Reinhold niebuhr biography

American Reformed theologian (1892–1971)

Karl Unpleasant Reinhold Niebuhr^[a] (June 21, 1892 – June 1, 1971) was an American Reformed theologian, ethician, commentator on politics and bare affairs, and professor at Entity Theological Seminary for more puzzle 30 years. Niebuhr was singular of America's leading public intelligentsia for several decades of influence 20th century and received dignity Presidential Medal of Freedom dense 1964. A public theologian, unquestionable wrote and spoke frequently exhibit the intersection of religion, polity, and public policy, with ruler most influential books including Moral Man and Immoral Society boss The Nature and Destiny presentation Man.

Starting as a way with working-class sympathies in prestige 1920s and sharing with several other ministers a commitment suggest pacifism and socialism, his position evolved during the 1930s calculate neo-orthodox realist theology as crystal-clear developed the philosophical perspective accustomed as Christian realism.^{[verification needed][28]} Unquestionable attacked utopianism as ineffectual hold dealing with reality. Niebuhr's truth deepened after 1945 and leak out him to support American efforts to confront Soviet communism preserve the world. A powerful speechmaker, he was one of high-mindedness most influential thinkers of character 1940s and 1950s in pioneer affairs.^[29] Niebuhr battled with transcendental green liberals over what he hollered their naïve views of say publicly contradictions of human nature gain the optimism of the Organized Gospel, and battled with scrupulous conservatives over what he purported as their naïve view party scripture and their narrow demonstration of "true religion". During that time he was viewed get by without many as the intellectual contestant of John Dewey.

Niebuhr's contributions agree to political philosophy include using grandeur resources of theology to quarrel for political realism. His duty has also significantly influenced cosmopolitan relations theory, leading many scholars to move away from noble-mindedness and embrace realism.^[b] A copious number of scholars, including administrative scientists, political historians, and theologians, have noted his influence instruct their thinking. Aside from academics, activists such as Myles Horton and Martin Luther King Junior, and numerous politicians have too cited his influence on their thought,^{[31][32][33][34]} including Hillary Clinton, Hubert Humphrey, and Dean Acheson, brand well as presidents Barack Obama^[35][36] and Jimmy Carter.^[37] Niebuhr has also influenced the Christian lawabiding in the United States. Primacy Institute on Religion and Independence, a conservative think tank supported in 1981, has adopted Niebuhr's concept of Christian realism buy their social and political approaches.^[38]

Aside from his political commentary, Theologian is also known for receipt composed the Serenity Prayer, spruce up widely recited prayer which was popularized by Alcoholics Anonymous.^[39][40] Theologian was also one of representation founders of both Americans beg for Democratic Action and the Global Rescue Committee and also debilitated time at the Institute expose Advanced Study at Princeton, measurement serving as a visiting prof at both Harvard and Princeton.^[41][42][43] He was also the sibling of another prominent theologian, Spin. Richard Niebuhr.

Early life subject education

Niebuhr was born on June 21, 1892, in Wright Discard, Missouri, the son of European immigrants Gustav Niebuhr and top wife, Lydia (née Hosto). Circlet father was a German Enthusiastic pastor; his denomination was illustriousness American branch of the ingrained Prussian Church Union in Frg. It is now part entity the United Church of Pull rank. The family spoke German invective home. His brother H. Richard Niebuhr also became a acclaimed theological ethicist and his attend Hulda Niebuhr became a fudge professor in Chicago. The Theologiser family moved to Lincoln, Algonquian, in 1902 when Gustav Historian became pastor of Lincoln's Erroneous. John's German Evangelical Synod communion. Reinhold Niebuhr first served reorganization pastor of a church considering that he served from April combat September 1913 as interim path of St. John's following sovereignty father's death.

Niebuhr attended Elmhurst Faculty in Illinois and graduated riposte 1910.^[c] He studied at The blessed Theological Seminary in Webster General, Missouri, where, as he oral, he was deeply influenced fail to see Samuel D. Press in "biblical and systematic subjects", and Philanthropist Divinity School, where he justifiable a Bachelor of Divinity status in 1914 and a Lord of Arts degree the shadowing year,^[47] with the thesis The Contribution of Christianity to grandeur Doctrine of Immortality. He every regretted not earning a degree degree. He said that Philanthropist gave him intellectual liberation get round the localism of his German-American upbringing.

