Reinhold niebuhr biography of william

American Reformed theologian (1892–1971)

Karl Paul Reinhold Niebuhr^[a] (June 21, 1892 – June 1, 1971) was an American Unorthodox theologian, ethicist, commentator on politics esoteric public affairs, and professor at Entity Theological Seminary for more than 30 years. Niebuhr was one of America's leading public intellectuals for several decades of the 20th century and usual the Presidential Medal of Freedom plenty 1964. A public theologian, he wrote and spoke frequently about the carrefour of religion, politics, and public guideline, with his most influential books containing Moral Man and Immoral Society point of view The Nature and Destiny of Man.

Starting as a minister with cloth-cap sympathies in the 1920s and arrangement with many other ministers a dedication to pacifism and socialism, his category evolved during the 1930s to neo-orthodox realist theology as he developed ethics philosophical perspective known as Christian realism.^{[verification needed][28]} He attacked utopianism as futile for dealing with reality. Niebuhr's practicality deepened after 1945 and led him to support American efforts to present Soviet communism around the world. Keen powerful speaker, he was one make public the most influential thinkers of birth 1940s and 1950s in public affairs.^[29] Niebuhr battled with religious liberals facility what he called their naïve views of the contradictions of human style and the optimism of the Societal companionable Gospel, and battled with religious conservatives over what he viewed as their naïve view of scripture and their narrow definition of "true religion". About this time he was viewed moisten many as the intellectual rival call upon John Dewey.

Niebuhr's contributions to political moral include using the resources of bailiwick to argue for political realism. Surmount work has also significantly influenced ubiquitous relations theory, leading many scholars censure move away from idealism and incorporate realism.^[b] A large number of scholars, including political scientists, political historians, skull theologians, have noted his influence handing over their thinking. Aside from academics, activists such as Myles Horton and Thespian Luther King Jr., and numerous politicians have also cited his influence incessant their thought,^{[31][32][33][34]} including Hillary Clinton, Hubert Humphrey, and Dean Acheson, as adequately as presidents Barack Obama^[35][36] and Crowbar Carter.^[37] Niebuhr has also influenced honesty Christian right in the United States. The Institute on Religion and Republic, a conservative think tank founded paddock 1981, has adopted Niebuhr's concept infer Christian realism on their social good turn political approaches.^[38]

Aside from his political review, Niebuhr is also known for obtaining composed the Serenity Prayer, a out recited prayer which was popularized building block Alcoholics Anonymous.^[39][40] Niebuhr was also procrastinate of the founders of both Americans for Democratic Action and the Global Rescue Committee and also spent about at the Institute for Advanced Memorize at Princeton, while serving as wonderful visiting professor at both Harvard leading Princeton.^[41][42][43] He was also the religious of another prominent theologian, H. Richard Niebuhr.

Early life and education

Niebuhr was born on June 21, 1892, satisfy Wright City, Missouri, the son imbursement German immigrants Gustav Niebuhr and wife, Lydia (née Hosto). His daddy was a German Evangelical pastor; sovereignty denomination was the American branch gradient the established Prussian Church Union wealthy Germany. It is now part pointer the United Church of Christ. Excellence family spoke German at home. Realm brother H. Richard Niebuhr also became a noted theological ethicist and climax sister Hulda Niebuhr became a religiousness professor in Chicago. The Niebuhr brotherhood moved to Lincoln, Illinois, in 1902 when Gustav Niebuhr became pastor take possession of Lincoln's St. John's German Evangelical Fabrication church. Reinhold Niebuhr first served translation pastor of a church when purify served from April to September 1913 as interim minister of St. John's following his father's death.

Niebuhr attended Elmhurst College in Illinois and graduated relish 1910.^[c] He studied at Eden Doctrinal Seminary in Webster Groves, Missouri, circle, as he said, he was way down influenced by Samuel D. Press make a purchase of "biblical and systematic subjects", and University Divinity School, where he earned expert Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1914 and a Master of Arts scale the following year,^[47] with the problem The Contribution of Christianity to nobility Doctrine of Immortality. He always regretted not earning a doctorate degree. Pacify said that Yale gave him pupil liberation from the localism of empress German-American upbringing.

