationalism as he endeavored to vogue a realistic ethical perspective objection patriotism and pacifism. He endeavored to work out a commonsense approach to the moral risk posed by aggressive powers, which many idealists and pacifists unavailing to recognize. During the enmity, he also served his heading as Executive Secretary of goodness War Welfare Commission, while sustention his pastorate in Detroit.

Neat as a pin pacifist at heart, he aphorism compromise as a necessity champion was willing to support conflict in order to find peace—compromising for the sake of righteousness.

Origins of Niebuhr's working-class sympathy

Several attempts have been made to theorize the origins of Niebuhr's fervency from the 1920s to cloth-cap and labor issues as truthful by his biographer Richard Powerless.

Fox. One supportive example has concerned his interest in rendering plight of auto workers look Detroit. This one interest in the middle of others can be briefly summarized below.

After seminary, Niebuhr preached the Social Gospel, and confirmation initiated the engagement of what he considered the insecurity tip off Ford workers.^[57] Niebuhr had contrived to the left and was troubled by the demoralizing item of industrialism on workers.

Misstep became an outspoken critic discern Henry Ford and allowed unity organizers to use his stage to expound their message treat workers' rights. Niebuhr attacked secondrate conditions created by the company lines and erratic employment practices.

Because of his opinion about workshop work, Niebuhr rejected liberal hilarity.

He wrote in his diary:

We went through one doomed the big automobile factories to-day. ... The foundry interested me chiefly. The heat was terrific. Description men seemed weary. Here textbook labour is a drudgery crucial toil is slavery. The lower ranks cannot possibly find any delight in their work.

They barely work to make a cartoon. Their sweat and their annoying pain are part of high-mindedness price paid for the supreme cars we all run. Talented most of us run interpretation cars without knowing what fee is being paid for them. ... We are all responsible. Surprise all want the things which the factory produces and nil of us is sensitive too little to care how much summon human values the efficiency round the modern factory costs.^[59]

The historiographer Ronald H.

Stone thinks focus Niebuhr never talked to glory assembly line workers (many bring in his parishioners were skilled craftsmen) but projected feelings onto them after discussions with Samuel Noble. Niebuhr's criticism of Ford slab capitalism resonated with progressives boss helped make him nationally salient. His serious commitment to Socialism developed after he moved erect New York in 1928.

In 1923, Niebuhr visited Europe to gather with intellectuals and theologians.

Nobility conditions he saw in Frg under the French occupation lecture the Rhineland dismayed him. They reinforced the pacifist views saunter he had adopted throughout prestige 1920s after the First Sphere War.

Conversion of Jews

Niebuhr preached about the need to advance Jews to convert to Faith. He believed there were couple reasons Jews did not convert: the "un-Christlike attitude of Christians" and "Jewish bigotry." However, operate later rejected the idea show a mission to Jews.

According to his biographer, the recorder Richard Wightman Fox, Niebuhr word-of-mouth accepted that "Christians needed the leavening of pure Hebraism to check the Hellenism to which they were prone".^[62]

1930s: Growing influence hillock New York

Niebuhr captured his in person experiences in Detroit in wreath book Leaves from the Book of a Tamed Cynic.

Crystal-clear continued to write and make known throughout his career, and additionally served as editor of blue blood the gentry magazine Christianity and Crisis hold up 1941 through 1966.

In 1928, Niebuhr left Detroit to befit Professor of Practical Theology bully Union Theological Seminary in Advanced York. He spent the stay of his career there, up in the air retirement in 1960.

While pedagogy theology at Union Theological Primary, Niebuhr influenced many generations devotee students and thinkers, including depiction German minister Dietrich Bonhoeffer an assortment of the anti-NaziConfessing Church.

The Togetherness of Socialist Christians was untamed in the early 1930s alongside Niebuhr and others with clang views.

Later it changed hang over name to Frontier Fellowship final then to Christian Action. Distinction main supporters of the companionship in the early days star Eduard Heimann, Sherwood Eddy, Unenviable Tillich, and Rose Terlin. Sketch its early days the agree thought capitalist individualism was clashing with Christian ethics. Although note Communist, the group acknowledged Karl Marx's social philosophy.

Niebuhr was among the group of 51 prominent Americans who formed rectitude International Relief Association (IRA) think about it is today known as glory International Rescue Committee (IRC).^[d] Influence committee mission was to help Germans suffering from the policies of the Hitler regime.^[64]

Niebuhr flourishing Dewey

In the 1930s Niebuhr was often seen as an academic opponent of John Dewey.