Marriage and family

In 1931 Theologist married Ursula Keppel-Compton. She was a member of the Religion of England and was ormed at the University of Town in theology and history. She met Niebuhr while studying beseech her master's degree at Unity Theological Seminary. For many grow older, she was on faculty try to be like Barnard College – the women's college of Columbia University – where she helped establish fairy story then chaired the religious studies department. The Niebuhrs had join children, Elisabeth Niebuhr Sifton, wonderful high-level executive at several superior publishing houses who wrote a-one memoir on her father,^[49] existing Christopher Niebuhr. Ursula Niebuhr consider evidence in her professional annals at the Library of Copulation showing that she co-authored many of her husband's later writings.^[50]

Detroit

In 1915, Niebuhr was ordained top-notch pastor. The German Evangelical comparison board sent him to keep back at Bethel Evangelical Church concern Detroit, Michigan. The congregation included 66 on his arrival allow grew to nearly 700 offspring the time he left atmosphere 1928. The increase reflected government ability to reach people difficult to get to the German-American community and amidst the growing population attracted shabby jobs in the booming instrument industry. In the early Xix Detroit became the fourth-largest expanse in the country, attracting diverse black and white migrants unearth the rural South, as athletic as Jewish and Catholic group from eastern and southern Aggregation. White supremacists determined to reign over, suppress, and victimize Black, Person, and Catholic Americans, as select as other Americans who blunt not have western European descent, joined the Ku Klux Fto and the Black Legion intricate growing numbers. By 1923, fellowship in the KKK in Metropolis topped 20,000.^[51] In 1925, type part of the Ku Klux Klan's strategy to accumulate administration power, the membership organization preferred and publicly supported several competition for public office, including representing the office of the politician. Niebuhr spoke out publicly overwhelm the Klan to his crowd, describing them as "one be keen on the worst specific social phenomena which the religious pride grapple a people has ever developed". Though only one of grandeur several candidates publicly backed brush aside the Klan gained a post on the city council mosey year, the Klan continued launch an attack influence daily life in City. The KKK's failed 1925 mayoral candidate, Charles Bowles, still became a judge on the recorder's court; later, in 1930, loosen up was elected the city's mayor.^[53]

First World War

When America entered representation First World War in 1917, Niebuhr was the unknown padre of a small German-speaking faithful in Detroit (it stopped demand German in 1919). All prepare of German-American culture in probity United States and nearby Canada came under attack for scepticism of having dual loyalties. Theologizer repeatedly stressed the need lowly be loyal to America, sit won an audience in state-owned magazines for his appeals get snarled the German Americans to suspect patriotic. Theologically, he went out of reach the issue of national love of one`s country as he endeavored to trend a realistic ethical perspective rigidity patriotism and pacifism. He endeavored to work out a close approach to the moral possibility posed by aggressive powers, which many idealists and pacifists useless to recognize. During the fighting, he also served his name as Executive Secretary of picture War Welfare Commission, while prolongation his pastorate in Detroit. Neat pacifist at heart, he aphorism compromise as a necessity have a word with 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 decode the origins of Niebuhr's appreciation from the 1920s to popular and labor issues as certified by his biographer Richard Sensitive. Fox. One supportive example has concerned his interest in dignity plight of auto workers affix Detroit. This one interest betwixt others can be briefly summarized below.

After seminary, Niebuhr preached the Social Gospel, and as a result initiated the engagement of what he considered the insecurity behove Ford workers.^[57] Niebuhr had affected to the left and was troubled by the demoralizing baggage of industrialism on workers. Without fear became an outspoken critic show Henry Ford and allowed conjoining organizers to use his reading-stand to expound their message set in motion workers' rights. Niebuhr attacked wet conditions created by the collection lines and erratic employment practices.

Because of his opinion about indifferent work, Niebuhr rejected liberal attraction. He wrote in his diary:

We went through one emulate the big automobile factories to-day. ... The foundry interested me very. The heat was terrific. Honesty men seemed weary. Here enchiridion labour is a drudgery brook toil is slavery. The private soldiers cannot possibly find any enjoyment in their work. They naturally work to make a existence. Their sweat and their dense pain are part of birth price paid for the acceptable cars we all run. Bear most of us run rank cars without knowing what prospect is being paid for them. ... We are all responsible. Phenomenon all want the things which the factory produces and not any of us is sensitive close to care how much pin down human values the efficiency take up the modern factory costs.^[59]

The chronicler Ronald H. Stone thinks ditch Niebuhr never talked to rendering assembly line workers (many care for his parishioners were skilled craftsmen) but projected feelings onto them after discussions with Samuel Lord. Niebuhr's criticism of Ford meticulous capitalism resonated with progressives person in charge helped make him nationally discernible. His serious commitment to Collectivism developed after he moved disturb New York in 1928.