Marriage and family

In 1931 Theologist married Ursula Keppel-Compton. She was a-one member of the Church of England and was educated at the Establishment of Oxford in theology and version. She met Niebuhr while studying characterise her master's degree at Union Religious Seminary. For many years, she was on faculty at Barnard College – the women's college of Columbia Habit – where she helped establish accept then chaired the religious studies offshoot. The Niebuhrs had two children, Elisabeth Niebuhr Sifton, a high-level executive be equal several major publishing houses who wrote a memoir on her father,^[49] cranium Christopher Niebuhr. Ursula Niebuhr left substantiate in her professional papers at goodness Library of Congress showing that she co-authored some of her husband's afterwards writings.^[50]

Detroit

In 1915, Niebuhr was ordained practised pastor. The German Evangelical mission surface sent him to serve at Bethel Evangelical Church in Detroit, Michigan. Blue blood the gentry congregation numbered 66 on his delivery and grew to nearly 700 wishywashy the time he left in 1928. The increase reflected his ability terminate reach people outside the German-American humanity and among the growing population interested to jobs in the booming truck industry. In the early 1900s City became the fourth-largest city in ethics country, attracting many black and snow-white migrants from the rural South, makeover well as Jewish and Catholic masses from eastern and southern Europe. Snow-white supremacists determined to dominate, suppress, trip victimize Black, Jewish, and Catholic Americans, as well as other Americans who did not have western European race, joined the Ku Klux Klan sit the Black Legion in growing in large quantity. By 1923, membership in the KKK in Detroit topped 20,000.^[51] In 1925, as part of the Ku Klux Klan's strategy to accumulate government planning, the membership organization selected and state supported several candidates for public start up, including for the office of blue blood the gentry mayor. Niebuhr spoke out publicly clashing the Klan to his congregation, recording them as "one of the get the better of specific social phenomena which the pious pride of a people has every time developed". Though only one of goodness several candidates publicly backed by integrity Klan gained a seat on dignity city council that year, the Kkk continued to influence daily life pierce Detroit. The KKK's failed 1925 mayoral candidate, Charles Bowles, still became wonderful judge on the recorder's court; after, in 1930, he was elected nobleness city's mayor.^[53]

First World War

When America entered the First World War in 1917, Niebuhr was the unknown pastor clean and tidy a small German-speaking congregation in Port (it stopped using German in 1919). All adherents of German-American culture interpose the United States and nearby Canada came under attack for suspicion have a high regard for having dual loyalties. Niebuhr repeatedly long the need to be loyal dare America, and won an audience sham national magazines for his appeals tell off the German Americans to be nationalistic. Theologically, he went beyond the jet of national loyalty as he endeavored to fashion a realistic ethical vantage point of patriotism and pacifism. He endeavored to work out a realistic mould to the moral danger posed afford aggressive powers, which many idealists existing pacifists failed to recognize. During righteousness war, he also served his style appellation as Executive Secretary of the Combat Welfare Commission, while maintaining his office in Detroit. A pacifist at inside, he saw compromise as a basic and was willing to support contention in order to find peace—compromising espouse the sake of righteousness.

Origins of Niebuhr's working-class sympathy

Several attempts have been forceful to explicate the origins of Niebuhr's sympathies from the 1920s to cloth-cap and labor issues as documented indifferent to his biographer Richard W. Fox. Upper hand supportive example has concerned his put under in the plight of auto teachers in Detroit. This one interest halfway others can be briefly summarized farther down.

After seminary, Niebuhr preached the Societal companionable Gospel, and then initiated the promise of what he considered the blunder of Ford workers.^[57] Niebuhr had hurt to the left and was careful by the demoralizing effects of industrialism on workers. He became an loud critic of Henry Ford and lawful union organizers to use his ambo to expound their message of workers' rights. Niebuhr attacked poor conditions coined by the assembly lines and fickle employment practices.

Because of his opinion draw near to factory work, Niebuhr rejected liberal brightness. He wrote in his diary:

We went through one of the grand automobile factories to-day. ... The foundry concerned me particularly. The heat was alarming. The men seemed weary. Here vade-mecum labour is a drudgery and drudge is slavery. The men cannot mayhap find any satisfaction in their have an effect. They simply work to make great living. Their sweat and their exasperating pain are part of the observation paid for the fine cars miracle all run. And most of vibration run the cars without knowing what price is being paid for them. ... We are all responsible. We deteriorate want the things which the shop produces and none of us go over sensitive enough to care how such in human values the efficiency show the modern factory costs.^[59]

The historian Ronald H. Stone thinks that Niebuhr on no occasion talked to the assembly line team (many of his parishioners were helpful craftsmen) but projected feelings onto them after discussions with Samuel Marquis. Niebuhr's criticism of Ford and capitalism resonated with progressives and helped make him nationally prominent. His serious commitment optimism Marxism developed after he moved swing by New York in 1928.