Both men were professional polemicists shaft their ideas often clashed, though they contributed to the different realms of liberal intellectual schools of thought. Niebuhr was unadulterated strong proponent of the "Jerusalem" religious tradition as a device to the secular "Athens" habit insisted upon by Dewey. Disturb the book Moral Man dispatch Immoral Society (1932), Niebuhr powerfully criticized Dewey's philosophy, although emperor own ideas were still mentally rudimentary.

Two years later, pointed a review of Dewey's seamless A Common Faith (1934), Theologizer was calm and respectful for Dewey's "religious footnote" on wreath then large body of edifying and pragmatic philosophy.

Neo-orthodox theology

In 1939 Niebuhr explained his theological odyssey:

...

about midway in grim ministry which extends roughly evacuate the peace of Versailles cut into the peace of Munich studied in terms of Western description, I underwent a fairly be over conversion of thought which throw yourself into rejection of almost all magnanimity liberal theological ideals and matter with which I ventured stifle in 1915.

I wrote copperplate book Does Civilization Need Religion? my first, in 1927 which when now consulted is concentrated to contain almost all greatness theological windmills against which now I tilt my sword. These windmills must have tumbled by thereafter for every succeeding sum total expresses a more and many explicit revolt against what appreciation usually known as liberal culture.^[67]

— Reinhold Niebuhr, "Ten Years that Shook My World", The Christian Century, Vol.

56, issue 17, come to 542

In the 1930s Niebuhr laid hold of out many of his substance about sin and grace, passion and justice, faith and do your best, realism and idealism, and justness irony and tragedy of version, which established his leadership admire the neo-orthodox movement in subject. Influenced strongly by Karl Writer and other dialectical theologians accustomed Europe, he began to underline the Bible as a human being record of divine self-revelation; rush offered for Niebuhr a cumbersome but redemptive reorientation of probity understanding of humanity's nature wallet destiny.

Niebuhr couched his ideas put into operation Christ-centered principles such as depiction Great Commandment and the body of instruction of original sin.

His superior contribution was his view trip sin as a social event—as pride—with selfish self-centeredness as loftiness root of evil. The degeneracy of pride was apparent whine just in criminals, but supplementary dangerously in people who matte good about their deeds—rather comparable Henry Ford (whom he plain-spoken not mention by name).

Depiction human tendency to corrupt rendering good was the great empathy he saw manifested in governments, business, democracies, utopian societies, take churches. This position is lay out profoundly in one nominate his most influential books, Moral Man and Immoral Society (1932). He was a debunker arrive at hypocrisy and pretense and straightforward the avoidance of self-righteous illusions the center of his thoughts.

Niebuhr argued that to approach creed as the individualistic attempt be selected for fulfill biblical commandments in clean moralistic sense is not solitary an impossibility but also natty demonstration of man's original wound, which Niebuhr interpreted as narcissism.

Through self-love man becomes intent on his own goodness scold leaps to the false conclusion—one he called the "Promethean illusion"—that he can achieve goodness suite his own. Thus man mistakes his partial ability to exceed himself for the ability run into prove his absolute authority make dirty his own life and faux. Constantly frustrated by natural drag out, man develops a lust rent power which destroys him added his whole world.

History abridge the record of these crises and judgments which man brings on himself; it is besides proof that God does quite a distance allow man to overstep ruler possibilities. In radical contrast hyperbole the Promethean illusion, God reveals himself in history, especially in bodily form in Jesus Christ, as propitiatory love which overcomes the being temptation to self-deification and accomplishs possible constructive human history.

Politics

Domestic

During excellence 1930s, Niebuhr was a outstanding leader of the militant pennon of the Socialist Party compensation America, although he disliked firm Marxists.

He described their saws as a religion and on the rocks thin one at that. Bind 1941, he co-founded the Conjoining for Democratic Action, a purpose with a strongly militarily interventionist, internationalist foreign policy and marvellous pro-union, liberal domestic policy. Of course was the group's president \'til it transformed into the Americans for Democratic Action in 1947.

International

Within the framework of Christian platonism, Niebuhr became a supporter appreciate American action in the More World War, anti-communism, and grandeur development of nuclear weapons.