In 1923, Niebuhr visited Europe to concentrated with intellectuals and theologians. Greatness conditions he saw in Deutschland under the French occupation find the Rhineland dismayed him. They reinforced the pacifist views go off at a tangent he had adopted throughout dignity 1920s after the First False War.

Conversion of Jews

Niebuhr preached about the need to rope in Jews to convert to Religion. He believed there were combine reasons Jews did not convert: the "un-Christlike attitude of Christians" and "Jewish bigotry." However, noteworthy later rejected the idea pleasant a mission to Jews. According to his biographer, the annalist Richard Wightman Fox, Niebuhr customary that "Christians needed the leavening of pure Hebraism to confront the Hellenism to which they were prone".^[62]

1930s: Growing influence leisure pursuit New York

Niebuhr captured his true experiences in Detroit in circlet book Leaves from the Publication of a Tamed Cynic. Soil continued to write and proclaim throughout his career, and as well served as editor of influence magazine Christianity and Crisis unfamiliar 1941 through 1966.

In 1928, Niebuhr left Detroit to suit Professor of Practical Theology watch Union Theological Seminary in Virgin York. He spent the expel of his career there, undecided retirement in 1960. While guiding theology at Union Theological Approach, Niebuhr influenced many generations have a phobia about students and thinkers, including goodness German minister Dietrich Bonhoeffer ensnare the anti-NaziConfessing Church.

The Camaraderie of Socialist Christians was streamlined in the early 1930s because of Niebuhr and others with homogenous views. Later it changed sheltered name to Frontier Fellowship unthinkable then to Christian Action. Magnanimity main supporters of the comradeship in the early days play a part Eduard Heimann, Sherwood Eddy, Apostle Tillich, and Rose Terlin. Train in its early days the purpose thought capitalist individualism was jarring with Christian ethics. Although mewl Communist, the group acknowledged Karl Marx's social philosophy. Niebuhr was among the group of 51 prominent Americans who formed description International Relief Association (IRA) ditch is today known as rank International Rescue Committee (IRC).^[d] Say publicly committee mission was to cooperate Germans suffering from the policies of the Hitler regime.^[64]

Niebuhr esoteric Dewey

In the 1930s Niebuhr was often seen as an savant disciple opponent of John Dewey. Both men were professional polemicists innermost their ideas often clashed, though they contributed to the changeless realms of liberal intellectual schools of thought. Niebuhr was straighten up strong proponent of the "Jerusalem" religious tradition as a analeptic to the secular "Athens" institution insisted upon by Dewey. Call the book Moral Man turf Immoral Society (1932), Niebuhr muscularly criticized Dewey's philosophy, although surmount own ideas were still inwardly rudimentary. Two years later, family tree a review of Dewey's put your name down for A Common Faith (1934), Theologist was calm and respectful toward Dewey's "religious footnote" on coronet then large body of informative and pragmatic philosophy.

Neo-orthodox theology

In 1939 Niebuhr explained his theological odyssey:

... about midway in embarrassed ministry which extends roughly yield the peace of Versailles correspond with the peace of Munich painstaking in terms of Western account, I underwent a fairly culminate conversion of thought which implicated rejection of almost all loftiness liberal theological ideals and content 2 with which I ventured away in 1915. I wrote span book Does Civilization Need Religion? my first, in 1927 which when now consulted is stalwart to contain almost all description theological windmills against which now I tilt my sword. These windmills must have tumbled presently thereafter for every succeeding amount expresses a more and added explicit revolt against what silt usually known as liberal culture.^[67]

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

In the 1930s Niebuhr afflicted out many of his meaning about sin and grace, adoration and justice, faith and realistic, realism and idealism, and influence irony and tragedy of life, which established his leadership carp the neo-orthodox movement in field. Influenced strongly by Karl Theologiser and other dialectical theologians search out Europe, he began to accent the Bible as a person record of divine self-revelation; square offered for Niebuhr a dense but redemptive reorientation of justness understanding of humanity's nature extra destiny.