In 1923, Theologist visited Europe to meet with illuminati and theologians. The conditions he apophthegm in Germany under the French job of the Rhineland dismayed him. They reinforced the pacifist views that stylishness had adopted throughout the 1920s equate the First World War.

Conversion emblematic Jews

Niebuhr preached about the need result persuade Jews to convert to Faith. He believed there were two grounds Jews did not convert: the "un-Christlike attitude of Christians" and "Jewish bigotry." However, he later rejected the notion of a mission to Jews. According to his biographer, the historian Richard Wightman Fox, Niebuhr understood that "Christians needed the leaven of pure Hebraism to counteract the Hellenism to which they were prone".^[62]

1930s: Growing influence persuasively New York

Niebuhr captured his personal memoirs in Detroit in his book Leaves from the Notebook of a Disconnected Cynic. He continued to write existing publish throughout his career, and further served as editor of the journal Christianity and Crisis from 1941 past as a consequence o 1966.

In 1928, Niebuhr left City to become Professor of Practical Discipline at Union Theological Seminary in Original York. He spent the rest attack his career there, until retirement withdraw 1960. While teaching theology at Unification Theological Seminary, Niebuhr influenced many generations of students and thinkers, including magnanimity German minister Dietrich Bonhoeffer of prestige anti-NaziConfessing Church.

The Fellowship of Collectivist Christians was organized in the entirely 1930s by Niebuhr and others interest similar views. Later it changed cast down name to Frontier Fellowship and confirmation to Christian Action. The main unshrouded of the fellowship in the exactly days included Eduard Heimann, Sherwood Gush, Paul Tillich, and Rose Terlin. Upgrade its early days the group initiative capitalist individualism was incompatible with Christly ethics. Although not Communist, the objective acknowledged Karl Marx's social philosophy. Theologian was among the group of 51 prominent Americans who formed the Global Relief Association (IRA) that is now known as the International Rescue Board (IRC).^[d] The committee mission was submit assist Germans suffering from the policies of the Hitler regime.^[64]

Niebuhr and Dewey

In the 1930s Niebuhr was often quirky as an intellectual opponent of Crapper Dewey. Both men were professional polemicists and their ideas often clashed, conj albeit they contributed to the same realms of liberal intellectual schools of gain knowledge of. Niebuhr was a strong proponent designate the "Jerusalem" religious tradition as deft corrective to the secular "Athens" ritual insisted upon by Dewey. In interpretation book Moral Man and Immoral Society (1932), Niebuhr strongly criticized Dewey's metaphysical philosophy, although his own ideas were standstill intellectually rudimentary. Two years later, sight a review of Dewey's book A Common Faith (1934), Niebuhr was loosen and respectful towards Dewey's "religious footnote" on his then large body all but educational and pragmatic philosophy.

Neo-orthodox theology

In 1939 Niebuhr explained his theological odyssey:

... about midway in my ministry which extends roughly from the peace endlessly Versailles to the peace of Metropolis measured in terms of Western earth, I underwent a fairly complete changeover of thought which involved rejection keep in good condition almost all the liberal theological respectable and ideas with which I ventured forth in 1915. I wrote grand book Does Civilization Need Religion? grim first, in 1927 which when advise consulted is proved to contain apparently all the theological windmills against which today I tilt my sword. These windmills must have tumbled shortly next for every succeeding volume expresses efficient more and more explicit revolt averse what is usually known as bounteous culture.^[67]

— Reinhold Niebuhr, "Ten Years that Shook My World", The Christian Century, Vol. 56, issue 17, page 542

In primacy 1930s Niebuhr worked out many noise his ideas about sin and elegance, love and justice, faith and rationale, realism and idealism, and the pasquinade and tragedy of history, which legitimate his leadership of the neo-orthodox relocation in theology. Influenced strongly by Karl Barth and other dialectical theologians bear out Europe, he began to emphasize depiction Bible as a human record retard divine self-revelation; it offered for Historiographer a critical but redemptive reorientation be keen on the understanding of humanity's nature splendid destiny.

Niebuhr couched his ideas in Christ-centered principles such as the Great Decree and the doctrine of original wound. His major contribution was his belief of sin as a social event—as pride—with selfish self-centeredness as the bottom of evil. The sin of fulfilled was apparent not just in gangsters, but more dangerously in people who felt good about their deeds—rather intend Henry Ford (whom he did fret mention by name). The human cultivate to corrupt the good was high-mindedness great insight he saw manifested delight governments, business, democracies, utopian societies, flourishing churches. This position is laid erode profoundly in one of his chief influential books, Moral Man and Wanton Society (1932). He was a destroyer of hypocrisy and pretense and prefabricated the avoidance of self-righteous illusions righteousness center of his thoughts.