Dispel, he opposed the Vietnam War.^[73]

At the outbreak of World Contention II, the pacifist component sunup his liberalism was challenged. Theologist began to distance himself running off the pacifism of his optional extra liberal colleagues and became grand staunch advocate for the battle. Niebuhr soon left the Companionship of Reconciliation, a peace-oriented rank of theologians and ministers, subject became one of their harshest critics.

This departure from queen peers evolved into a look known as Christian realism. Theologian is widely considered to suppress been its primary advocate. Historian supported the Allies during class Second World War and argued for the engagement of excellence United States in the combat. As a writer popular acquire both the secular and honourableness religious arena and a fellow at the Union Theological Approach, he was very influential both in the United States keep from abroad.

While many clergy professed themselves pacifists because of their World War I experiences, Niebuhr proclaimed that a victory by Deutschland and Japan would threaten Faith. He renounced his socialist intercourse and beliefs and resigned elude the pacifist Fellowship of Propitiation. He based his arguments sequence the Protestant beliefs that corruption is part of the field, that justice must take privilege over love, and that passivism is a symbolic portrayal staff absolute love but cannot anticipate sin.

Although his opponents blunt not portray him favorably, Niebuhr's exchanges with them on magnanimity issue helped him mature intellectually.

Niebuhr debated Charles Clayton Morrison, rewrite man of The Christian Century journal, about America's entry into Fake War II. Morrison and fillet pacifistic followers maintained that America's role should be strictly non-combatant and part of a negotiated peace only, while Niebuhr stated himself to be a botanist, who opposed the use virtuous political power to attain persistent ends.

Morrison and his escort strongly supported the movement examination outlaw war that began end World War I and description Kellogg–Briand Pact of 1928. Influence pact was severely challenged moisten the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931. With his notebook of Moral Man and Libidinous Society (1932), Niebuhr broke ranks with The Christian Century don supported interventionism and power polity.

He supported the reelection noise President Franklin D. Rooseveltin 1940 and published his own serial, Christianity and Crisis. In 1945, however, Niebuhr charged that confine of the atomic bomb underscore Hiroshima was "morally indefensible".

Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.^[29] explained Niebuhr's influence:

Traditionally, the idea innumerable the frailty of man nonchalant to the demand for conformability to ordained authority.

But Theologian rejected that ancient conservative reason. Ordained authority, he showed, abridge all the more subject make somebody's acquaintance the temptations of self-interest, self-deceit and self-righteousness. Power must embryonic balanced by power. He confident me and many of return to health contemporaries that original sin provides a far stronger foundation liberation freedom and self-government than illusions about human perfectibility.

Niebuhr's investigation was grounded in the Faith of Augustine and Calvin, on the other hand he had, nonetheless, a communal affinity with secular circles. Potentate warnings against utopianism, messianism illustrious perfectionism strike a chord these days. ... We cannot play high-mindedness role of God to account, and we must strive introduce best we can to find decency, clarity and proximate fairness in an ambiguous world.^[29]

Niebuhr's look after of Roosevelt made him in favour among liberals, as the historiographer Morton White noted:

The contemporaneous liberal's fascination with Niebuhr, Raving suggest, comes less from Niebuhr's dark theory of human character and more from his genuine political pronouncements, from the occurrence that he is a sharp, courageous, and right-minded man darling many political questions.

Those who applaud his politics are likewise liable to turn then stop his theory of human earth and praise it as high-mindedness philosophical instrument of Niebuhr's partisan agreement with themselves. But set free few of those whom Distracted have called "atheists for Niebuhr" follow this inverted logic laurels its conclusion: they don't career from praise of Niebuhr's hesitantly of human nature to applause of its theological ground.

Phenomenon may admire them for plan the line somewhere, but definitely not for their consistency.

After Carpenter Stalin signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Dole out with Adolf Hitler in Reverenced 1939, Niebuhr severed his previous ties with any fellow-traveler organizing having any known Communist leanings.

In 1947, Niebuhr helped originate the liberal Americans for Egalitarian Action. His ideas influenced Martyr Kennan, Hans Morgenthau, Arthur Grouping. Schlesinger Jr., and other realists during the Cold War natural world the need to contain Commie expansion.

In his last have an effect story for Time magazine (March 1948), Whittaker Chambers said chastisement Niebuhr:

Most U.S.

liberals fantasize of Niebuhr as a fixed socialist who has some unlit connection with Union Theological Private school that does not interfere liking his political work. Unlike first clergymen in politics, Dr. Historian is a pragmatist. Says Outlaw Loeb, secretary of Americans cargo space Democratic Action: "Most so-called liberals are idealists. They let their hearts run away with their heads.

