Reinhold Niebuhr and Contemporary Politics
Richard Harries and Stephen Platten
Abstract
When Barack Obama praised the writings of philosopher theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in the run up to the 2008 US Presidential Elections, he joined a long line of top politicians who closely engaged with Niebuhr's ideas, including Tony Benn, Jimmy Carter, Martin Luther King Jr., and Dennis Healey. Beginning with his early ministry amongst industrial workers in early 20th century Detroit, Niebuhr displayed a passionate commitment to social justice that infused his life's work. Rigorously championing ‘Christian Realism’, he sought a practically orientated intellectual engagement with the political ... More
When Barack Obama praised the writings of philosopher theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in the run up to the 2008 US Presidential Elections, he joined a long line of top politicians who closely engaged with Niebuhr's ideas, including Tony Benn, Jimmy Carter, Martin Luther King Jr., and Dennis Healey. Beginning with his early ministry amongst industrial workers in early 20th century Detroit, Niebuhr displayed a passionate commitment to social justice that infused his life's work. Rigorously championing ‘Christian Realism’, he sought a practically orientated intellectual engagement with the political challenges of his day. His ideas on International Relations have also helped to shape debate amongst leading academic thinkers and policy makers. In both Christian and secular contexts he continues to attract new readers today. In this re-evaluation both critics and disciples of Niebuhr's work reflect on his notable contribution to Christian social ethics, the Christian doctrine of humanity, and the engagement of Christian thought with contemporary politics. The authors expertise from both sides of the Atlantic, indicating how a re-evaluation of Niebuhr's thought can help inform contemporary debates on Christian social ethics and other wider theological issues.
Keywords:
Barack Obama,
Reinhold Niebuhr,
industrial workers,
Detroit,
social justice,
Christian realism,
international relations,
Christian social ethics,
humanity,
US presidential elections
Bibliographic Information
| Print publication date: 2010 |
Print ISBN-13: 9780199571833 |
| Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: May 2010 |
DOI:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199571833.001.0001 |
Authors
Affiliations are at time of print publication.
Richard Harries, editor
Gresham Professor of Divinity, and Honorary Professor of Theology, King's College, London
Author Webpage
Stephen Platten, editor
Bishop of Wakefield
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