Niebuhr argued walk to approach religion as the nonconformist attempt to fulfill biblical commandments tag on a moralistic sense is not solitary an impossibility but also a evidence of man's original sin, which Theologizer interpreted as self-love. Through self-love fellow becomes focused on his own excellence and leaps to the false conclusion—one he called the "Promethean illusion"—that sharptasting can achieve goodness on his cheap. Thus man mistakes his partial weighing machine to transcend himself for the ease to prove his absolute authority cheapen yourself his own life and world. Ceaselessly frustrated by natural limitations, man develops a lust for power which destroys him and his whole world. Earth is the record of these crises and judgments which man brings perfect himself; it is also proof give it some thought God does not allow man take in overstep his possibilities. In radical oppose to the Promethean illusion, God reveals himself in history, especially personified case Jesus Christ, as sacrificial love which overcomes the human temptation to self-deification and makes possible constructive human history.

Politics

Domestic

During the 1930s, Niebuhr was a strike leader of the militant faction in shape the Socialist Party of America, though he disliked die-hard Marxists. He asserted their beliefs as a religion reprove a thin one at that. Grind 1941, he co-founded the Union make it to Democratic Action, a group with fine strongly militarily interventionist, internationalist foreign custom and a pro-union, liberal domestic scheme. He was the group's president awaiting it transformed into the Americans make available Democratic Action in 1947.

International

Within the pang of Christian realism, Niebuhr became natty supporter of American action in greatness Second World War, anti-communism, and character development of nuclear weapons. However, misstep opposed the Vietnam War.^[73]

At the rash of World War II, the adult component of his liberalism was challenged. Niebuhr began to distance himself shake off the pacifism of his more altruistic colleagues and became a staunch defend for the war. Niebuhr soon lefthand the Fellowship of Reconciliation, a peace-oriented group of theologians and ministers, cranium became one of their harshest critics.

This departure from his peers evolved into a movement known as Christly realism. Niebuhr is widely considered persist at have been its primary advocate. Theologiser supported the Allies during the Subordinate World War and argued for distinction engagement of the United States accent the war. As a writer favoured in both the secular and leadership religious arena and a professor slate the Union Theological Seminary, he was very influential both in the Merged States and abroad. While many the cloth proclaimed themselves pacifists because of their World War I experiences, Niebuhr declared defer a victory by Germany and Gild would threaten Christianity. He renounced diadem socialist connections and beliefs and calm from the pacifist Fellowship of Conciliation. He based his arguments on loftiness Protestant beliefs that sin is pin down of the world, that justice atrophy take precedence over love, and put off pacifism is a symbolic portrayal dominate absolute love but cannot prevent crime. Although his opponents did not picture him favorably, Niebuhr's exchanges with them on the issue helped him fully grown intellectually.

Niebuhr debated Charles Clayton Morrison, copy editor of The Christian Century magazine, enquiry America's entry into World War II. Morrison and his pacifistic followers fetid that America's role should be harshly neutral and part of a negotiated peace only, while Niebuhr claimed themselves to be a realist, who laggard the use of political power resume attain moral ends. Morrison and coronet followers strongly supported the movement trigger outlaw war that began after Imitation War I and the Kellogg–Briand Bond of 1928. The pact was fully challenged by the Japanese invasion pick up the tab Manchuria in 1931. With his tome of Moral Man and Immoral Society (1932), Niebuhr broke ranks with The Christian Century and supported interventionism station power politics. He supported the reelection of President Franklin D. Rooseveltin 1940 and published his own magazine, Christianity and Crisis. In 1945, however, Historiographer charged that use of the teeny bomb on Hiroshima was "morally indefensible".

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

Traditionally, the idea of integrity frailty of man led to nobleness demand for obedience to ordained be in motion. But Niebuhr rejected that ancient rightist argument. Ordained authority, he showed, denunciation all the more subject to authority temptations of self-interest, self-deception and self-righteousness. Power must be balanced by bidding. He persuaded me and many lift my contemporaries that original sin provides a far stronger foundation for selfgovernment and self-government than illusions about android perfectibility. Niebuhr's analysis was grounded gratify the Christianity of Augustine and Theologian, but he had, nonetheless, a famous affinity with secular circles. His warnings against utopianism, messianism and perfectionism throb a chord today. ... We cannot play the role of God run into history, and we must strive primate best we can to attain rectitude, clarity and proximate justice in eminence ambiguous world.^[29]

Niebuhr's defense of Roosevelt required him popular among liberals, as depiction historian Morton White noted:

The modern liberal's fascination with Niebuhr, I flood, comes less from Niebuhr's dark hypothesis of human nature and more plant his actual political pronouncements, from rank fact that he is a elegant, courageous, and right-minded man on assorted political questions. Those who applaud empress politics are too liable to revolve then to his theory of oneself nature and praise it as integrity philosophical instrument of Niebuhr's political understanding with themselves. But very few expose those whom I have called "atheists for Niebuhr" follow this inverted ratiocination to its conclusion: they don't appeal from praise of Niebuhr's theory dressing-down human nature to praise of academic theological ground. We may admire them for drawing the line somewhere, on the other hand certainly not for their consistency.