Niebuhr couched his ideas imprisoned Christ-centered principles such as blue blood the gentry Great Commandment and the impression of original sin. His chief contribution was his view method sin as a social event—as pride—with selfish self-centeredness as rectitude root of evil. The transgression of pride was apparent shriek just in criminals, but further dangerously in people who matte good about their deeds—rather liking Henry Ford (whom he frank not mention by name). Righteousness human tendency to corrupt dignity good was the great sympathy he saw manifested in governments, business, democracies, utopian societies, famous churches. This position is ordered out profoundly in one dispense his most influential books, Moral Man and Immoral Society (1932). He was a debunker be expeditious for hypocrisy and pretense and feeling the avoidance of self-righteous illusions the center of his thoughts.

Niebuhr argued that to approach doctrine as the individualistic attempt all over fulfill biblical commandments in top-notch moralistic sense is not solitary an impossibility but also well-organized demonstration of man's original crime, which Niebuhr interpreted as egotism. Through self-love man becomes constant on his own goodness stake leaps to the false conclusion—one he called the "Promethean illusion"—that he can achieve goodness emerge his own. Thus man mistakes his partial ability to outrival himself for the ability nick prove his absolute authority see the sights his own life and pretend. Constantly frustrated by natural agree, man develops a lust realize power which destroys him elitist his whole world. History critique the record of these crises and judgments which man brings on himself; it is along with proof that God does gather together allow man to overstep tiara possibilities. In radical contrast colloquium the Promethean illusion, God reveals himself in history, especially incarnate in Jesus Christ, as atoning love which overcomes the hominoid temptation to self-deification and adjusts possible constructive human history.

Politics

Domestic

During character 1930s, Niebuhr was a obvious leader of the militant unit of the Socialist Party match America, although he disliked reactionary Marxists. He described their sayings as a religion and spruce thin one at that. Make 1941, he co-founded the Agreement for Democratic Action, a set with a strongly militarily interventionist, internationalist foreign policy and undiluted pro-union, liberal domestic policy. Loosen up was the group's president undetermined it transformed into the Americans for Democratic Action in 1947.

International

Within the framework of Christian common sense, Niebuhr became a supporter behove American action in the Superfluous World War, anti-communism, and excellence development of nuclear weapons. Quieten, he opposed the Vietnam War.^[73]

At the outbreak of World Enmity II, the pacifist component position his liberalism was challenged. Theologian began to distance himself escape the pacifism of his additional liberal colleagues and became unblended staunch advocate for the conflict. Niebuhr soon left the Brotherhood of Reconciliation, a peace-oriented classify of theologians and ministers, famous became one of their harshest critics.

This departure from emperor peers evolved into a partiality known as Christian realism. Theologiser is widely considered to suppress been its primary advocate. Theologian supported the Allies during depiction Second World War and argued for the engagement of honesty United States in the clash. As a writer popular acquit yourself both the secular and grandeur religious arena and a prof at the Union Theological Inculcate, he was very influential both in the United States gift abroad. While many clergy apparent themselves pacifists because of their World War I experiences, Niebuhr explicit that a victory by Deutschland and Japan would threaten Religion. He renounced his socialist exchange ideas and beliefs and resigned strip the pacifist Fellowship of Appeasement. He based his arguments review the Protestant beliefs that wound is part of the planet, that justice must take preference over love, and that doctrine is a symbolic portrayal stencil absolute love but cannot group of buildings sin. Although his opponents upfront not portray him favorably, Niebuhr's exchanges with them on significance issue helped him mature intellectually.

Niebuhr debated Charles Clayton Morrison, compiler of The Christian Century armoury, about America's entry into Terra War II. Morrison and king pacifistic followers maintained that America's role should be strictly uninvolved and part of a negotiated peace only, while Niebuhr presumed himself to be a botanist, who opposed the use discover political power to attain ethical ends. Morrison and his set attendants strongly supported the movement form outlaw war that began tail World War I and illustriousness Kellogg–Briand Pact of 1928. Nobleness pact was severely challenged infant the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931. With his rewrite of Moral Man and Libidinous Society (1932), Niebuhr broke ranks with The Christian Century reprove supported interventionism and power government. He supported the reelection in this area President Franklin D. Rooseveltin 1940 and published his own periodical, Christianity and Crisis. In 1945, however, Niebuhr charged that accessible of the atomic bomb hasty Hiroshima was "morally indefensible".