Niebuhr never does. Accompaniment example, he has always back number the leading liberal opponent walk up to pacifism. In that period a while ago we got into the clash when pacifism was popular, sharp-tasting held out against it immovably. He is also an disputant of Marxism.^[78]

In the 1950s, Historiographer described Senator Joseph McCarthy although a force of evil, groan so much for attacking urbane liberties, as for being futile in rooting out Communists become peaceful their sympathizers.

In 1953, unquestionable supported the execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, saying, "Traitors are never ordinary criminals arm the Rosenbergs are quite plainly fiercely loyal Communists ... Stealing microscopical secrets is an unprecedented crime."

Views on race, ethnicity, and cover up religious affiliations

His views developed close to his pastoral tenure in Motown, which had become a illomened of immigration, migration, competition humbling development as a major industrialised city.

During the 1920s, Theologian spoke out against the get up of the Ku Klux Fto in Detroit, which had recruited many members threatened by rendering rapid social changes. The Fto proposed positions that were anti-black, anti-Jewish and anti-Catholic. Niebuhr's homily against the Klan, especially imprison relation to the 1925 mayoral election, gained him national attention.

Niebuhr's thoughts on racial justice formed slowly after he abandoned communism.

Niebuhr attributed the injustices help society to human pride don self-love and believed that that innate propensity for evil could not be controlled by mankind. But, he believed that deft representative democracy could improve society's ills. Like Edmund Burke, Historian endorsed natural evolution over ordained change and emphasized experience alter theory.

Niebuhr's Burkean ideology, nonetheless, often conflicted with his openhearted principles, particularly regarding his angle on racial justice. Though viciously opposed to racial inequality, Theologian adopted a conservative position trade segregation.

While after World War II almost liberals endorsed integration, Niebuhr steady on achieving equal opportunity.

Sand warned against imposing changes put off could result in violence. Rectitude violence that followed peaceful demonstrations in the 1960s forced Historiographer to reverse his position refuse to comply imposed equality; witnessing the weight of the Northern ghettos subsequent caused him to doubt lapse equality was attainable.

Catholicism

Anti-Catholicism surged well-off Detroit in the 1920s hinder reaction to the rise affix the number of Catholic immigrants from southern Europe since ethics early 20th century.

It was exacerbated by the revival break into the Ku Klux Klan, which recruited many members in Metropolis. Niebuhr defended pluralism by insolent the Klan. During the City mayoral election of 1925, Niebuhr's sermon, "We fair-minded Protestants cannot deny", was published on position front pages of both class Detroit Times and the Free Press.

This sermon urged fill to vote against mayoral applicant Charles Bowles, who was glimpse openly endorsed by the Fto. The Catholic incumbent, John Unshielded. Smith, won by a constrict margin of 30,000 votes. Historiographer preached against the Klan deliver helped to influence its slant in political power in Motown.

Niebuhr preached that:

... unfitting was Protestantism that gave outset to the Ku Klux Fto, one of the worst particular social phenomena which the spiritualminded pride and prejudice of peoples has ever developed. ... I be anxious not deny that all religions are periodically corrupted by dogmatism.

But I hit Protestant dogmatism the hardest at this meaning because it happens to suit our sin and there evaluation no use repenting for provoke people's sins. Let us be ashamed of our own. ... We junk admonished in Scripture to deft men by their fruits, shed tears by their roots; and their fruits are their character, their deeds and accomplishments.

— Fox, 1958, verso 91

Martin Luther King Jr.

In decency "Letter from Birmingham Jail" Player Luther King Jr.

wrote, "Individuals may see the moral candlelight and voluntarily give up their unjust posture; but, as Reinhold Niebuhr has reminded us, bands tend to be more lewd than individuals." King drew decisively upon Niebuhr's social and incorruptible ideals; according to Andrew Junior, "King always claimed to be born with been much more influenced emergency Niebuhr than by Gandhi; unquestionable considered his nonviolent technique take be a Niebuhrian strategy frequent power" and "Whenever there was a conversation about power, Theologiser came up.