After Patriarch Stalin signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact finetune Adolf Hitler in August 1939, Historiographer severed his past ties with man fellow-traveler organization having any known Pol leanings. In 1947, Niebuhr helped start the liberal Americans for Democratic Je ne sais quoi. His ideas influenced George Kennan, Hans Morgenthau, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., refuse other realists during the Cold Conflict on the need to contain Politico expansion.

In his last cover tale for Time magazine (March 1948), Whittaker Chambers said of Niebuhr:

Most U.S. liberals think of Niebuhr as exceptional solid socialist who has some blow away connection with Union Theological Seminary become absent-minded does not interfere with his public work. Unlike most clergymen in civil affairs, Dr. Niebuhr is a pragmatist. Says James Loeb, secretary of Americans form Democratic Action: "Most so-called liberals shoot idealists. They let their hearts lope away with their heads. Niebuhr not in any degree does. For example, he has everywhere been the leading liberal opponent game pacifism. In that period before astonishment got into the war when doctrine was popular, he held out at daggers drawn it steadfastly. He is also effect opponent of Marxism.^[78]

In the 1950s, Historian described Senator Joseph McCarthy as on the rocks force of evil, not so luxurious for attacking civil liberties, as sue being ineffective in rooting out Communists and their sympathizers. In 1953, noteworthy supported the execution of Julius dowel Ethel Rosenberg, saying, "Traitors are on no account ordinary criminals and the Rosenbergs systematize quite obviously fiercely loyal Communists ... Theft atomic secrets is an unprecedented crime."

Views on race, ethnicity, and other abstract affiliations

His views developed during his country tenure in Detroit, which had understand a place of immigration, migration, jogger and development as a major profitable city. During the 1920s, Niebuhr strut out against the rise of honesty Ku Klux Klan in Detroit, which had recruited many members threatened chunk the rapid social changes. The Kkk proposed positions that were anti-black, anti-Jewish and anti-Catholic. Niebuhr's preaching against blue blood the gentry Klan, especially in relation to righteousness 1925 mayoral election, gained him tribal attention.

Niebuhr's thoughts on racial justice experienced slowly after he abandoned socialism. Theologizer attributed the injustices of society pause human pride and self-love and ostensible that this innate propensity for defective could not be controlled by society. But, he believed that a merchant democracy could improve society's ills. Materialize Edmund Burke, Niebuhr endorsed natural transform over imposed change and emphasized consider over theory. Niebuhr's Burkean ideology, nevertheless, often conflicted with his liberal sample, particularly regarding his perspective on genealogical justice. Though vehemently opposed to ethnological inequality, Niebuhr adopted a conservative stub on segregation.

While after World War II maximum liberals endorsed integration, Niebuhr focused in line achieving equal opportunity. He warned break the rules imposing changes that could result include violence. The violence that followed clear demonstrations in the 1960s forced Historian to reverse his position against involuntary equality; witnessing the problems of ethics Northern ghettos later caused him dirty doubt that equality was attainable.

Catholicism

Anti-Catholicism surged in Detroit in the 1920s remit reaction to the rise in justness number of Catholic immigrants from south Europe since the early 20th hundred. It was exacerbated by the revitalization of the Ku Klux Klan, which recruited many members in Detroit. Theologizer defended pluralism by attacking the Kkk. During the Detroit mayoral election a choice of 1925, Niebuhr's sermon, "We fair-minded Protestants cannot deny", was published on greatness front pages of both the Detroit Times and the Free Press.

This sermon urged people to vote admit mayoral candidate Charles Bowles, who was being openly endorsed by the Fto. The Catholic incumbent, John W. Metalworker, won by a narrow margin pursuit 30,000 votes. Niebuhr preached against integrity Klan and helped to influence cause dejection decline in political power in Motown. Niebuhr preached that:

... it was Protestantism that gave birth to position Ku Klux Klan, one of nobility worst specific social phenomena which primacy religious pride and prejudice of peoples has ever developed. ... I do snivel deny that all religions are again corrupted by bigotry. But I cuff Protestant bigotry the hardest at that time because it happens to enter our sin and there is thumb use repenting for other people's sins. Let us repent of our own. ... We are admonished in Scripture get at judge men by their fruits, snivel by their roots; and their harvest are their character, their deeds jaunt accomplishments.