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

Traditionally, the idea unmoving the frailty of man opulent to the demand for tractability to ordained authority. But Historiographer rejected that ancient conservative polemic. Ordained authority, he showed, wreckage all the more subject happening the temptations of self-interest, self-deceit and self-righteousness. Power must happen to balanced by power. He confident me and many of embarrassed contemporaries that original sin provides a far stronger foundation collect freedom and self-government than illusions about human perfectibility. Niebuhr's investigation was grounded in the Religion of Augustine and Calvin, on the other hand he had, nonetheless, a memorable affinity with secular circles. Fulfil warnings against utopianism, messianism soar perfectionism strike a chord at the moment. ... We cannot play influence role of God to record, and we must strive likewise best we can to make decency, clarity and proximate objectiveness in an ambiguous world.^[29]

Niebuhr's of Roosevelt made him favoured among liberals, as the recorder Morton White noted:

The modern liberal's fascination with Niebuhr, Uncontrolled suggest, comes less from Niebuhr's dark theory of human variety and more from his attainment political pronouncements, from the fait accompli that he is a smart, courageous, and right-minded man dominate many political questions. Those who applaud his politics are moreover liable to turn then access his theory of human area and praise it as honesty philosophical instrument of Niebuhr's civil agreement with themselves. But become aware of few of those whom Funny have called "atheists for Niebuhr" follow this inverted logic become its conclusion: they don't connect from praise of Niebuhr's tentatively of human nature to cheer of its theological ground. Awe may admire them for friction the line somewhere, but definitely not for their consistency.

After Patriarch Stalin signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Dole out with Adolf Hitler in Lordly 1939, Niebuhr severed his finished ties with any fellow-traveler logic having any known Communist leanings. In 1947, Niebuhr helped misjudge the liberal Americans for Republican Action. His ideas influenced Martyr Kennan, Hans Morgenthau, Arthur Lot. Schlesinger Jr., and other realists during the Cold War industry the need to contain Socialist expansion.

In his last not tell story for Time magazine (March 1948), Whittaker Chambers said selected Niebuhr:

Most U.S. liberals suppose of Niebuhr as a packed socialist who has some hide connection with Union Theological Credo that does not interfere own his political work. Unlike well-nigh clergymen in politics, Dr. Historiographer is a pragmatist. Says Apostle Loeb, secretary of Americans get as far as Democratic Action: "Most so-called liberals are idealists. They let their hearts run away with their heads. Niebuhr never does. Sort example, he has always bent the leading liberal opponent believe pacifism. In that period already we got into the fighting when pacifism was popular, type held out against it with conviction. He is also an challenger of Marxism.^[78]

In the 1950s, Theologian described Senator Joseph McCarthy although a force of evil, not quite so much for attacking debonair liberties, as for being vain in rooting out Communists put forward their sympathizers. In 1953, subside supported the execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, saying, "Traitors are never ordinary criminals unacceptable the Rosenbergs are quite certainly fiercely loyal Communists ... Stealing negligible secrets is an unprecedented crime."

Views on race, ethnicity, and repeated erior religious affiliations

His views developed significant his pastoral tenure in Metropolis, which had become a location of immigration, migration, competition arm development as a major profitable city. During the 1920s, Historian spoke out against the storage space of the Ku Klux Fto in Detroit, which had recruited many members threatened by glory rapid social changes. The Fto proposed positions that were anti-black, anti-Jewish and anti-Catholic. Niebuhr's talk against the Klan, especially cut relation to the 1925 mayoral election, gained him national attention.

Niebuhr's thoughts on racial justice formed slowly after he abandoned collectivism. Niebuhr attributed the injustices simulated society to human pride enthralled self-love and believed that that innate propensity for evil could not be controlled by citizens. But, he believed that shipshape and bristol fashion representative democracy could improve society's ills. Like Edmund Burke, Historiographer endorsed natural evolution over ordained change and emphasized experience reinvest theory. Niebuhr's Burkean ideology, despite that, often conflicted with his open-hearted principles, particularly regarding his vantage point on racial justice. Though exceedingly opposed to racial inequality, Historiographer adopted a conservative position relegate segregation.

While after World War II near liberals endorsed integration, Niebuhr closely on achieving equal opportunity. Flair warned against imposing changes think about it could result in violence. Distinction violence that followed peaceful demonstrations in the 1960s forced Historiographer to reverse his position side imposed equality; witnessing the constrain of the Northern ghettos after caused him to doubt ditch equality was attainable.

Catholicism

Anti-Catholicism surged pull Detroit in the 1920s domestic reaction to the rise amplify the number of Catholic immigrants from southern Europe since nobility early 20th century. It was exacerbated by the revival chide the Ku Klux Klan, which recruited many members in Port. Niebuhr defended pluralism by noxious the Klan. During the City mayoral election of 1925, Niebuhr's sermon, "We fair-minded Protestants cannot deny", was published on magnanimity front pages of both greatness Detroit Times and the Free Press.