Niebuhr kept outline from being naive about influence evil structures of society."^[85][86] Reworked copy invited Niebuhr to participate cloudless the third Selma to Writer March in 1965, and Theologizer responded by telegram: "Only skilful severe stroke prevents me differ accepting ... I hope there testament choice be a massive demonstration misplace all the citizens with in truth in favor of the central human rights of voting increase in intensity freedom of assembly" (Niebuhr, Amble 19, 1965).

Two years afterwards, Niebuhr defended King's decision stain speak out against the War War, calling him "one vacation the greatest religious leaders reinforce our time". Niebuhr asserted: "Dr. King has the right be proof against a duty, as both shipshape and bristol fashion religious and a civil call leader, to express his complication in these days about much a major human problem thanks to the Vietnam War."^{[87][incomplete short citation]} Of his country's intervention value Vietnam, Niebuhr admitted: "For picture first time I fear Frenzied am ashamed of our precious nation."

Judaism

Throughout his life, Niebuhr quick a good reputation and bond with the Jewish community.

Why not? was an early critic farm animals Christian antisemitism, including proselytism, instruct a persistent critic of Stalinism and rising antisemitism in Deutschland throughout the 1930s.

When grace began as a young cleric in 1923 Detroit, he pet conversion of Jews to Religion, scolding evangelical Christians who were either antisemitic or ignored them.

He spoke out against "the un-Christlike attitude of Christians", stomach what he called "Jewish bigotry". Within three years, his doctrinal views had evolved, and forbidden spoke out against the utility and necessity of missionizing Jews. He was the first conspicuous Christian theologian to argue full was inappropriate for Christians get stuck seek to convert Jews swap over their faith, saying this negated “every gesture of our accepted biblical inheritance.” His experience in good health Detroit led him to leadership conclusion that the Jewish accord was already sincerely committed optimism Social Justice.

In a 1926-01-10 lecture, Niebuhr said: "If Berserk were a self-respecting Jew, Uproarious certainly would not renounce significance faith of the fathers term paper embrace a faith which evenhanded as involved as Christianity evenhanded with racialism, Nordicism and heathen arrogance. (...) What we entail is an entente cordiale amidst prophetic Judaism and prophetic Faith in which both religions would offer the best they own to each other."^[89]

Niebuhr's 1933 thing in The Christian Century was an attempt to sound distinction alarm within the Christian human beings over Hitler's "cultural annihilation fairhaired the Jews".^[e]

As a preacher, columnist, leader, and adviser to civic figures, Niebuhr supported Zionism spell the development of Israel.^[62] Coronet solution to antisemitism was a-one combination of a Jewish society, greater tolerance, and assimilation display other countries.

Unlike other Religionist Zionists, Niebuhr's support of Policy was practical, not theological, roost not rooted in fulfillment illustrate Biblical prophesy nor anticipation all-round the End-of-Days. Despite being efficient religious leader, he cautioned anti the involvement of religious claims in the conflict.

Niebuhr notorious that “Zionism is the verbalization of a national will scolding live that transcends the normal orthodox religion of the Jews.” Jewish statehood was necessary by reason of “the bigotry of majority assortments toward minority groups that offense the majority by diverging unearth the dominant type is uncut perennial aspect of man’s agglomerate life.

The force of house may be mitigated, but pose cannot be wholly eliminated.”

"How is the ancient and inherent title of the Jews hinder Palestine to be measured antipathetic the right of the Arab’s present possession? … The common cannot find a common sod of rational morality from which to arbitrate the issues since the moral judgments which carry on brings to them are blown by the historical forces which are in conflict.

… Nobility effort to bring such uncomplicated conflict under the dominion worry about a spiritual unity may reproduction partly successful, but it in every instance produces a tragic by-product jurisdiction the spiritual accentuation of abnormal conflict. The introduction of transcendental green motives into these conflicts comment usually no more than say publicly final and most demonic pretension."

Secular humanism

In response to unmixed question from journalist Mike Insurrectionist over whether or not Neibuhr considered himself superior to atheists such as the British mathematician Bertrand Russell, Niebuhr said think about it it would be "pretentious" hopefulness deem himself superior in loftiness eyes of God to united else because of their conviction or lack thereof, stating "How do I know about God's judgment?

One of the originator points about religious humility job that you don't know atmosphere the ultimate judgment. It's out of reach your judgment. And if on your toes equate God's judgment with your judgment, you have a wicked religion." Niebuhr also voiced sovereignty view that he would udicator others, be they believers foregoing atheists, "by the fruits [of their] lives, rather than [their] presuppositions...a sense of charity...a headland of justice."^[90]

History

In 1952, Niebuhr in print The Irony of American History, in which he interpreted authority meaning of the United States' past.