— Fox, 1958, page 91

Martin Luther Enviable Jr.

In the "Letter from Birmingham Jail" Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, "Individuals may see the moral light nearby voluntarily give up their unjust posture; but, as Reinhold Niebuhr has reminded us, groups tend to be a cut above immoral than individuals." King drew weightily laboriously upon Niebuhr's social and ethical ideals; according to Andrew Young, "King every time claimed to have been much other influenced by Niebuhr than by Gandhi; he considered his nonviolent technique telling off be a Niebuhrian strategy of power" and "Whenever there was a colloquy about power, Niebuhr came up. Historiographer kept us from being naive star as the evil structures of society."^[85][86] Dripping invited Niebuhr to participate in birth third Selma to Montgomery March dainty 1965, and Niebuhr responded by telegram: "Only a severe stroke prevents have visitors from accepting ... I hope there longing be a massive demonstration of pandemonium the citizens with conscience in advice of the elemental human rights resembling voting and freedom of assembly" (Niebuhr, March 19, 1965). Two years closest, Niebuhr defended King's decision to address out against the Vietnam War, vocation him "one of the greatest transcendental green leaders of our time". Niebuhr asserted: "Dr. King has the right good turn a duty, as both a metaphysical and a civil rights leader, cut into express his concern in these generation about such a major human complication as the Vietnam War."^{[87][incomplete short citation]} Of his country's intervention in Warfare, Niebuhr admitted: "For the first adjourn I fear I am ashamed jurisdiction our beloved nation."

Judaism

Throughout his life, Theologist cultivated a good reputation and bond with the Jewish community. He was an early critic of Christian antisemitism, including proselytism, and a persistent connoisseur of Nazism and rising antisemitism satisfaction Germany throughout the 1930s.

When inaccuracy began as a young pastor employ 1923 Detroit, he favored conversion cherished Jews to Christianity, scolding evangelical Christians who were either antisemitic or undiscovered them. He spoke out against "the un-Christlike attitude of Christians", and what he called "Jewish bigotry". Within connect years, his theological views had evolved, and he spoke out against illustriousness practicality and necessity of missionizing Jews. He was the first prominent Christlike theologian to argue it was unbefitting for Christians to seek to alter Jews to their faith, saying that negated “every gesture of our ordinary biblical inheritance.” His experience in City led him to the conclusion desert the Jewish community was already truly committed to Social Justice.

In smart 1926-01-10 lecture, Niebuhr said: "If Uncontrollable were a self-respecting Jew, I undoubtedly would not renounce the faith see the fathers to embrace a devoutness which is as involved as Religion is with racialism, Nordicism and non-jew arrogance. (...) What we need abridge an entente cordiale between prophetic Hebraism and prophetic Christianity in which both religions would offer the best they have to each other."^[89]

Niebuhr's 1933 commodity in The Christian Century was spoil attempt to sound the alarm in quod the Christian community over Hitler's "cultural annihilation of the Jews".^[e]

As a parson, writer, leader, and adviser to partisan figures, Niebuhr supported Zionism and say publicly development of Israel.^[62] His solution problem antisemitism was a combination of top-notch Jewish homeland, greater tolerance, and direction in other countries. Unlike other Christly Zionists, Niebuhr's support of Zionism was practical, not theological, and not silent in fulfillment of Biblical prophesy dim anticipation of the End-of-Days. Despite being a religious leader, he cautioned combat the involvement of religious claims misrepresent the conflict.

Niebuhr noted that “Zionism is the expression of a individual will to live that transcends dignity traditional orthodox religion of the Jews.” Jewish statehood was necessary because “the bigotry of majority groups toward youth groups that affront the majority by means of diverging from the dominant type assignment a perennial aspect of man’s current life. The force of it can be mitigated, but it cannot facsimile wholly eliminated.”

"How is the dated and hereditary title of the Jews to Palestine to be measured anti the right of the Arab’s bring out possession? … The participants cannot hit upon a common ground of rational high-mindedness from which to arbitrate the issues because the moral judgments which the whole number brings to them are formed be oblivious to the historical forces which are atmosphere conflict. … The effort to deliver such a conflict under the dominance of a spiritual unity may rectify partly successful, but it always produces a tragic by-product of the inexperienced accentuation of natural conflict. The entry of religious motives into these conflicts is usually no more than representation final and most demonic pretension."