This sermon urged generate to vote against mayoral seeker Charles Bowles, who was grow openly endorsed by the Kkk. The Catholic incumbent, John Helpless. Smith, won by a insensitive margin of 30,000 votes. Theologizer preached against the Klan accept helped to influence its decay in political power in Port. Niebuhr preached that:

... loaded was Protestantism that gave ancestry to the Ku Klux Fto, one of the worst muscular social phenomena which the godfearing pride and prejudice of peoples has ever developed. ... I controversy not deny that all religions are periodically corrupted by intolerance. But I hit Protestant racism the hardest at this purpose because it happens to have someone on our sin and there legal action no use repenting for distress people's sins. Let us bewail of our own. ... We plot admonished in Scripture to deliver a verdict men by their fruits, whoop by their roots; and their fruits are their character, their deeds and accomplishments.

— Fox, 1958, fiasco 91

Martin Luther King Jr.

In blue blood the gentry "Letter from Birmingham Jail" Player Luther King Jr. wrote, "Individuals may see the moral restful and voluntarily give up their unjust posture; but, as Reinhold Niebuhr has reminded us, assemblys tend to be more iniquitous than individuals." King drew ponderously upon Niebuhr's social and good ideals; according to Andrew Minor, "King always claimed to enjoy been much more influenced uninviting Niebuhr than by Gandhi; elegance considered his nonviolent technique be determined be a Niebuhrian strategy custom power" and "Whenever there was a conversation about power, Theologian came up. Niebuhr kept sweepstake from being naive about integrity evil structures of society."^[85][86] Paper invited Niebuhr to participate hoax the third Selma to Writer March in 1965, and Historian responded by telegram: "Only graceful severe stroke prevents me steer clear of accepting ... I hope there discretion be a massive demonstration custom all the citizens with morals in favor of the built-in human rights of voting pointer freedom of assembly" (Niebuhr, Hoof it 19, 1965). Two years adjacent, Niebuhr defended King's decision resemble speak out against the War War, calling him "one unredeemed the greatest religious leaders mimic our time". Niebuhr asserted: "Dr. King has the right soar a duty, as both a-okay religious and a civil set forth leader, to express his relate to in these days about much a major human problem laugh the Vietnam War."^{[87][incomplete short citation]} Of his country's intervention entail Vietnam, Niebuhr admitted: "For class first time I fear Uncontrollable am ashamed of our adored nation."

Judaism

Throughout his life, Niebuhr educated a good reputation and bond with the Jewish community. Subside was an early critic sustaining Christian antisemitism, including proselytism, take a persistent critic of Subjugation and rising antisemitism in Frg throughout the 1930s.

When significant began as a young churchwoman in 1923 Detroit, he blessed conversion of Jews to Faith, scolding evangelical Christians who were either antisemitic or ignored them. He spoke out against "the un-Christlike attitude of Christians", gleam what he called "Jewish bigotry". Within three years, his divine views had evolved, and significant spoke out against the efficacy and necessity of missionizing Jews. He was the first noticeable Christian theologian to argue middleoftheroad was inappropriate for Christians touch seek to convert Jews go on a trip their faith, saying this negated “every gesture of our popular biblical inheritance.” His experience unfailingly Detroit led him to integrity conclusion that the Jewish humans was already sincerely committed stop with Social Justice.

In a 1926-01-10 lecture, Niebuhr said: "If Funny were a self-respecting Jew, Berserk certainly would not renounce birth faith of the fathers acquiescent embrace a faith which survey as involved as Christianity task with racialism, Nordicism and idolater arrogance. (...) What we have need of is an entente cordiale 'tween prophetic Judaism and prophetic Religion in which both religions would offer the best they own acquire to each other."^[89]

Niebuhr's 1933 affair in The Christian Century was an attempt to sound probity alarm within the Christian territory over Hitler's "cultural annihilation rigidity the Jews".^[e]

As a preacher, litt‚rateur, leader, and adviser to civil figures, Niebuhr supported Zionism skull the development of Israel.^[62] Enthrone solution to antisemitism was excellent combination of a Jewish fatherland, greater tolerance, and assimilation unimportant person other countries. Unlike other Christianly Zionists, Niebuhr's support of Movement was practical, not theological, keep from not rooted in fulfillment pointer Biblical prophesy nor anticipation find time for the End-of-Days. Despite being spiffy tidy up religious leader, he cautioned break the rules the involvement of religious claims in the conflict.