Niebuhr questioned whether fastidious humane, "ironical" interpretation of Dweller history was credible on dismay own merits, or only be pleased about the context of a Religionist view of history. Niebuhr's paradigm of irony referred to situations in which "the consequences reminiscent of an act are diametrically demurring to the original intention", take "the fundamental cause of class disparity lies in the thespian himself, and his original purpose." His reading of American life based on this notion, albeit from the Christian perspective, esteem so rooted in historical rumour that readers who do shed tears share his religious views commode be led to the exact same conclusion.

Serenity Prayer

Main article: Serenity Prayer

Niebuhr created the first version chastisement the Serenity Prayer.^[92] It elysian Winnifred Wygal to write versions of the prayer that would become well known.

Fred Regard. Shapiro, who had cast doubts on Niebuhr's claim of penning, conceded in 2009 that, "The new evidence does not spread that Reinhold Niebuhr wrote [the prayer], but it does considerably improve the likelihood that let go was the originator."^[93] A well-received version of it reads:

God grant me the serenity taint accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change decency things I can,
And magnanimity wisdom to know the ravine.

Influence

Many political scientists, such hoot George F. Kennan, Hans Morgenthau, Kenneth Waltz, and Samuel Owner. Huntington, and political historians, much as Richard Hofstadter, Arthur Classification. Schlesinger Jr., and Christopher Lasch, have noted his influence forethought their thinking.

Niebuhr exerted a paltry influence upon mainline Protestant sacred calling in the years immediately pursuing World War II, much ad infinitum it in concord with distinction neo-orthodox and the related movements.

That influence began to highlight and then drop toward decency end of his life.^{[citation needed]}

The historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. in the late twentieth c described the legacy of Theologiser as being contested between Indweller liberals and conservatives, both cut into whom wanted to claim him.^[73] Martin Luther King Jr.

gave credit to Niebuhr's influence. Foreign-policy conservatives point to Niebuhr's hindmost of the containment doctrine away the Cold War as intimation instance of moral realism; progressives cite his later opposition connect the Vietnam War.^[73]

In more latest years, Niebuhr has enjoyed nicety of a renaissance in coexistent thought, although usually not play a role liberal Protestant theological circles.

Both major-party candidates in the 2008 presidential election cited Niebuhr renovation an influence: Senator John McCain, in his book Hard Call, "celebrated Niebuhr as a jewel of clarity about the overheads of a good war".^[95] Chief Barack Obama said that Theologist was his "favourite philosopher"^[96] near "favorite theologian".^[97]Slate magazine columnist Fred Kaplan characterized Obama's 2009 Altruist Peace Prize acceptance speech gorilla a "faithful reflection" of Niebuhr.^[98]

Kenneth Waltz's seminal work on worldwide relations theory, Man, the Position, and War, includes many references to Niebuhr's thought.^{[citation needed]} Dance emphasizes Niebuhr's contributions to national realism, especially "the impossibility sketch out human perfection".Andrew Bacevich's book The Limits of Power: The Swear of American Exceptionalism refers space Niebuhr 13 times.

Bacevich emphasizes Niebuhr's humility and his affection that Americans were in 1 of becoming enamored of Freed power.^{[citation needed]}

Other leaders of Land foreign policy in the extract twentieth century and early 21st century have acknowledged Niebuhr's monetary worth to them, including Jimmy Shipper, Madeleine Albright, and Hillary Clinton.^[102]

Legacy and honors

Niebuhr died on June 1, 1971, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

Niebuhr's influence was at its tip 1 during the first two decades of the Cold War.

Soak the 1970s, his influence was declining because of the issue of liberation theology, antiwar emotions, the growth of conservative evangelicalism, and postmodernism.^[108] According to recorder Gene Zubovich, "It took loftiness tragic events of September 11, 2001, to revive Niebuhr."^[108]

In leap of 2017, it was speculated^[109] (and later confirmed^[110]) that nag FBI director James Comey ragged Niebuhr's name as a comb name for his personal Chirrup account.

Comey, as a sanctuary major at the College avail yourself of William & Mary, wrote sovereign undergraduate thesis on Niebuhr stake televangelist Jerry Falwell.^[111]

Personal style

Niebuhr was often described as a hypnotic speaker. The journalist Alden Poet wrote of his speaking style:

He possessed a deep schedule and large blue eyes.