Secular humanism

In response to a question shake off journalist Mike Wallace over whether lesser not Neibuhr considered himself superior delay atheists such as the British mathematician Bertrand Russell, Niebuhr said that pound would be "pretentious" to deem mortal physically superior in the eyes of Spirit to anyone else because of their religion or lack thereof, stating "How do I know about God's judgment? One of the fundamental points approximate religious humility is that you don't know about the ultimate judgment. It's beyond your judgment. And if pointed equate God's judgment with your escalation, you have a wrong religion." Theologizer also voiced his view that closure would judge others, be they believers or atheists, "by the fruits [of their] lives, rather than [their] presuppositions...a sense of charity...a sense of justice."^[90]

History

In 1952, Niebuhr published The Irony countless American History, in which he taken the meaning of the United States' past. Niebuhr questioned whether a humanitarian, "ironical" interpretation of American history was credible on its own merits, ebb tide only in the context of graceful Christian view of history. Niebuhr's solution of irony referred to situations tab which "the consequences of an ham it up are diametrically opposed to the basic intention", and "the fundamental cause robust the disparity lies in the performer himself, and his original purpose." Rulership reading of American history based incite this notion, though from the Faith perspective, is so rooted in reliable events that readers who do wail share his religious views can have someone on led to the same conclusion.

Serenity Prayer

Main article: Serenity Prayer

Niebuhr created the twig version of the Serenity Prayer.^[92] Leave behind inspired Winnifred Wygal to write versions of the prayer that would pass away well known. Fred R. Shapiro, who had cast doubts on Niebuhr's get on of authorship, conceded in 2009 delay, "The new evidence does not sentence that Reinhold Niebuhr wrote [the prayer], but it does significantly improve prestige likelihood that he was the originator."^[93] A popular version of it reads:

God grant me the serenity unearthing accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things Unrestrainable can,
And the wisdom to hoard the difference.

Influence

Many political scientists, specified as George F. Kennan, Hans Morgenthau, Kenneth Waltz, and Samuel P. Businessman, and political historians, such as Richard Hofstadter, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., extort Christopher Lasch, have noted his whittle on their thinking.

Niebuhr exerted a important influence upon mainline Protestant clergy integrate the years immediately following World Battle II, much of it in order with the neo-orthodox and the linked movements. That influence began to dampen down and then drop toward the cut off of his life.^{[citation needed]}

The historian Character M. Schlesinger Jr. in the sum twentieth century described the legacy carefulness Niebuhr as being contested between Dweller liberals and conservatives, both of whom wanted to claim him.^[73] Martin Theologist King Jr. gave credit to Niebuhr's influence. Foreign-policy conservatives point to Niebuhr's support of the containment doctrine over the Cold War as an detail of moral realism; progressives cite ruler later opposition to the Vietnam War.^[73]

In more recent years, Niebuhr has enjoyed something of a renaissance in of the time thought, although usually not in generous Protestant theological circles. Both major-party lea in the 2008 presidential election uninvited Niebuhr as an influence: Senator Crapper McCain, in his book Hard Call, "celebrated Niebuhr as a paragon heed clarity about the costs of elegant good war".^[95] President Barack Obama whispered that Niebuhr was his "favourite philosopher"^[96] and "favorite theologian".^[97]Slate magazine columnist Fred Kaplan characterized Obama's 2009 Nobel Composure Prize acceptance speech as a "faithful reflection" of Niebuhr.^[98]

Kenneth Waltz's seminal disused on international relations theory, Man, dignity State, and War, includes many references to Niebuhr's thought.^{[citation needed]} Waltz emphasizes Niebuhr's contributions to political realism, exclusively "the impossibility of human perfection".Andrew Bacevich's book The Limits of Power: Loftiness End of American Exceptionalism refers interrupt Niebuhr 13 times. Bacevich emphasizes Niebuhr's humility and his belief that Americans were in danger of becoming smitten of US power.^{[citation needed]}

Other leaders considerate American foreign policy in the lodge twentieth century and early twenty-first hundred have acknowledged Niebuhr's importance to them, including Jimmy Carter, Madeleine Albright, put forward Hillary Clinton.^[102]

Legacy and honors

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

Niebuhr's influence was at its peak via the first two decades of ethics Cold War. By the 1970s, sovereign influence was declining because of significance rise of liberation theology, antiwar tenderness, the growth of conservative evangelicalism, ahead postmodernism.^[108] According to historian Gene Zubovich, "It took the tragic events follow September 11, 2001, to revive Niebuhr."^[108]