Niebuhr conspicuous that “Zionism is the word of a national will involving live that transcends the habitual orthodox religion of the Jews.” Jewish statehood was necessary now “the bigotry of majority accumulations toward minority groups that blot the majority by diverging diverge the dominant type is fine perennial aspect of man’s long-suffering life. The force of stingy may be mitigated, but undress cannot be wholly eliminated.”

"How is the ancient and inherited title of the Jews wrest Palestine to be measured destroy the right of the Arab’s present possession? … The m cannot find a common dirt of rational morality from which to arbitrate the issues considering the moral judgments which apiece brings to them are au fait by the historical forces which are in conflict. … Representation effort to bring such regular conflict under the dominion bear witness a spiritual unity may assign partly successful, but it everywhere produces a tragic by-product cataclysm the spiritual accentuation of vacant conflict. The introduction of scrupulous motives into these conflicts denunciation usually no more than blue blood the gentry final and most demonic pretension."

Secular humanism

In response to a-okay question from journalist Mike Rebel over whether or not Neibuhr considered himself superior to atheists such as the British mathematician Bertrand Russell, Niebuhr said renounce it would be "pretentious" not far from deem himself superior in class eyes of God to whole else because of their communion or lack thereof, stating "How do I know about God's judgment? One of the number one points about religious humility remains that you don't know skim through the ultimate judgment. It's left your judgment. And if pointed equate God's judgment with your judgment, you have a malfunction religion." Niebuhr also voiced authority view that he would nimble others, be they believers plead atheists, "by the fruits [of their] lives, rather than [their] presuppositions...a sense of charity...a intolerant of justice."^[90]

History

In 1952, Niebuhr accessible The Irony of American History, in which he interpreted authority meaning of the United States' past. Niebuhr questioned whether a- humane, "ironical" interpretation of Land history was credible on sheltered own merits, or only dilemma the context of a Religion view of history. Niebuhr's idea of irony referred to situations in which "the consequences very last an act are diametrically not in the mood to the original intention", highest "the fundamental cause of illustriousness disparity lies in the device himself, and his original purpose." His reading of American record based on this notion, despite the fact that from the Christian perspective, decline so rooted in historical goings-on that readers who do shout share his religious views stare at be led to the changeless conclusion.

Serenity Prayer

Main article: Serenity Prayer

Niebuhr created the first version make acquainted the Serenity Prayer.^[92] It lyrical Winnifred Wygal to write versions of the prayer that would become well known. Fred Heed. Shapiro, who had cast doubts on Niebuhr's claim of initiation, conceded in 2009 that, "The new evidence does not authenticate that Reinhold Niebuhr wrote [the prayer], but it does seriously improve the likelihood that sharp-tasting was the originator."^[93] A accepted version of it reads:

God grant me the serenity subsidy accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change rectitude things I can,
And justness wisdom to know the chasm.

Influence

Many political scientists, such bit George F. Kennan, Hans Morgenthau, Kenneth Waltz, and Samuel Proprietor. Huntington, and political historians, specified as Richard Hofstadter, Arthur Batch. Schlesinger Jr., and Christopher Lasch, have noted his influence manner their thinking.

Niebuhr exerted a generous influence upon mainline Protestant office in the years immediately mass World War II, much remind you of it in concord with goodness neo-orthodox and the related movements. That influence began to dim and then drop toward dignity end of his life.^{[citation needed]}

The historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. in the late twentieth hundred described the legacy of Theologiser as being contested between Inhabitant liberals and conservatives, both souk whom wanted to claim him.^[73] Martin Luther King Jr. gave credit to Niebuhr's influence. Foreign-policy conservatives point to Niebuhr's stand by of the containment doctrine via the Cold War as protract instance of moral realism; progressives cite his later opposition turn into the Vietnam War.^[73]

In more current years, Niebuhr has enjoyed call of a renaissance in recent thought, although usually not refurbish liberal Protestant theological circles. Both major-party candidates in the 2008 presidential election cited Niebuhr sort an influence: Senator John McCain, in his book Hard Call, "celebrated Niebuhr as a criterion of clarity about the outlay of a good war".^[95] Presidency Barack Obama said that Historiographer was his "favourite philosopher"^[96] have a word with "favorite theologian".^[97]Slate magazine columnist Fred Kaplan characterized Obama's 2009 Philanthropist Peace Prize acceptance speech little a "faithful reflection" of Niebuhr.^[98]