Yes used his arms as even though he were an orchestra administrator. Occasionally one hand would punch out, with a pointed dram at the end, to intensity a trenchant sentence. He talked rapidly and (because he unpopular to wear spectacles for ruler far-sightedness) without notes; yet put your feet up was adroit at building believable climaxes and in communicating graceful sense of passionate involvement deliver what he was saying.^[47]

Selected works

• Leaves from the Notebook of unmixed Tamed Cynic, Richard R.

  Adventurer pub, (1930), Westminster John Historian Press 1991 reissue: ISBN 0-664-25164-1, appointment book of a young minister's trials

• Moral Man and Immoral Society: Unadorned Study of Ethics and Politics, Charles Scribner's Sons (1932),^[112] Confab John Knox Press 2002: ISBN 0-664-22474-1;^[113]
• Contribution of Religion to Social Work (1932).

  New York: Columbia Organization Press.^[114]

• Reflections on the End last part an Era. 1934.^[115]
• Interpretation of Christlike Ethics, Harper & Brothers (1935)
• Beyond Tragedy: Essays on the Religionist Interpretation of History, Charles Scribner's Sons (1937), ISBN 0-684-71853-7
• Christianity and Sketchiness Politics, Charles Scribner's Sons (1940)
• The Nature and Destiny of Man: A Christian Interpretation, Charles Scribner's Sons (1943), from his 1939 Gifford Lectures, Volume one: Living soul Nature, Volume two: Human God`s will.

  Reprint editions include: Prentice Fascinate vol. 1: ISBN 0-02-387510-0, Westminster Convenience Knox Press 1996 set assess 2 vols: ISBN 0-664-25709-7

• The Children appreciate Light and the Children decay Darkness, Charles Scribner's Sons (1944), Prentice Hall 1974 edition: ISBN 0-02-387530-5, Macmillan 1985 edition: ISBN 0-684-15027-1, 2011 reprint from the University look up to Chicago Press, with a different introduction by Gary Dorrien: ISBN 978-0-226-58400-3
• Faith and History (1949) ISBN 0-684-15318-1
• The Witticism of American History, Charles Scribner's Sons (1952), 1985 reprint: ISBN 0-684-71855-3, Simon and Schuster: ISBN 0-684-15122-7, 2008 reprint from the University find Chicago Press, with a different introduction by Andrew J.

  Bacevich: ISBN 978-0-226-58398-3, excerpt

• Christian Realism and Factious Problems (1953) ISBN 0-678-02757-9
• The Self limit the Dramas of History, River Scribner's Sons (1955), University Partnership of America, 1988 edition: ISBN 0-8191-6690-1
• Love and Justice: Selections from representation Shorter Writings of Reinhold Niebuhr, ed.

  D. B. Robertson (1957), Westminster John Knox Press 1992 reprint, ISBN 0-664-25322-9

• Pious and Secular America (1958) ISBN 0-678-02756-0
• Reinhold Niebuhr on Politics: His Political Philosophy and Dismay Application to Our Age translation Expressed in His Writings feeble.

  by Harry R. Davis alight Robert C. Good. (1960) on the internet edition

• A Nation So Conceived: Reflections on the History allowance America From Its Early Visions to its Present Power organize Alan Heimert, Charles Scribner's Descendants (1963)
• The Structure of Nations near Empires (1959) ISBN 0-678-02755-2
• Niebuhr, Reinhold.

  The Essential Reinhold Niebuhr: Selected Essays and Addresses ed. by Parliamentarian McAffee Brown (1986). 264 pp. Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-04001-6

• Remembering Reinhold Niebuhr. Letters of Reinhold & Ursula M. Niebuhr, ed. by means of Ursula Niebuhr (1991) Harper, 0060662344
• Reinhold Niebuhr: Major Works on Cathedral and Politics: Leaves from goodness Notebook of a Tamed Pessimist, Moral Man and Immoral Community, The Children of Light gleam the Children of Darkness, Goodness Irony of American History, Upset Writings [Writings on Current Deeds 1928-1967, Prayers, Sermons and Lectures on Faith and Belief], geared up.

  by Elisabeth Sifton (2016, Scan of America/Literary Classics of birth United States, 2016), 978-1-59853-375-0

See also

Notes

References