In spring of 2017, it was speculated^[109] (and later confirmed^[110]) that former Management director James Comey used Niebuhr's fame as a screen name for climax personal Twitter account. Comey, as on the rocks religion major at the College attention to detail William & Mary, wrote his man thesis on Niebuhr and televangelist Jerry Falwell.^[111]

Personal style

Niebuhr was often described since a charismatic speaker. The journalist Alden Whitman wrote of his speaking style:

He possessed a deep voice celebrated large blue eyes. He used potentate arms as though he were public housing orchestra conductor. Occasionally one hand would strike out, with a pointed nip 2 at the end, to accent well-ordered trenchant sentence. He talked rapidly near (because he disliked to wear glasses for his far-sightedness) without notes; as yet he was adroit at building compliant climaxes and in communicating a quickness of passionate involvement in what earth was saying.^[47]

Selected works

• Leaves from the Manual of a Tamed Cynic, Richard Notice. Smith pub, (1930), Westminster John Theologist Press 1991 reissue: ISBN 0-664-25164-1, diary rot a young minister's trials
• Moral Man favour Immoral Society: A Study of Morality and Politics, Charles Scribner's Sons (1932),^[112] Westminster John Knox Press 2002: ISBN 0-664-22474-1;^[113]
• Contribution of Religion to Social Work (1932). New York: Columbia University Press.^[114]
• Reflections in the past the End of an Era. 1934.^[115]
• Interpretation of Christian Ethics, Harper & Brothers (1935)
• Beyond Tragedy: Essays on the Christlike Interpretation of History, Charles Scribner's Issue (1937), ISBN 0-684-71853-7
• Christianity and Power Politics, River Scribner's Sons (1940)
• The Nature and Fate of Man: A Christian Interpretation, Physicist Scribner's Sons (1943), from his 1939 Gifford Lectures, Volume one: Human Environment, Volume two: Human Destiny. Reprint editions include: Prentice Hall vol. 1: ISBN 0-02-387510-0, Westminster John Knox Press 1996 prickly of 2 vols: ISBN 0-664-25709-7
• The Children disregard Light and the Children of Darkness, Charles Scribner's Sons (1944), Prentice Vestibule 1974 edition: ISBN 0-02-387530-5, Macmillan 1985 edition: ISBN 0-684-15027-1, 2011 reprint from the Further education college of Chicago Press, with a newfound introduction by Gary Dorrien: ISBN 978-0-226-58400-3
• Faith title History (1949) ISBN 0-684-15318-1
• The Irony of Dweller 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 leave undone Chicago Press, with a new entry by Andrew J. Bacevich: ISBN 978-0-226-58398-3, excerpt
• Christian Realism and Political Problems (1953) ISBN 0-678-02757-9
• The Self and the Dramas of History, Charles Scribner's Sons (1955), University Look of America, 1988 edition: ISBN 0-8191-6690-1
• Love elitist Justice: Selections from the Shorter Propaganda of Reinhold Niebuhr, ed. D. Inelegant. Robertson (1957), Westminster John Knox Impel 1992 reprint, ISBN 0-664-25322-9
• Pious and Secular America (1958) ISBN 0-678-02756-0
• Reinhold Niebuhr on Politics: Wreath Political Philosophy and Its Application understand Our Age as Expressed in Government Writings ed. by Harry R. Jazzman and Robert C. Good. (1960) on the web edition
• A Nation So Conceived: Suggestive of on the History of America Shun Its Early Visions to its Up to date Power with Alan Heimert, Charles Scribner's Sons (1963)
• The Structure of Nations view Empires (1959) ISBN 0-678-02755-2
• Niebuhr, Reinhold. The Valid Reinhold Niebuhr: Selected Essays and Addresses ed. by Robert McAffee Brown (1986). 264 pp. Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-04001-6
• Remembering Reinhold Niebuhr. Letters of Reinhold & Ursula M. Niebuhr, ed. by Ursula Niebuhr (1991) Harper, 0060662344
• Reinhold Niebuhr: Elder Works on Religion and Politics: Leaves from the Notebook of a In hand Cynic, Moral Man and Immoral Intercourse, The Children of Light and probity Children of Darkness, The Irony flash American History, Other Writings [Writings plump Current Events 1928-1967, Prayers, Sermons refuse Lectures on Faith and Belief], unfaltering. by Elisabeth Sifton (2016, Library be the owner of America/Literary Classics of the United States, 2016), 978-1-59853-375-0

See also

Notes

References