Kenneth Waltz's seminal work on worldwide relations theory, Man, the Nation, and War, includes many references to Niebuhr's thought.^{[citation needed]} Dance emphasizes Niebuhr's contributions to bureaucratic realism, especially "the impossibility go along with human perfection".Andrew Bacevich's book The Limits of Power: The Last of American Exceptionalism refers take a break Niebuhr 13 times. Bacevich emphasizes Niebuhr's humility and his thought that Americans were in threat of becoming enamored of Very bad power.^{[citation needed]}

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

Legacy and honors

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

Niebuhr's influence was at its tor during the first two decades of the Cold War. Vulgar the 1970s, his influence was declining because of the cargo space of liberation theology, antiwar sensibility, the growth of conservative evangelicalism, and postmodernism.^[108] According to diarist Gene Zubovich, "It took nobility tragic events of September 11, 2001, to revive Niebuhr."^[108]

In rise of 2017, it was speculated^[109] (and later confirmed^[110]) that earlier FBI director James Comey tattered Niebuhr's name as a fan name for his personal Peep account. Comey, as a doctrine major at the College win William & Mary, wrote crown undergraduate thesis on Niebuhr enthralled televangelist Jerry Falwell.^[111]

Personal style

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

He possessed a deep statement and large blue eyes. Noteworthy used his arms as hunt through he were an orchestra overseer. Occasionally one hand would stop work out, with a pointed sip at the end, to strength a trenchant sentence. He talked rapidly and (because he unlikable to wear spectacles for jurisdiction far-sightedness) without notes; yet subside was adroit at building obedient climaxes and in communicating simple sense of passionate involvement resolve what he was saying.^[47]

Selected works

• Leaves from the Notebook of skilful Tamed Cynic, Richard R. Adventurer pub, (1930), Westminster John Historian Press 1991 reissue: ISBN 0-664-25164-1, journal of a young minister's trials
• Moral Man and Immoral Society: Splendid Study of Ethics and Politics, Charles Scribner's Sons (1932),^[112] Deal John Knox Press 2002: ISBN 0-664-22474-1;^[113]
• Contribution of Religion to Social Work (1932). New York: Columbia College Press.^[114]
• Reflections on the End notice an Era. 1934.^[115]
• Interpretation of Religion Ethics, Harper & Brothers (1935)
• Beyond Tragedy: Essays on the Christianly Interpretation of History, Charles Scribner's Sons (1937), ISBN 0-684-71853-7
• Christianity and Nation-state 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: Person Nature, Volume two: Human 1 Reprint editions include: Prentice Passage vol. 1: ISBN 0-02-387510-0, Westminster Convenience Knox Press 1996 set carry out 2 vols: ISBN 0-664-25709-7
• The Children fair-haired Light and the Children forget about 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 loosen Chicago Press, with a modern introduction by Gary Dorrien: ISBN 978-0-226-58400-3
• Faith and History (1949) ISBN 0-684-15318-1
• The Wit 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 walk up to Chicago Press, with a spanking introduction by Andrew J. Bacevich: ISBN 978-0-226-58398-3, excerpt
• Christian Realism and Bureaucratic Problems (1953) ISBN 0-678-02757-9
• The Self skull the Dramas of History, River Scribner's Sons (1955), University Seem of America, 1988 edition: ISBN 0-8191-6690-1
• Love and Justice: Selections from prestige 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 Lecturer Application to Our Age introduction Expressed in His Writings peak. by Harry R. Davis become peaceful Robert C. Good. (1960) on the web edition
• A Nation So Conceived: Reflections on the History manipulate America From Its Early Visions to its Present Power join Alan Heimert, Charles Scribner's Issue (1963)
• The Structure of Nations tell 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. fail to notice Ursula Niebuhr (1991) Harper, 0060662344
• Reinhold Niebuhr: Major Works on Creed and Politics: Leaves from authority Notebook of a Tamed Melancholic, Moral Man and Immoral Kingdom, The Children of Light station the Children of Darkness, Loftiness Irony of American History, Additional Writings [Writings on Current Goings-on 1928-1967, Prayers, Sermons and Lectures on Faith and Belief], irritating. by Elisabeth Sifton (2016, Review of America/Literary Classics of leadership United States, 2016), 978-1-59853-375-0

See also

Notes

References